Job Description
The University of Washington Biology Greenhouse has an outstanding opportunity for a Plant Technician 3 to join their team.
About this Opportunity
Reporting to the Manager of Program Operations, the Plant Technician 3 is responsible for working hands-on with a wide diversity of plants used for teaching, research, outreach, and display. This position is a key member of the greenhouse team, working independently, exercising specialized horticultural judgment, coordinating plant production according to instructional and research schedules, and training, leading, or directing the work of staff, students, interns, and volunteers.
Key Responsibilities
Plant Cultivation and Collection Care - 40%
- Supervise and perform the care and maintenance of crops and other plants for developmental, research, instructional, outreach, and display purposes within the UW Biology Greenhouse and designated Department of Biology interiorscape and exterior planting areas.
- Perform and oversee all aspects of plant culture, including researching plant requirements, watering, fertilizing, weeding, seed collection, sowing, potting, repotting, pruning, propagating, breeding, grooming, and plant-health monitoring.
- Independently assess plant condition and adjust cultivation practices based on plant health, developmental stage, environmental conditions, and seasonal needs.
- Maintain the quality, accessibility, appearance, and long-term health of teaching, research, outreach, and display collections.
- Perform greenhouse sanitation and operational duties, including cleaning work and growing areas, washing pots and equipment, disposing of compost and waste, preparing soil and fertilizers, and safely moving plant materials and greenhouse supplies.
Teaching and Research Support - 25%
- Teaching and research activities require plants to be available at specific developmental stages at varying times of the year. Using course syllabi, instructional schedules, and specified researcher goals, establish and adjust cultivation priorities to provide requested plant materials on the dates needed throughout the year.
- Communicate with instructors, researchers, and greenhouse staff regarding plant availability, production timelines, cultivation requirements, and potential risks to teaching or research activities.
- Collect, prepare, label, and distribute plant materials for instructional and research use.
- Provide horticultural information and consultation to faculty, staff, students, and researchers.
- Troubleshoot cultivation problems that could affect instructional or research activities and implement appropriate corrective measures.
Plant Health, Nutrition, and Environmental Systems - 15%
- Implement and oversee general and specialized plant nutrition and fertilization programs.
- Monitor and operate irrigation and fertigation systems, including ongoing testing, inspection, cleaning, and care of sensors, filters, and related equipment.
- Conduct pest and disease scouting and participate in integrated pest management activities, including beneficial insect releases when appropriate.
- Apply pesticides and other treatments in accordance with applicable laws, product labels, safety requirements, and University procedures.
- Monitor greenhouse temperature, humidity, lighting, irrigation, equipment, and other environmental conditions affecting plant health.
- Maintain accurate records of plant nutrition, pesticide applications, pest-management activities, environmental conditions, and plant treatments.
Work Direction, Coverage, and Safety Training - 10%
- Train, lead, direct, and review the plant-care work of staff, student employees, interns, and volunteers.
- Train workers in watering, sanitation, plant handling, propagation, pest scouting, equipment use, safety procedures, and other greenhouse practices.
- Participate in and assist with safety training for greenhouse users and workers, including safe plant handling, equipment use, pesticide/IPM procedures as assigned, and greenhouse operational protocols.
- Communicate daily and seasonal work priorities in coordination with the Greenhouse Manager and other greenhouse staff.
- Help coordinate plant-care coverage for weekends, holidays, staff absences, public programs, emergencies, and urgent operational needs.
Outreach, Records, and Operational Support - 10%
- Guide laboratory demonstrations for students, lead visiting groups through the greenhouse, answer horticultural inquiries from the public, and assist with greenhouse public days and other Department of Biology outreach activities.
- Maintain computerized plant records, accession information, labels, cultivation notes, treatment records, and related collection documentation.
- Assist with basic troubleshooting of greenhouse equipment and coordinate repairs or replacement with appropriate staff.
- Support irrigation maintenance, soil and fertilizer preparation, plant movement, equipment care, and other greenhouse operational needs.
- Perform other related duties consistent with the Plant Technician 3 classification.
Required Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Minimum Qualifications
- High school graduation or GED certificate and four years of work experience in plant research, including one year in managing a major farming operation.
- College training in one of the plant sciences may be substituted, year-for-year, for required experience. Additional years of experience in plant research may be substituted, year-for-year, for high school education.
Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager
Additional Qualifications
- Experience training and managing staff, students, interns and volunteers
- Ability to work independently and prioritize time-sensitive teaching, research, and plant-care responsibilities.
- Ability to learn and apply the cultural requirements of a diverse living plant collection.
- Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, researchers, volunteers, visitors, and members of the public.
- Ability to maintain accurate plant, treatment, safety, and operational records.
- Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety and the safe use of greenhouse tools, equipment, pesticides, and other materials.
- Must have a valid Washington State driver's license in good standing or obtain one by the position's start date to perform plant, materials, and supply pickups.
- Must obtain the required Washington State pesticide applicator license within six months of employment.
- Must be able to work one regularly scheduled weekend day and occasionally cover other shifts, holidays, staff absences, public events, emergencies, or urgent plant-care needs.
- Must be able to work in warm, humid, wet, dusty, and variable greenhouse conditions and perform the physical activities associated with greenhouse work, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
- Degree in horticulture, plant science, botany, agriculture, biology, or a related field, or equivalent horticultural training through a vocational, technical, or certificate program.
- Professional or substantial volunteer experience in a greenhouse, conservatory, botanical collection, horticultural operation, or plant-production environment.
- Experience cultivating diverse tropical, desert, temperate, teaching, or research plants.
- Experience coordinating and timing a variety of plant species or crops to reach required developmental stages at specified times.
- Experience with plant propagation, plant nutrition, soil preparation, fertilization, irrigation, or fertigation systems.
- Experience with integrated pest management or pesticide application.
- Experience monitoring greenhouse climate-control or environmental systems.
- Experience maintaining computerized plant, accession, treatment, or botanical collection records.
- Experience staging, transporting, and handling rare, fragile, valuable, or research-critical plant material.
- Experience with long-term horticultural project planning and collection management.
- Experience troubleshooting greenhouse, laboratory, irrigation, environmental-control, or related equipment.
- Experience working in an academic, research, museum, conservatory, public garden, or public horticultural environment.
- Experience communicating horticultural or scientific information to students, educational groups, or members of the public.
About the Team
The University of Washington Department of Biology operates a 20,000-square-foot greenhouse that supports undergraduate instruction, faculty research, public outreach, and the care of diverse living plant collections. The greenhouse includes tropical, desert, temperate, teaching, and research rooms and serves UW students, faculty, researchers, visiting educational groups, and members of the public. Greenhouse staff provide horticultural information and consultation to researchers as well as specialized plant care necessary for the successful cultivation of teaching and research organisms.
Compensation, Benefits and Position Details
Pay Range Minimum:
$47,136.00 annual
Pay Range Maximum:
$63,252.00 annual
Other Compensation:
-
Benefits:
For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/
Shift:
First Shift (United States of America)
Temporary or Regular?
This is a regular position
FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):
100.00%
Union/Bargaining Unit:
Not Applicable
About the UW
Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.
UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
Our Commitment
The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.