AGRICULTURAL SPECIALIST

AGRICULTURAL SPECIALIST

Posting Number: SRGV5891
Number of Vacancies: 1
Location: Edinburg, Texas
Department: Sustainble Agr and Rural Advncmt
FLSA: Non-Exempt

Scope of Job:
To provide support in the coordination and supervision of all assigned areas and ensure completion of general maintenance of school and community gardens and small-scale farm plots and all related machinery.

Description of Duties:
• Assists entrepreneurs with the start-up of their farm and ranch operations within pre-established guidelines, including

o Helps/trains customers with small-scale farm site selection and preparation.

o Helps/trains customers with small-scale fruit and vegetable production.

o Helps/trains customers with fruit and vegetable harvesting, marketing, and rotation.

• Responsible for expansion and maintenance of demonstration and research farm plots.

• Designs, implements, and maintains school and community gardens and small-scale farming plots.

• Provides work and instruction in the performance of a variety of maintenance and light repair tasks to include mechanical, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and drip-irrigation systems.

• May assist other specialized crafts in larger, more complex projects.

• Assists with new employee training and supervision when required.

• Inspects farm plots and irrigation systems for water leaks and insect damage and performs repairs or coordinates repairs or maintenance which need to be performed by a licensed individual/company.

• Performs maintenance on school and community gardens and small-scale farming plots and is responsible for their development and implementation.

• Applies pesticides, fertilizer and herbicides as possible without applicable license.

• Assists other specialized crafts in larger, more complex projects.

• Assists with new employee training when required.

• Assists in inventory control and distributes requested material.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received:
General direction from the assigned supervisor.

Supervision Given:
Direct supervision of all assigned staff.

Required Education:
Associate degree in Agriculture related field.

Preferred Education:
Bilingual, able to speak Spanish.

Licenses/Certifications:
As condition of employment this position requires the applicant to be authorized to operate a University-Owned Vehicle for Official University Business. Per University of Texas System Policy 157, applicants will be subject to a motor vehicle record check for their most recent thirty-six (36) month history. Out of State Drivers are required to submit a 36-month history MVR from their prior State of residence(s).

Required Experience:
Three (3) years of experience in farming and/or agriculture with Knowledge of farm and agricultural-related equipment and its care and maintenance. Seven (7) years of the required experience without the stated education. Knowledge of farm and agricultural-related equipment and its care and maintenance

Preferred Experience:
N/A

Equipment:
Use of farm and agricultural-related equipment, such as tractor mower, trimmers, etc. Knowledge of general trades tools, such as screwdrivers, hoe and shovel, wrenches, and pliers.

Working Conditions:
Needs to be able to successfully perform all required duties. Agricultural environment. Some travel and constant weekend work is required.

Other:
Ability to lift and manipulate tools and bags weighing up to 50 pounds. This position will be subject to a pre-employment physical.

Physical Capabilities: N/A
Employment Category: Full-Time
Minimum Salary: Commensurate with Experience
Posted Salary: Commensurate with Experience
Position Available Date: 05/12/2022
Grant Funded Position: Yes
If Yes, Provide Grant Expiration Date: 04/14/2025

EEO Statement:
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the civil rights act of 1964, the title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Dear Applicant, Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following: *Date of Birth *Gender *Ethnicity/Race Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reserves the right to discontinue accepting applications prior to the stated close date of this position, after meeting the posting requirement of three (3) calendar days. If you have any questions, please visit our Careers site at https://careers.utrgv.edu for detailed contact information.

Additional Information:
UTRGV is a distributed location institution and working location is subject to change based on need.

All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Substitutions to the above requirements must have prior approval from the Chief Human Resources Officer.

To apply, visit https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/33941 jeid-d5497fae4e91094294f80a9e9b8edb57