Greenhouse Manager - Morgantown, United States - West Virginia University

Description

West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design is currently accepting applications for a Greenhouse Manager in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

About the Opportunity

As a Greenhouse Manager, you will be responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of the greenhouse and controlled environments including coolers and growth chambers located both in the greenhouse and new agricultural sciences building. You will report to the Greenhouse Director.

The greenhouse consists of 16 bays of new structures covered with polycarbonate (15,000 square feet), a film plastic covered auxiliary structure (10,000 square feet), two classrooms, storage areas, and laboratory space. The controlled environments also include six coolers, two freezers, six reach-in and six walk-in growth chambers. WVU is in partnership with the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station (NRS), which has two laboratories and two growing rooms at the greenhouse. The Greenhouse Manager position provides primary leadership for the effective operation of these facilities, and directly supports teaching, research, and outreach missions of the university.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits (this position is a benefits-eligible non-classified staff position)
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What you'll do:

• Day-to-day operation, maintenance, and management of WVU greenhouses, growth chambers, freezers, and coolers.
• Consults and coordinates with faculty, staff and students for their research and teaching projects.
• Recruits, hires, trains, and supervises staff and students as needed Coordinates space allocation in greenhouse and other controlled environments.
• Applies chemicals (e.g. pesticides) and maintains a chemical usage log and inventory.
• Institutes and maintains an integrated pest management (IPM) program.
• Develops and enforces with guidance from the Controlled Environment Committee greenhouse policies, procedures, and rules.
• Directs preventative maintenance and coordinates repairs with WVU Facilities and/or outside firms.
• Procures and consults in the procurement of equipment and supplies.
• Maintains a safe and clean working environment.
• Maintains environmental and facility records.
• Acts as building liaison and supervisor.
• Develops and provides tours and workshops as needed.
• Offers service-learning opportunities for students.
• Coordinates the upkeep of greenhouse surroundings and plantings, college-based on-campus gardens, and greenhouse.
• Assist in external funding in support of the greenhouse's teaching, research, and outreach mission.
• Continuously pursues and applies knowledge of the newest advances in greenhouse and related technologies.
• May assist in plant-related courses in support of the Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, as agreed upon with the Division Director and as time permits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Horticulture or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minumum of two (2) years of demonstrated greenhouse management experience or other related work experience.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.
• Assertive with excellent written and oral communication abilities.
• Technologically-inclined.
• Experienced in the safe application of pesticides and ability to acquire and maintain state pesticide certifications.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task.
• Supervisory skills.
• Ability to deal with general public.
• Ability to work weekends and/or holidays for watering duty as needed.
• Adhere to WVU EHS policies.
• Adhere to WVU cash handling policies.
• Understand teaching and research methods preferred.
• Have an aptitude for simple mechanical repair preferred.
• Ability to obtain state issued P-Card preferred.
• Valid driver's license.
• Have or obtain within six months of hire a pesticide applicators license/permit.
• Work in a greenhouse environment.
• Apply pesticides.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Be able to lift and carry heavy weights (up to 50 lbs.)
• Medical Monitoring -- This position may or may not require Medical Monitoring, including periodic health monitoring and/or training.