Departmental Assistant – Center Agriculture, Food, Environment Farm Facilities

Departmental Assistant – Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment Farm Facilities

Serves to support the daily operations of the UMass Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (CAFE) Farm Facilities, primarily at the Crop and Animal Research and Education Farm. Performs a variety of functions including but not limited to maintenance and repair of facilities, grounds, and equipment.

• Equipment Operation, Maintenance, and Repair:
  • Operates motor vehicles and equipment necessary to support farm operations and maintenance. Equipment includes but is not limited to tractors equipped with front end loaders, plows, harrows, seeders, cultivators, mowers, snowplows, and trucks with attached trailers.
  • Operates manual, electric, air, and motorized power tools.
  • Provides general labor for routine equipment maintenance/annual servicing of equipment.
  • Assists in fabrication and more advanced equipment repairs.
• Facility And Grounds Maintenance And Repair:
  • Participates in the daily inspection of facilities to ensure safety and security – notifies supervisor of any potential issues immediately.
  • Maintains grounds as directed – mows and trims lawns, maintains and repairs fences, assists with road maintenance.
  • Maintains a high standard of organization of cleanliness of shops, barns, and related facilities as directed.
• Support Of Field Research And Animal Care:
  • Assists with the establishment and maintenance of field research projects at CAFE farm facilities as directed. Ensures proper research protocols are followed – maintaining research integrity and learning objectives related to crops and animals.
  • Participates in the care of farm animals (primarily cattle) as needed including feeding, watering, transport, cleaning of pens.
• Other Functions:
  • Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality, and inclusiveness.
  • Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
  • Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

• High School Diploma.
• One (1) year of agricultural work experience in an agronomic, vegetable, turf, livestock, or similar field.
• One (1) year of experience in the operation of farm equipment including tractors, loaders, tillage equipment, general landscape equipment, etc.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Ability to operate farm equipment and machinery.
• Ability to work independently to organize multiple tasks and set priorities for action, take initiative, be creative, and operate with self‑direction in a fast‑paced agricultural environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively and work productively in establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.
• Ability to organize and prioritize goals; ability to collaborate well to formulate plans and objectives in accordance with overall college goals; ability to identify and implement process improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and to set and meet deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality.

• Three (3) or more years of experience in an agronomic, vegetable, turf, livestock, or similar field.
• Three (3) or more years of experience in the operation of farm equipment including tractors, loaders, tillage equipment, general landscape equipment, etc.
• Basic automotive and/or agricultural equipment maintenance and repair experience.
• Basic carpentry skills.
• Experience in the installation of agricultural fence (woven, barbed, and/or electric wire).
• Experience with ARC and/or MIG welding.
• Experience with operating a truck‑mounted snowplow and/or the use of front‑end loader to remove snow.
• Experience with driving a truck with attached trailer.

This position involves an outdoor working environment – applicants must be able to work for an extended period in adverse environmental conditions including but not limited to extreme heat and/or cold, rain, snow, etc. Must be able to work with standard automotive…