The Breeding Technician actively assists and works independently to organize the daily wheat breeding operations. This position is responsible for accurately and efficiently providing competent support for yield trial, maintenance and early generation wheat breeding activities. We are seeking to recruit at the earliest opportunity a Breeding Technician Winter Wheat on a permanent, full-time basis in Champaign, IL, USA.

Essential Job Functions:

• Support the Breeders and Station Manager to execute and evaluate wheat yield trials and screening nurseries at all locations.
• Responsible for data collection in the Maintenance Nursery and assisting the Breeders in completing PVP documents
• Assist breeders to perform crosses and manage the greenhouse independently in absence of the breeder
• Lead and train seasonal staff and summer interns.
• Coordinate and technically supervise activities to turn-around seeds between harvest and sowing.
• Create field-plans and generate field-books and record data using technical equipment and specialty software
• Maintain sufficient stock of breeding supplies and materials
• Provide technical expertise to handle breeding machinery.
• Ensure purchasing is kept within budget and authority levels are not exceeded.
• Regular travel and/or drive and/or operate a forklift on behalf of the business.
• Meet attendance requirements.
• Ensure the Company Handbook, Rules, Guidelines and Procedures, and safety policies are followed and personal protective equipment is used correctly.
• Other duties and/ or work in other crops handled at the station as assigned.

Required qualifications:

• Highschool degree and interest in Breeding, Agronomy, Genetics, and related fields
• Basic computer skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelors’ degree in Breeding, Agronomy, Genetics, Horticulture, or related field; or comparable work experience in crop improvement and variety development.
• Forklift license, or ability to obtain one.
• People management skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proven skills demonstrating critical, logical and innovative thinking.

What we offer:

• Health, dental, vision benefits
• Pension plan and 401(k) with employer match
• Flexible paid-time-o, (PTO)
• Professional training and development opportunities
• An international and diverse team

Working environment:

• Must wear required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as needed.
• Able to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs. using safe lifting strategies.
• Able to work indoors/outdoors in varied environmental conditions (loud, hot, cold, dusty, damp, etc.).
• Flexibility to work rotating shifts as needed (including weekends, night shifts, and holidays).
• Driving vehicles for extended periods of time.

Physical demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

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