Assistant Plant Breeder at Sakata Seed America, INC. – Woodland, California

JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for overseeing operational aspects of the breeding programs, QA Grow outs and Sales trials placed at the WIC Farm. Off-station research trials support Occasionally.

PRODUCTS: Watermelon, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Lettuce, Beet, Sweet Pepper, Radish, Melon, Hot Pepper and Ornamentals

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES*:

• Planning summer breeding program trials
• Organizing, sowing, transplanting, pollinating and harvesting of breeding trials and hybrid trials created by the breeders.
• Entry of trials and trial data into a centralized database. Stand counts, pollination counts, flower size measurements, etc.
• Organizing and shipping seeds to various locations within the US and other countries
• Creating, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of protocols required to scale up the breeding programs with minimum impact on overall budget
• Maintaining seed inventories and trial plan records
• Directing labor crews in pollination, seed packaging, sowing, transplanting and tissue sampling collection
• Maintenance and continual improvement of operational protocols in the breeding programs with focus on technology, efficiency, and labor reduction
• Participation in group meetings and cooperation with other breeding programs to optimize timing and use of shared resources.
• Preparing monthly activities reports and time allocation reports
• Supervising of technicians and contract labor crews
• Assist in trial placement, scouting, harvest of trials on our research station.
• Communicate closely with Breeders and research farm management to improve growing conditions and aid logistics

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• The developed ability to select for horticultural type. Must have some knowledge of all aspects of both seed production and commercial crop production.
• The ability to organize and plan effectively and to communicate effectively with personnel within the company. The ability to disseminate information either verbally or through written reports.
• Computer skills sufficient to manage information in a database, analyze data to arrive at logical conclusions, and to create presentations to communicate results.
• The ability to lead and to motivate assistants, technicians, and part-time labor in assigned species to achieve objectives.
• The ability to manage resources while implementing a plan and staying on budget.

• Ability to handle stress especially when encountering necessary projects, deadlines and/or high workload.
• Must be able to work under strict time constraints and requirements.
• Strong character traits required including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, and honesty.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree or associate degree plus a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar position

EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND:

• Excel, Microsoft proficient.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, ability to work in groups with shared resources, and communicate easily with managers, peers, and labor crews.
• Bilingual spoken and written English/Spanish is highly desirable.
• Experience working with vegetables breeding is highly desirable

WORKING CONDINTIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be willing to travel up to 10% including local, Gilroy and Hollister locations
• Must be able to work with chemicals and possible irritating substances.
• Must be able to wear personal protective equipment when necessary and/or required (backbrace, sunscreen, hat).
• Must be able to work under different weather conditions such as extremes of temperature (heat and cold) dampness, rain and sun exposure. Heat mostly
• Must be able to work in dusty conditions.
• Must be able to work on one’s feet for long periods of time.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Must be able to work long and irregular hours but mostly Mon-Fri (rarely weekends)

BENEFITS:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• 401k Program with company match
• Profit Sharing Program (via 401k)
• Holiday and Performance Incentive Bonus Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 529 College-Savings Plan
• Disability Insurance (Exact plans vary by location)
• Company-Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• Generous PTO Policies including:
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • 14 Paid Company Holidays
  • 2 Floating Holidays & Birthday off
  • Paid Family Leave
• Monthly Wellness Stipend

* To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty (as described above) satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable Individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.