FIND_THE_RIGHTJOB.

Project Technician

Durham, United States

USNH Employees should apply within Workday through the Jobs Hub app

The Project Technician position will be part of a 5-year USDA-funded project focusing on promoting climate-smart and sustainable agriculture for expanding food production in New England through regionally adapted agroforestry systems (Project “ADAPT”). The project integrates research, education, and extension to (i) develop and test three agroforestry systems (silvopasture, polycultures, forest farming), (ii) promote agroforestry extension programs for landowners, professionals, and other interested communities (iii) build agroforestry knowledge and skills through diverse educational opportunities. Project results will contribute to developing environmentally and economically sustainable and resilient agriculture and forestry in New England.

The Project Technician will have primary responsibility for performing tasks and collecting data in the field and lab related to implementing and maintaining agroforestry experiments on university lands and cooperator farms. The successful candidate should have significant practical experience with biophysical data collection techniques as part of scientific field research related to agroforestry, forestry, and/or agricultural systems. The Project Technician should have strong leadership skills and the ability to coordinate and lead field crews of undergraduate and graduate students, hourly staff, and volunteers in implementing and maintaining experimental sites and collecting and managing data. The successful candidate will also have experience in supporting and training field assistants and graduate students in field activities. Additionally, the Project Technician may also support activities related to communication, such as maintaining the project website, facilitating publication of the quarterly newsletter, and supporting various extension, education, and outreach initiatives and events.

Duties/Responsibilities

Field Work (60%)

Coordinate field crews establishing and maintaining agroforestry field trials (e.g., laying out experiments, planting trees, weeding, irrigation, etc).
Lead and support field data collection activities (e.g., measuring plant height and diameter; assessing pest, pathogen, and herbivore impacts; collecting soil and plant samples).
Occasional travel to participating universities and landowner cooperators to support agroforestry field experiments and on-farm trials.

Lab Work (20%)

Maintain laboratory and field equipment (e.g., repairing minor damages, troubleshooting to ensure effective functioning, developing organizational systems for equipment).
Conduct laboratory tasks (e.g., drying and weighing samples; preparing soil and plant samples for analysis, analyzing soil samples), and train lab assistants and graduate students in laboratory tasks as needed.

Administrative and Leadership (20%)

Train and supervise undergraduate student field assistants, as needed.
Support the Project Managers in activities related to data acquisition, management, and analysis.
Support planning and execution of administrative tasks and event planning, as needed.

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience:

BS in agroforestry, forestry, agronomy, or a related field.
Practical experience (1+ years) working with agriculture, agroforestry, and/or forestry.

Required Licenses & Certifications:

Driver’s License

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Experience with laying out experimental plots, soil sampling, and vegetation surveys related to agroforestry research.
Technical skills and leadership experience necessary to train and lead crews in field and laboratory activities related to establishment and monitoring of agroforestry experiments.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Experience communicating agroforestry-related topics to diverse audiences.
Ability to work well independently and as part of a larger team.
Strong problem solving and creative thinking skills.
Strong technical skills for maintaining and troubleshooting field and lab equipment.
Strong organizational and time management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Practical experience (2+ years) working with agriculture, agroforestry, and/or forestry.

Applicant instructions:

Applicants should be prepared to upload the following documents when applying online within the Resume/Cover Letter section of your application:

Resume/CV

Applications that are missing any of the required items may not move forward for consideration. Additional uploaded documents not requested in the position announcement will not be reviewed.

Please be advised that this position is supported by external sponsor funding. As such, continued employment in this role is contingent upon the availability of those external funds. If, for any reason, the sponsor funding is reduced or discontinued, employment may be subject to modification or termination in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

Location:

Durham

Salary Grade:

Exempt Staff 17

Similar jobs