Greenhouse Technician

Job Posting Organization:
CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. Established to improve the quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops, CIMMYT focuses on applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South. The organization builds strong partnerships to enhance the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

Job Overview:
The purpose of the Greenhouse Technician position is to support the operation and maintenance of breeding and phenotyping greenhouse and screenhouse facilities in Bambey, Senegal. The role involves providing technical support to plant breeding, plant pathology, disease screening, and crop improvement activities. The technician will ensure that greenhouse facilities operate efficiently, safely, and according to established protocols, utilizing modern breeding strategies to accelerate genetic gain and enhance the impact of crop improvement programs. This position is crucial for maintaining the integrity and productivity of the greenhouse environment, which is essential for successful agricultural research and development.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Greenhouse Technician will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including but not limited to:

• Managing daily operations of the greenhouse and soil preparation areas, ensuring efficient workflow and access control procedures.
• Operating and monitoring greenhouse environmental conditions, irrigation systems, and plant health.
• Supporting greenhouse, screenhouse, and nursery activities, including seedling establishment, transplanting, plant maintenance, and harvesting.
• Assisting with research activities involving sorghum, pearl millet, and groundnut, providing experimental support and maintaining related activity records.
• Managing soil preparation, substrate mixing, sterilization, and potting activities, ensuring proper disposal of used growing media and plant residues.
• Ensuring all greenhouse machines and equipment are serviced and operational, performing routine maintenance, and diagnosing basic electrical and equipment faults.
• Maintaining accurate inventories of greenhouse supplies, substrates, pots, equipment, and other stock items, keeping records of stock usage and availability.
• Implementing and enforcing safety, biosafety, sanitation, and waste disposal procedures, supporting compliance with greenhouse safety guidelines.
• Maintaining accurate records of greenhouse operations, maintenance activities, sanitation logs, inventory, and research support activities, and reporting any operational, equipment, or plant health concerns for timely action. 1
• Performing any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
The successful candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, Agricultural Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Agricultural Technology, or a related field. They should have at least one year of relevant experience in greenhouse, nursery, or agricultural research facilities. Practical experience in greenhouse operations is highly desirable, along with experience in plant propagation, breeding, disease screening, or crop research. Knowledge of greenhouse operations, soil sterilization, irrigation systems, and plant management is essential. Basic plumbing and electrical troubleshooting skills are also required, along with strong organizational, record-keeping, and problem-solving abilities. The ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams is crucial.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, Agricultural Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, Agricultural Technology, or a related field. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of greenhouse operations and agricultural research.

Experience:
The position requires at least one year of relevant experience in greenhouse, nursery, or agricultural research facilities. Practical experience in greenhouse operations is highly desirable, and candidates with experience in plant propagation, breeding, disease screening, or crop research will have a competitive advantage.

Languages:
Working knowledge of English and French is highly desirable for this position. Proficiency in both languages will facilitate effective communication within the multicultural work environment and enhance collaboration with diverse teams.

Additional Notes:
This position is recruited locally, and applicants must have the legal right to work in Senegal at the time of application. CIMMYT does not provide visa sponsorship or work permit support for locally recruited staff roles. The organization offers competitive international compensation packages, a multicultural work environment, and meaningful engagement in security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and agricultural research across Africa. CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity, encouraging women to apply.