Greenhouse Director

Company: University of California
Location: Santa Cruz
Posted on: September 12, 2020

Job Description:

Delay Notice: Due to the current health crisis, candidate selection or hiring steps may be delayed.

UCSC Statement

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the intimacy of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university.

Initial Review Date (IRD)

The Initial Review Date for this job is: 06/22/2020

UC Santa Cruz staff jobs are posted until filled. Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. NOTE: Materials submitted after the IRD will be forwarded only at the request of the hiring unit. Submit your materials before the IRD to ensure consideration by the hiring unit.

Dept Marketing Statement

The UCSC Greenhouses are a support facility primarily for the Departments of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB), Environmental Studies (ENVS) and other campus units, e.g., Natural Reserves and the Island Conservation Group. Its mission is to provide plants and plant-related materials for the instruction and research programs of these departments, technical expertise on plant growth, cultivation and experimental design as they relate to instruction and research experiments. The facilities consist of 20 greenhouses for instruction and research, 25 environmental chambers, 5 outdoor areas and various work areas (headhouses, storage rooms, pesticide rooms, etc.).

The instructional greenhouses provide materials for courses in the plant sciences as well as other related courses and serve primarily faculty/instructors, TAs, and undergraduates. The facility also serves individuals or groups from public schools, community colleges or other educational groups. The research greenhouses provide support for faculty, post docs, researchers, visiting faculty, graduate and undergraduate students performing plant-related research.

Involves the on-site administrative, research, facilities management and / or cultivation functions involved in establishing and maintaining field research sites/ studies for a variety of disciplines (including environmental, public health, social and/or biological sciences). Field research sites / studies span a diverse range of domestic and international regions to support research activities.

Under general direction of a faculty Director and working in conjunction with stakeholders from each of the departments and divisions, the incumbent directs the operation and management of the Greenhouses, develops and maintains professional collaborations with campus and external groups, and participates in an advisory capacity to related campus units.

Starting Salary Range: $65,000-$75,000/annually. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience

Benefits: This position is eligible for Full benefits

Schedule: Full-time

Percentage of Time: 100%

Days of the Week: Monday - Sunday, with the ability to work a variable schedule including occasional evenings and weekends to ensure coverage 7 days a week with other staff

Employee Classification: This is a Career appointment

Union Representation: No

Work location: UCSC Main Campus and/or Coastal Science Campus

Job Duties

40% - PLANT MANAGEMENT:

General Research Support

Consult with researchers on research projects. Provide technical advice related to overall experimental design, cultivation of research plants, choice of soils/containers/fertilizers, light intensity and timing, etc., ensuring that controls are designed into the experiment and that it will satisfactorily address the experimental hypothesis.

Ensure proper disposal of plants according to the EPA and NIH containment guidelines. Adhere to biological containment guidelines during or at the termination of an experiment. Develop & update emergency response protocols to plants and experiments exposed to overheating, overcooling and over drying conditions.

Conduct greenhouse tours at the instructional and research facilities as needed.

Instructional Plant Support

Consult with faculty/instructors/TA's on materials for new, revised or ongoing coursework. Determine material covered in course by reading text, obtaining handouts, attending lectures, etc.; consult published lab manuals, courses given at other institutions and previous courses taken for ideas on activities; advise, suggest and recommend materials and activities.

Present instructional content (restoration, propagation, native plant identification, plant taxonomy, ecology, biotechnology, botany, evolution, growing techniques, collection development and management). Advise students on development of senior theses or independent studies in conjunction with greenhouse usage.

Perform preliminary research to establish experimental schedules and parameters. Record and maintain records on environmental conditions, timing, treatments, cultivation methods and results.

Maintain and update catalogs of plant and seed sources. Develop and maintain a plant inventory and vendor database.

Provide technical expertise and information to instructors from local schools, community colleges and members of the community.

25% - ADMINISTRATION:

Budget Management

Prepare budget requests, staffing justifications, and participate in development of shared funding agreement with Social Sciences Division. Meet with Divisional Resource Manager to determine and discuss budgetary constraints and alternatives; monitor budgetary report

Initiate and/or authorize purchases for materials, supplies and equipment in accordance with established University policies and procedures.

Manage recharge operations, including tracking of rechargeable activity within the facility, monthly processing of recharge fees, communication to customer base and renegotiation of recharge fees annually.

Work with the development office and stakeholders to promote outside funding.

Computing Support

Operate computer-based environmental control systems for the greenhouse, for environmental chambers and for related research equipment such as digital cameras, CO2 analyzer, leaf area meter, data logging equipment, etc.

Oversee and maintain the facility website.

Safety and Security

Develop, implement and enforce policies and procedures governing facilities use by staff, researchers, students and visitors, including equipment scheduling, use, maintenance and repairs.

Create instructional materials and train researchers and staff on equipment use.

Assess and evaluate users' needs when determining policies concerning allocation of space, quarantine of introduced plants, research restrictions, and responsibilities of greenhouse staff.

Establish and oversee personal and equipment safety, security and emergency procedures in conjunction with state (UC) and county (County Agricultural Commissioner’s) rules and regulations.

Know locations of electric panels and location of equipment on each panel. Take preventative actions before disruptions and outages occur in order to minimize equipment damage.

Supervision

Hire, train and supervise 1.0 FTE greenhouse staff (SRA II level); oversee supervision of 10-15 student employees. Define roles and responsibilities, assign work, and establish short- and long-term priorities. Lead staff meetings and provide on-going guidance, advice and consultation. Facilitate employee development.

30% - FACILITIES MANAGEMENT:

Oversee the unit’s facilities spread across two campuses and four main building locations. Rooftop facilities exist on three buildings which include 7000 sf under glass, 285 sf of environmental growing space, 11,000 sf of outdoor growing areas and 3000 sf of laboratory, support and special equipment rooms. A fourth primary location at the Coastal Science Campus includes the 4,200 square feet (sf) under glass, 96 sf of environmental growing space, 2,500 sf of outdoor growing areas and 3000 sf of laboratory, support and special equipment rooms

Allocate space and schedule use of environmental chambers and greenhouses depending on space needed, environmental parameters required (light levels, daylength, temperature, humidification, pathogens and pests), available space, order of request, and type of containment (isolation) needed.

Design, modify, and upgrade existing greenhouses, growing areas, work areas, etc., to accommodate long-term users' needs. Maintain and update files on systems, layouts, current products, new technology, etc., gathered from journals, visits to other facilities, independent research, and calls to vendors.

Maintain equipment by developing procedures for preventive maintenance to maximize life of equipment and minimize research disruption due to downtime. Monitor and maintain utilities such as electric service, industrial, domestic, and deionized water services, compressed air and drainage plumbing. Arrange for repairs when appropriate. Oversee yearly inventory of equipment.

Oversee purchase of seeds, plants, materials, and equipment. Consult on equipment purchases for research, including preferred manufacturers names, specific parameters, and design and construction specification

Maintain safety, security, and cleanliness of facilities by identifying and arranging for mitigation of potential hazards for chemical storage, walkways and floors, etc. Maintain security of equipment and facilities susceptible to theft or vandalism.

5% - EXTERNAL COLLABORATIONS AND OUTREACH:

Develop and maintain collaborations outside the Greenhouses to enhance educational opportunities, research, and local land management. Develop partnerships and coordinate efforts for campus projects to share expertise and resources and further develop instructional and research opportunities across divisional and departmental boundaries. Provide technical expertise to the Chancellor Office’s site stewardship program managed by UCSC Grounds Services.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

Education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's or a Master’s degree in Botany/Plant Science, including knowledge of botany or plant sciences emphasizing plant molecular biology, plant physiology, plant pathology, soil science, plant propagation, and plant identification.

Knowledge of the scientific method as applied to biological research (especially in the plant sciences), including experience providing technical advice on experiment design and methods and ability to identify needs and develop innovative solutions to technical problems.

Extensive experience managing a multi-departmental plant growth facility preferably in a university setting, including knowledge of electronic control and ventilation systems, experience growing research plants with consistently reproducible outcomes, experience with water and fertilizer requirements, diagnosing and treating diseases and pests, pruning and propagating, etc.

Experience using and maintaining plant biology equipment such as light meters, microscopes, plant growth chambers, supplemental lighting, pH meters, hand lens, data loggers, leaf area meters, co2 analyzers, autoclave, etc.

Experience with NIH and/or EPA guidelines for biological and physical containment, including restrictions for recombinant DNA plant research. Experience in handling and disposing of rare and endangered plants and seeds, plants with diseases, transgenic plants and their seeds, invasive plants and non-local soils. Ability to stay apprised of laws and regulations regarding handling and disposal for each group.

Experience using lab chemicals and pesticides (fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, growth hormones, etc.) and Integrated Pest Management practices, including developing and implementing a pesticide safety program.

Excellent communication skills to collaborate with and support a diverse group of faculty, researchers, and students with varying levels of expertise and to develop and maintain cooperative relationships with campus units and external agencies. Presentation skills sufficient to lead class sections, conduct tours, and address large and small groups.

Writing skills sufficient to develop policies, procedures, funding proposals, experimental protocols, budget justifications, job descriptions and correspondence.

Skills and experience using standard computer software for email and to create documents, spreadsheets, databases, and websites. Experience using computers to program and operate environmental equipment, computer controlled greenhouse environments, and microprocessor-based equipment used in ecological research, etc.

Organizational and time management skills sufficient to independently establish priorities, complete competing assignments within established timeframes, and maintain close attention to detail. Ability to exercise good judgment, discretion and flexibility.

Ability to stand for long periods of time, often reaching, bending, pushing or pulling. Ability to work in warm conditions and withstand continual noise of machines, fans and other equipment. Ability to lift and transport containers weighing 50-75 lbs., and maneuver bags weighing 100 lbs. with the aid of handcarts. Ability to perform tasks while standing on a ladder.

Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

Ability to develop and manage budgets.

Supervisory experience sufficient to hire, train, and evaluate professional and technical staff.

Special Conditions Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.

Must possess a valid license to drive in the state of California.

May be asked to report to either the main campus or the Coastal Science Campus depending on the needs of the unit. The candidate must be able to travel between the two campuses.

Ability to work a variable schedule including occasional evenings and weekends.

No known allergic reaction to plants, pesticides, fertilizers, media, etc.

Effective Tetanus booster required (University can provide).

All UCSC employees must know and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

How to Apply

Attach your resume and cover letter when applying to this job opening. Do not attach any documents to 'My Activities'. Select How to Apply  for more instructions and information.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

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Keywords: University of California, Santa Cruz , Greenhouse Director, Other , Santa Cruz, California