Plant Pathologist and Director of the WSU Pullman Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:
July 5, 2026
If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):
1162-NN_ADMINPRO - Manager, 1162-YN_ADMINPRO - Manager

Business Title:
Plant Pathologist and Director of the WSU Pullman Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Employee Type:
Admin. Professional

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

As the Plant Pathologist and Director of the Washington State University (WSU) Pullman Plant Diagnostic Clinic (PPDC), you will focus on the assessment, preparation, and diagnosis of plant samples submitted to the clinic, as well as providing appropriate management recommendations to clients. You will be based at the WSU Pullman campus within the PPDC and will serve clientele in central and eastern Washington, complementing diagnostic services provided by the WSU Puyallup Plant Diagnostic Lab for western Washington.

In this role, you will serve a wide range of stakeholders across Washington State and the broader Pacific Northwest, including producers and industry professionals working with grain, legume, oilseed, small fruit, tree fruit, vegetable, seed, and other crops, as well as forestry, forage, pasture, rangeland, and ornamental horticulture sectors. You will collaborate with Extension faculty, advisory boards, and commodity associations to deliver educational programming and address plant diagnosis and management needs for farmers, growers, gardeners, Master Gardeners, consultants, crop advisors, Extension personnel, researchers, and federal and state partners, including USDA APHIS and WSDA.

You will also contribute to service activities within the Department of Plant Pathology, CAHNRS, WSU, and relevant professional societies and organizations such as the American Phytopathological Society, the National Plant Diagnostic Network, and the Western Plant Diagnostic Network. Additionally, you will be responsible for implementing and managing a business plan for the clinic, including financial oversight and fiscal planning to ensure long-term sustainability. In this leadership role, you will supervise technical staff and student employees while modeling professional standards and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time (100% FTE), permanent position. Overtime eligibility will be determined based on final salary placement.

Monthly Salary: $6,214.86 - $7,676.08 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in plant pathology or emphasis in plant pathology and four (4) years of experience in plant diagnostics, with working knowledge of diagnosing plant pathogens (fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes) as well as other plant problems (arthropod pests and abiotic problems), and which has included at least one (1) year of supervisory experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.
  
• Experience and demonstrated ability to work with plant diagnostic techniques, including microscopy, culturing microbes, and molecular diagnostics.
  
• Familiarity with a broad range of plant diseases across a diversity of crops.
  
• Experience with diagnosis of abiotic plant problems.
  
• Demonstrated laboratory management skills, including database and fiscal management.
  
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
  
• Experience developing and delivering educational programs.
  
• Experience maintaining positive stakeholder relationships and successfully working collaboratively with other agencies and organizations.
  
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use digital technologies, including computer systems and mobile devices.
  
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team.
  
• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver's license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards.
  
• Able to obtain a Washington State driver's license within 6 months of hire.
  
• Able to obtain a WSDA Pesticide Applicator's license within 3 months of hire to address the liability of making recommendations to PPDC stakeholders.
  
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evening and weekend commitments.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD degree in plant pathology.
  
• Plant disease clinic management experience.
  
• Previous experience managing budgets, fee structuring, and developing a business plan.
  
• Authored or co-authored peer-reviewed research and/or Extension publications.
  
• Experience seeking participation from, and working with, diverse audiences.
  
• Prior experience in an academic or government environment.
  

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

About Department/College/Area/ Campus - https://plantpath.wsu.edu/

Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
Department Name: Plant Pathology
Location: Pullman, WA.

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Resume
2) Cover Letter

External candidates, upload all documents in the 'Application Document' section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the 'Resume/Cover Letter' section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:
Full time

Position Term:
12 Month

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU's Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/

To apply, visit https://wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WSU_Jobs/job/Pullman-WA/Plant-Pathologist-and-Director-of-the-WSU-Pullman-Plant-Diagnostic-Clinic_R-14987

Washington State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Educator and Employer.







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