Research Associate, Senior; Plant Materials Development County Specialist

Research Associate, Senior

Position Number: 0078398T

Hiring Unit:
Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures (LOCF)

Location:

Schofield Barracks
- East Base Facility

Band:
Pay Band B

Salary:
Commensurate with education and experience

Full Time/Part Time:
Full Time

Temporary/Permanent:
Temporary

Other Conditions:
This position is annually renewable contingent upon satisfactory performance and/or availability of funding.

Implements the work plan for the UH Manoa Plant Materials Development Program, a partnership between the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), ensuring timely and effective completion of program objectives.

Directs, supervises, and assigns work to Seed Production and Seed Collection Technicians (4 FTE), including hiring, promotions, terminations, approving time reporting, conducting performance evaluations, developing staff skills, and ensuring workplace safety.

Oversees the collection, accessioning, processing, storage, and distribution of wild plant materials, including stock and bulk seed products, in accordance with established protocols.

Establishes and manages small- to medium-scale field production (e.g., the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' (OHA) Kukaniloko OHA property and CTAHR's agricultural research stations) for native plant stock seed development and supports field establishment of native plant populations for bulk seed production for multiple native plant species.

Manages harvesting, accessioning, processing, and storage of wild plant materials and stock and bulk seed products.

Ensures quality control of plant materials production and associated biological data, including oversight of data entry, database management, and documentation accuracy.

Coordinates and tracks partner and subcontractor activities related to plant material collection, propagation, site preparation, and production logistics.

Coordinates site access, logistics, and field activities with partner organizations.

Tracks expenditures and procures project supplies and equipment; maintains inventories and ensures proper use and maintenance of equipment.

Troubleshoots, documents, and assesses challenges related to plant material development and production, and develops improvements to workflows and production techniques.

Contributes to permit applications, compliance documentation, and required internal and external reports, including written and quantitative project reporting.

Communicates and coordinates program activities with UH units, collaborating agencies, and project partners.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Professional

Work Experience:

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree in agriculture, biological science, natural resource management, environmental science, or a related field, and three (3) to six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for plant materials development, native plant production, biological or agricultural resource management, and supervision of staff; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills, and abilities as indicated.

• Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques in the area of native plant materials development, native plant production, and biological resource management as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.
• Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and systems associated with natural resource management, plant materials collection, and environmental compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve wide-ranging complex problems through creative reasoning and logical analysis in an effective and timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information clearly and accurately in writing, verbally, and through preparation of…