Job Posting Title:

FFAR Manager of Ecological Resources

Job Details and Requirement:

Position Title: FFAR Manager of Ecological Resources

Department: Robert Redford Conservancy      

Supervisor: Office of the Dean of Faculty

The FFAR (Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research) Manager of Ecological Resources- (FFAR-MER) is responsible for managing Agrivoltaic research farm plots at multiple locations across Inland Southern California. The role is directly tied to the FFAR Seeding Solutions grant and will serve as the main responsible party for farm management on the research plots. The FFAR-MER will be largely responsible for preparing ground, amending soil according to experimental parameters, planting, irrigating, harvesting, and disposing of crops, as well as insuring the good working condition of various scientific instrumentation on the plots. The FFAR-MER reports directly to the PI and Co-PI for the research program and may also report to lead researchers conducting portions of the experiment. The FFAR-MER is also expected to assist in some data collection where/when overlapping with farm duties like plant observation and harvesting as well as support coordination of site visits, volunteers, and other researchers on the farm sites.                                                         

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

FFAR-MER will:

• Prepare growing spaces according to experimental parameters.

• Amend soils according to experimental parameters.

• Plant season crops according to experimental parameters.

• Irrigate crops in a regimented system to assure even water access to all plants.

• Repair any issues related to irrigation that may arise.

• Keep scientific instrumentation left within or around farm plots in good working order.

• Help monitor and record crop data at the time of harvests.

• Help keep detailed records of crop life cycles.

• Cultivate crops on all sites in a similar fashion as to allow for comparison across sites.

• Communicated regularly and clearly with PI, Co-PI, and other research leads.

• Facilitate groups of students and/or volunteers at any of the project sites.

• Tend to each of the project sites equally and maintain detailed notes about work.

• Maintain a clean and orderly workperson-like environment at the farm plot sites.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s or equivalent degree or experience is agriculture, plant sciences, horticulture, environmental resource management, must be fluent in English, have 3-5 years minimum experience in urban or commercial scale production agriculture, and possess 2-5 year experience working with students and/or volunteer groups.

Preferred Qualification:  Bilingual in Spanish, speaks Vietnamese and/or Tagalog, 2+ years lab experience in biology or similar field, strong public speaker, work well in a group, possess knowledge of excel, google suite, and adobe software.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The individual must possess knowledge, skills and ability to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of the position or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

• Specific knowledge of soil amendment practices, drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, and row-cropping.

• Experience in specialty-crop/vegetable crop growing.

• Meticulous record keeper.

• Familiarity with organic and regenerative farming methods as well as some conventional methods.

• Knowledge of scientific method and scientific rigor.

• Capable of using email, word processing software, and managing electronic documents.

• Able to tolerate outdoor work in heat, cold, or inclement weather conditions.

• Has transportation to and from multiple worksites.

• Has transportation to and from multiple worksites.

• Must have access to cellular telephone device.

• Must be able to manage time effectively.

• Must be able to work on a farm and manage a farm to high standards.

• Knowledge of pest management for food crop systems. Must have access to reliable and secure computer and internet connection. Must maintain password protection for work files and records and ensure that no one else has access to password and login credentials at remote work site.

• Must have access to a dedicated and suitable workstation at remote location, including desk or table and supporting, upright chair. Must ensure workstation is safe and free from hazards.

Licenses/Certifications: Valid CA Driver’s License

Supervisory Responsibility: None.

Time Type:  Full-time 40 hours per week

Annual Pay Schedule: 11-months (December 15 – January 15) - This is a 3-year position

Work Schedule: This is a 3-year full-time position, regular hours for this position will be scheduled between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  These hours may vary due to needs of the College or department.

Work Model:  Hybrid (Meetings on-campus or remote 15%.  85% or more of work conducted on farm plot sites)

Compensation:  Salary Rate $26.00 - $28.00 per hour

Pitzer College is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, tuition exchange program participation and more. 

Emergency Reporting Designation: Reports to supervisor

Elevated Systems Access: None

Physical Requirements: This is generally an active position and more than 50% of the time outdoors. Must be able to:

• Stand for prolonged periods of time;

• Tolerate work in the outdoors including exposure to heat, cold, wind, and rain;

• Communicate with others by email, in person and over the telephone;

• Read printed materials and a computer screen;

• Have the mobility to work in an outdoor farm setting and use standard farm tools and mechanical equipment;

• Manage in-ground growing operations on multiple sites within seasonal workplans.

  • Requires reaching overhead, kneeling, grasping, pulling, pushing, stooping, bending, digging, chopping, and twisting;

  • Lift 50 pounds from the ground to waist level unassisted; and

• Have the stamina to manage a high-volume workload in a fast-paced work environment

Instructions:  Only qualified applicants please.

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About Pitzer College

The Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate liberal arts colleges, two graduate institutions, and Claremont University Consortium, which provides shared institutional support services, is reminiscent of the Oxford-Cambridge model. The undergraduate colleges include Pomona College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, and Pitzer College. The two graduate institutions include Claremont Graduate University and Keck Graduate Institute.

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