Academic Support Specialist (Farm Technician)

The College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (CAFNRM) at UH Hilo opened its doors in the fall of 1975 with the main objective to prepare students for the fundamental and broad factors involved in production, management, processing, distribution, marketing, sales, and services in the field of agricultural sciences. To achieve this goal, CAFNRM offers the Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in three areas of specialization: Animal Health and Management (which includes a pre-veterinary option), Aquaculture, and Tropical Agroecology.

The Academic Support Specialist (Farm Technician) will be responsible for providing a full range of support to the CAFNRM faculty and staff for daily farm operations, including maintaining agricultural tools and equipment, implementing safety and sanitation protocols, monitoring and maintaining greenhouse, fields, and orchards.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Denotes essential functions

• Collaborate with horticulture and cropping systems faculty to execute complex field operations, including site preparation, planting and the implementation of experimental treatments.

• Provide technical field support to ensure all on-farm research activities align strictly with established faculty protocol and experimental designs.

• Assist in the precise data collection and management of plant-based research trials, including sampling, taking measurements, and applying specialized cultivation techniques.

• Regularly inspect research crops to monitor growth patterns, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of study results.

• Perform daily diagnostic health checks on plant materials across greenhouses, shade houses, and field plots to monitor for pests, disease, and nutrient deficiencies.

• Manage the maintenance and inventory of agricultural tools and machinery; ensure all equipment is sanitized, serviced, and stored according to safety standards

• Uphold facility excellence by implementing sanitation protocols and hazard reduction strategies to ensure a clean, organized, and professional research environment.

• Maintain strict adherence to Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) standards and university safety policies.

• Act as a first-line reporter for site safety, ensuring the immediate documentation and reporting of any incidents, injuries, or hazardous conditions to the Farm Manager or faculty.

• Ensure all bio-security and sanitation protocols are followed to prevent cross contamination between research plots.

• Maintain cross-functional flexibility to support diverse farm operations and interdisciplinary projects as directed by management.
• Serve as a versatile team member providing "surge support" for various farm sectors to ensure continuity of operations during peak research cycles (harvest, planting seasons, etc.).
• Other duties as assigned by the horticulture faculty/farm manager.

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Agriculture or related field and 1 year of progressively responsible professional experience in horticulture facility management (managing a greenhouse or farm facility, including hands-on tasks like plumbing, building/repairs, and taking care of animals) or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
• Functional knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of horticulture demonstrated by knowledge, understanding and ability to apply concepts, terminology.
• Functional knowledge and understanding of principles, theories, federal and state laws, rules, regulations and systems associated with horticulture
• Demonstrated ability to recognize problems, identify possible causes and resolve the full range problems that may commonly occur in the area of horticulture.
• Demonstrated ability to understand oral and written documentation, write reports and procedures, and communicate effectively in a variety of situations.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team members and individuals.
• Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software, and spreadsheets

Desirable Qualifications

• Demonstrated dependability and the ability to work collaboratively with others.
• Proven ability to maintain professionalism and clear communication during high-pressure situations

The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawaii, recognized for its integration of cultural immersion and place-based research that leverages the island's extraordinary geological, biological, and cultural diversity. A comprehensive, regional campus within the ten-campus University of Hawaii system, UH Hilo offers high-quality undergraduate and select postgraduate education, with distinctive strengths in areas such as marine science, geology, astronomy, and Hawaiian language revitalization, while advancing research, scholarship, and creative activity that support community needs, environmental stewardship, Indigenous knowledge systems, and workforce development priorities for the State of Hawaii., The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/ Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks. In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office. In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status. Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request