Farm Operation Technician CL2

Position is available to employees of the Associated C.O.L.T. Staff of the University of Maine from 07/19/2023 through 07/25/2023 and open to external applicants thereafter.

The Farm Operation Technician CL2 will independently coordinate and/or perform assigned farm operations. Tasks may be diverse, requiring general knowledge of several areas of farm operations. This position is located at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth, Maine. Full-time, regular position, 40 hours per week, 5 days per week. Daily work hours are Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This position pays $18.22/hour, or applicable transfer rate.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Operate tractors, farm implements and trucks.
• Performs general maintenance on farm equipment.
• Perform light carpentry, plumbing and electrical work not requiring a license.
• Perform orchard work (pruning, spraying, mowing).
• Perform field operations (plowing, planting, harvesting).
• General upkeep of buildings and grounds (mowing lawns, weed trimming, snow removal, etc.).
• Maintain inventory within assigned area of responsibilities.
• Order supplies and parts.
• Assist in major equipment purchases.
• Coordinate and/or attend safety training.
• Supervise summer student workers.
• Collect data and maintain accurate records.

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu.

The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. As a former NSF ADVANCE institution, the University of Maine is committed to diversity in our workforce and to dual-career couples.

UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer here.

Required Knowledge & Skill Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in agriculture or related field or equivalent work experience and training, including three years farm operation experience.
• Valid Maine driver’s license required.
• Ability to get and maintain a state of Maine commercial pesticide license.
• Experience operating farm equipment.
• Ability to operate assigned tools and motorized equipment safely and effectively.
• Knowledge of safety principles related to operation of assigned motorized equipment.
• Ability to routinely check equipment, identify equipment malfunctions and perform routine cleaning and maintenance of equipment.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods of time, often under unfavorable conditions.
• Ability to maintain accurate and complete records and reports.
• Demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, and the general public, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.
• Ability to provide exemplary customer service.

Physical Requirements:

• Positions in this class typically require: Ability to perform physical activities that require talking, hearing, seeing and considerable and repetitive use of arms and legs and moving entire body, such as reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, climbing, lifting, bending, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Heavy work: The ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Lifting and exerting forces more than 50 pounds requires assistance by other employee(s) or mechanical assistance. Individual forces must never exceed 50 pounds.
• Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, wetness, humidity, fire, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, and intense noises and travel.

1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position
2.) a resume/curriculum vitae
3.) contact information for three professional references

You will also need to submit the affirmative action survey, the self-identification of disability form, and the self-identification of veteran status forms. Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

Search Timeline is as follows:
Review of applications to begin: August 1, 2023
Screening interviews to begin no earlier than: August 7, 2023
On-site interviews to begin no earlier than: August 10, 2023
Tentative start date: September 1, 2023

For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair Greg Koller at gkoller@maine.edu.

The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening and post offer physical.

In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 127 Alumni Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207-581-1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).