Breeder's Assistant (8427)

Job Title:  Breeder’s Assistant

Report to:  Julia Harshman, Senior Plant Breeder

Location:  Salinas, CA

FLSA:  Salaried Non-Exempt

Travel:  Approximately 30% travel required to various growing areas

Job Summary

Critical team member of a large intricate celery breeding program that provide assistance to the celery breeder.  This position is responsible for assisting in all aspects of the OP, hybrid and sterile programs for celery including data collection and entry, trial evaluation, cage and test cross operations, disease screening and any other day to day activities warranted by the celery breeding programs.

Essential Job Responsibilities

1. Assist in all aspects of the celery breeding programs including trial evaluation, selecting and digging plants, trial data collection and data entry.
2. Assist with celery caging operations, isolation test crosses and seed crops, including planting, confirming sterility, and seed harvest. 
3. Assist with data input in the Breeding database, patent data collection, patent data analysis and summary table preparation. 
4. Assist with disease and stress screening programs (laboratory and field), data collection and data entry.
5. Assist in preparation of trials, packaging of seed, coordination of trials with growers, nurseries and the research team. 
6. Evaluate seed crops to ensure purity and trueness to variety with a priority on hybrids but inclusive of OP's (especially the male parents). Work with the team to ensure protocols are maintained and/or improve purity and seed quality.
7. Capable and willing to travel to the numerous celery production locations around the United States (Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Georgia, Carolinas, and California) for the evaluation of trials, to become familiar with the growers, farming operations, farming/harvesting/processing practices, and generally all aspects of celery.
8. Capable of differentiating information or materials that are confidential and sharing information appropriately within and outside the Duda organization.
9. Other Duties as assigned.

 Experience and Qualification

• Bachelor’s Degree in plant breeding, biology, horticulture, agronomy or related field required.
• Valid California Driver’s license required.
• 1+ year’s of experience with breeding, trialing or relevant responsibilities.
• Laboratory skills and understanding of basic scientific process preferred.
• Microsoft Office, Excel and Access database management preferred.
• Capable of writing reports, maintaining accurate records and is generally meticulous.
• Working environment will include office, warehouse, cold room, laboratory and field.
• Able to travel and spend considerable time on the road.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.
• Works well on own and in a team environment.
• Must be willing to work outside of normal business hours (8:00AM-5:00PM) and weekends when necessary.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the essential duties of the job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.   The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must occasionally lift or move objects of up to 50 pounds. Close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus are required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed outside weather conditions; hot, windy, wet and/or humid conditions and moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles, and vibration.  The employee may be required to work extended hours without notice. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Duda Farm Fresh Foods provides a fair and equal employment opportunity for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. We expect and require the cooperation of all employees in maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free work environment.

We offer an excellent benefit package as part of our total compensation including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401K, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement program, paid time off and much more.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only those candidates who are selected for interviews will be contacted.