Research Support Staff (Seed Production

Research Support Staff (Seed Production Technician, Native Plant Materials Development Program)

Position Number: 0079333T & 0079745T (Two Positions)

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

Location:

Schofield Barracks

Closing Date:
September 11, 2026 @ 11:59pm

Band:
Pay Band A

Salary:
Commensurate with education and experience, 2 positions available.

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.

(
** Denotes essential functions)

• ** Reports to and works under the direction of the Native Plant Materials Development County Specialist (NPMDS) to implement the work plan for the University of Hawai'i at Manoa (UHM) Native Plant Materials Development Program. This is a partnership between the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI).
• ** Supports the NPMDS with managing the establishment and maintenance of field sites (e.g., the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' (OHA) Kukaniloko OHA property and CTAHR's agricultural research stations) for both stock seed development and bulk seed production). This includes field plot preparation, weed and pest control, irrigation management, planting, cultivation, harvesting, processing, and facilitating the storage of all stock and bulk seeds.
• ** Implements plant propagation activities to produce stock plants for field establishment of stock seed plots and/or bulk seed production. Duties include, but are not limited to: seed germination, transplanting seedlings into the appropriate containers, nutrient management, and pest control.
• ** Under the NPMDS's supervision, safely applies pesticides and fertilizers in the greenhouse, strictly adhering to all environmental compliance and safety regulations.
• ** Implements and executes standardized protocols for the collection, accessioning, and processing of wild plant materials, specifically targeting the wild seed collections of native workhorse species in remote field locations.
• ** Monitors and tracks the phenology of target taxa to accurately determine seed collection timing and targets for optimal seed collections from the appropriate geographic locations.
• ** Ensures methodical execution to carry out wild seed collection and handling protocols in the field, including the collection and preparation of voucher specimens for regional herbarium deposition.
• ** Collaborates with the Army Natural Resources Program on O'ahu (ANRPO) Seed Conservation Laboratory to support the development of new and effective seed processing protocols, including the viability testing of incoming collections.
• ** Supports the wild seed processing workflow, including accessioning, preparing seeds for storage, and accurately entering associated biological and GIS data entry.
• ** Coordinates site access, logistics, and field activities with partner organizations.
• ** Assists with the preparation and submission of reports for project funders and agency permits.
• ** Maintains comprehensive and highly organized documentation in both the field and lab settings and ensures prompt reporting of all issues and concerns to the NPMDS.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Professional Work Experience

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Biological Sciences, Botany, Horticulture, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or related field and two (2) years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for working with native plant horticulture, agriculture, seed lab, greenhouse, or other biological research projects; or any equivalent education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills, and abilities as indicated.

• Functional knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of native plant horticulture, agriculture, seed lab, greenhouse, or other biological research projects demonstrated by knowledge, understanding and ability to apply concepts, terminology.
• Functional knowledge and understanding of principles, theories, federal and state laws, rules, regulations and systems associated with native plant horticulture, agriculture, seed lab, greenhouse, or other biological research projects.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize problems, identify possible causes and resolve the full range problems that may commonly occur in the area of native plant horticulture, agriculture, seed lab, greenhouse, or other biological research projects.
• Demonstrated ability to understand oral and written documentation, write reports and procedures, and communicate effectively in a variety of situations.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external…