Field Technician

Field Technician

Field Technicians participate in the daily agricultural operations of ECHO's Florida site. They maintain demonstration fields, horticultural areas, perennial plants, seed and research production areas, irrigation systems, and agricultural equipment. Field Technicians implement seasonal and weekly work plans, relay crop and field priorities to the Field Crew Leader, and support ECHO's research, seed banking, training, tours, events, and global mission by maintaining well-managed, inviting agricultural spaces at the Florida site.

All Technicians:

• Operate and utilize hand tools, including, but not limited to, hoes, shovels, rakes, machetes, weed eaters, leaf blowers, post-hole diggers, and post pounders.
• Perform physical tasks such as weeding, clearing, chopping, seeding, transplanting, fertilizing, potting, pruning, and simple plant propagation (divisions, cuttings, etc.).
• Provide practical agricultural information to staff, volunteers, and visitors when appropriate.
• General farm maintenance tasks (e.g. hurricane preparedness measures).
• Adhere to ECHO safety policies, federal Worker Protection Standards, and applicable agricultural regulations.
• Identify hazards promptly and coordinate corrective action with the Field Crew Leader.
• 70% of time is served as a general technician, 30% in a tech specialty.

Crop Technician:

• Inspect plant health, growth, and maturation, reporting phytosanitary and crop nutrient concerns to the Field Crew Leader.
• Apply agrochemicals and keep records of applications and implemented crop management practices.
• Maintain required pesticide applicator and related certifications, and follow proper chemical storage, records, application, and PPE practices.
• Conduct field scouting protocols in seed regeneration, research, and farm production sites.
• Exercise judgment on when to perform phytosanitary measures in-house versus when to engage local extension services for identification and resolution of phytosanitary concerns.
• Assist the Global Seed Bank Curator to prepare germplasm specimens for material transfers as needed.

Livestock Technician:

• Conduct all aspects of daily animal chores and routine care.
• Build, repair, and maintain fencing for grazing and herd management (panel, woven wire, electric, etc.).
• Follow established breeding procedures and animal handling protocols.
• Assist with general animal health and handling tasks as needed.
• Manage and rejuvenate forage banks for adequate supplementation of animal feeding programs.
• Manage feed supply by animal type and coordinate with the Field Crew Leader to ensure sufficient stocks.
• Exercise judgment on when to perform health measures in-house versus when to engage outside veterinary services.

Greenhouse/Shadehouse Technician:

• Ensure the greenhouse is watered, cleaned, and organized, and that plants are sorted in a manner efficient for greenhouse management.
• Perform general greenhouse management and maintenance.
• Seed up plants for translating on the farm or for sales on schedule.
• Alert the Field Crew Leader of responsive large-scale propagation tasks such as potting up and asexual propagation of key species.

Qualifications & Required Skills:

• Must adhere to the ECHO Statement of Faith and possess character traits consistent with ECHO's Core Values.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality work.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and execute good judgment.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in horticulture, agriculture, plant science, natural resources, or a related field preferred. Equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum 2 seasons of agricultural work experience.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires regular walking, standing, bending, stooping, and kneeling. May involve climbing ladders, applying agrochemicals and operating machinery. The employee must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds following safety protocols. Dexterity and strength to handle tools and equipment are essential.

Work Environment:

The position involves outdoor work. The outdoor environment includes exposure to Florida's hot and humid conditions, especially during summer. All staff must take lightning safety annual training (provided by employer) and adhere to lightning safety policies.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position, Monday through Friday, with flexible start and end times.

Travel:

Travel is primarily local during the business day.

Other Duties:

This job description is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of duties. Responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

AAP/EEO Statement:

ECHO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status, genetic information, or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate all employees and prospective employees strictly according to the requirements of the job. ECHO is a Christian religious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to religious discrimination requirements. ECHO's hiring practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception to the "religion" component of the employment discrimination laws for religious organizations and permits them to give employment practice preference to members of their own religious beliefs.