Plant Technician 2

Washington State University • Puyallup, WA

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About The Position

As a Plant Technician 2 for the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center, you will support research and extension activities in the Ornamental Plant Pathology Program by managing greenhouse, nursery, and field-grown plants; establishing and maintaining research plots; and conducting plant care activities such as propagation, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and general crop maintenance. You will assist with plant pathology experiments, including evaluating disease management tools and collecting, organizing, and entering data. In this role, your duties will also include operating small farm and greenhouse equipment, leading part-time employees, and supporting specialized projects such as low-pressure steam treatments for disease and pest control. You will maintain pesticide and operational records, orders materials, and provides general administrative and technical support to ensure smooth program operations.

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent and three years of work experience in plant research, plant propagation, farm or business management, or related work. College training in one of the plant sciences may be substituted, year-for-year, for required experience. Additional years of applicable experience may be substituted for educational requirements.
• Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license, meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 , and departmental driving standards, which includes 2 years driving experience.
• Computer literacy – capacity to collect and manage data in excel, experience using ArcGIS.
• Experience working with plants in a nursery, greenhouse, and field.
• Must have a Washington State Certified Pesticide Applicators License or the ability to obtain one within three months of employment.
• Some technical writing experience.
• Experience operating equipment such as tractors, chainsaw, forklift.
• Basic understanding of plant biology and microbiology.
• Experience working with Christmas trees, nursery crops, and cut flower production.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with research on Christmas tree, cut flower, and nursery crops.
• Data analysis experience.
• Organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing greenhouse, nursery, and field-grown plants
• Establishing and maintaining research plots
• Conducting plant care activities such as propagation, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and general crop maintenance
• Assisting with plant pathology experiments, including evaluating disease management tools and collecting, organizing, and entering data
• Operating small farm and greenhouse equipment
• Leading part-time employees
• Supporting specialized projects such as low-pressure steam treatments for disease and pest control
• Maintaining pesticide and operational records
• Ordering materials
• Providing general administrative and technical support

Benefits

• WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED