Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Plant Sciences department head and in collaboration with the faculty, this individual will serve as lead and supervises technicians and student assistants to coordinate the day-to-day operations of the department’s sustainable row crop production, including vegetable and forage crops, and their associated facilities and equipment. The incumbent will be responsible for training student assistants in all aspects of sustainable row crop production and will have oversight of all non-organic production of vegetables and forages for the Plant Sciences department.

Department Summary

The Plant Sciences (PLSC) Department is an academic unit within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES). The department is comprised of a department head, full-time faculty and part-time lecturers, support staff, 250 undergraduate majors, and a varying number of student assistants. The facilities associated with PLSC include the Department’s Crops Unit, with 70 acres of evergreen and deciduous fruit trees and berry production, 35 acres of forage crop and annual row crop production, of which 11 acres are certified organic, and 10,000 sq. feet of greenhouse space; a 16-acre Horticulture Unit consisting of 40,000 sq. ft. of greenhouse space, extensive outside production and display areas, and 7,500 square feet of shade houses; and the Leaning Pine Arboretum. The Department offers the Plant Sciences major leading to the Bachelor of Science degree. Within this major are three concentrations: Environmental Horticultural Science, Fruit and Crop Science, and Plant Protection Science.

Key Qualifications

• Experience with primary and secondary tillage equipment and process.
• Ability to operate, maintain and repair farm and technical equipment, including two and four-wheel drive vehicles (including off-road travel), ATV, mini-excavator, wheel track tractors; irrigation lines and pumps preparation, planting, cultivating, and harvesting equipment.
• Ability to read, interpret and work from plans, drawings, and technical manuals.
• Ability to independently plan, prioritize, supervise, and coordinate day-to-day tasks and long-term projects and complete work assignments in a timely manner.
• Knowledge of State and Federal laws and regulations related to crop and horticultural pest management and control and ability to interpret and communicate as needed to ensure that all legal aspect of pesticide application, clean-up, and storage are adhered to.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully complete technical calibrations for a variety of pesticide and fertilizer application equipment. 
• Thorough knowledge of the operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery and other equipment employed in the production of crops.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor for crop pests, build a database and analyze results for effective pest management.
• General knowledge of the hazards of equipment operation and chemical use, and safety rules pertaining to crop production activities; including risk management U.S. EPA Pesticide Worker Protection Standards. 
• Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships with local, County and State Regulatory Agencies and serve as the department liaison to such agencies.
• Ability to understand organic certification. 

Education and Experience

Three years of progressively responsible experience in the production of field, garden, vegetable, or specialty crops (orchards, vineyards, feed crops, etc.). Equivalent to 60 semester or 90 quarter units of academic work at a recognized college or university, including agriculture and science courses applicable to the production of general field and specialty crops. (Additional specialized experience which has demonstrated that the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year experience for each 30 semester or 45 quarter units of accredited college work).

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range:  $6,825 - $7,519 monthly/$81,900 - $90,228 annually

Classification Range: $4,155 - $7,519 monthly/$49,860 - $90,228 annually

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information. Optional on-campus housing.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Diversity Statement

At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an equal opportunity employer. 

Supplemental Information

CSU requires faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare a medical or religious exemption from doing so.  Any candidates advanced in a currently open search process should be prepared to comply with this requirement. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to humanresources@calpoly.edu.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff positions (i.e. H-1B visas).

Positions are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days.