Lead CEA Research Specialist

About the role

The Lead CEA Research Specialist will oversee and manage aspects of crop production research in controlled environments (greenhouse, growth rooms/chambers, growtainers) with the goal of maximizing yields and quality. This role involves building a collaborative relationship with our plant science program faculty and staff, including but not limited to, CEA (controlled environment agriculture) turfgrass science, and horticulture programs as well as external service/vendor providers. Additionally, this position will provide expertise and technical support to the Center’s facilities and operations, supervise personnel, and lead various projects to ensure the success of our research initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Greenhouse Control Systems: Operate and make programming changes to greenhouse control systems including: Hoogendoorn IIVO, Heliospectra HelioCORE, Microgrow ProComm II and JCI Metasys.
• Low-Voltage Controls: Troubleshoot, diagnose and repair low-voltage control panels, systems and equipment. (i.e., logic controllers, actuators, valves, motors, relays, etc.)
• Greenhouse Irrigation design and Installation: Design and install simple to complex irrigation systems and nutrient injectors.
• Hydroponic Systems: Operate simple to complex hydroponic systems, including rockwool, emitter and NFT. Mix nutrients, calibrate/adjust nutrient injectors, and monitor EC, pH and TDS and adjust accordingly.
• HVAC: Operate, troubleshoot and diagnose common HVAC equipment and cold and hot water loops.
• IPM: Implement the principles of Integrated Pest Management within controlled environments.
• Lead and Supervise Team: Oversee a team of CEA facilities coordinators, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance evaluations.
• Training and Development: Develop and conduct training programs for new and existing team members on best practices and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Resource Allocation: Assign tasks and projects to team members based on their skills and project requirements.
• Environmental Monitoring: Monitor and ensure all environmental growing conditions (temperature, humidity, moisture, light, VPD) are at standard quality levels.
• Procedural Planning: Plan, coordinate, and execute procedures that align with research program needs and objectives.
• SOP Management: Establish, monitor, and update SOPs for CEA activities to maintain high standards of operation.
• IBC Compliance: Compliance and adherence to Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) requirements related to the maintenance of plants modified using recombinant DNA.
• Work Environment Maintenance: Maintain a clean and safe work environment for crops and employees.
• Inventory Management: Maintain inventory and coordinate with research program leads to purchase growing supplies such as fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
• Sanitation & Maintenance: Ensure timely sanitation and maintenance of greenhouse facilities.
• Climatic and Operational Management: Predict and manage unexpected climatic and operational events.
• Issue Analysis: Analyze simple to complex greenhouse issues and develop effective solutions.
• Updates and Reporting: Provide formal and informal updates to program leaders on project status and findings.
• Vendor and Contractor Relations: Facilitate work with vendors and contractors to ensure seamless project execution.
• Objective Tracking: Track objectives and milestones, ensuring projects remain on schedule.
• Research and Project Evaluation: Evaluate and provide inputs for research and capital projects.
• Collaboration Opportunities: Identify opportunities for collaborative private-public partnerships and maintain professional relationships with external partners/collaborators.
• Event Support: Provide support during field days and project demonstrations.
• Building Management Systems: Works collaboratively with operations teams to monitor, make programming changes, and ensure building environmental conditions and Indoor Air Quality, IAQ, within Metasys software and ancillary Johnson Controls equipment. Coordinates maintenance work with vendors. Troubleshoots complex issues and resolves problems.
• Environmental Health & Safety: Assists Center Safety Officer with the Annual Safety Inspection and helps rectify deficiencies found through coordination with program leads or through direct action. Provides input and helps draft policies and procedures related to environmental health & safety and emergency preparedness.
• Security: Helps address security concerns and implement solutions such as deploying security monitoring equipment, contracting equipment and services for onsite security, and provides input on drafting policies and procedures related to security. Monitors equipment and responds to incidents or emergencies.
• Provide technical tours, especially as related to CEA programs and Greenhouses.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall goals of research programs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Ten years related experience, which includes experience managing crop production systems and experience in greenhouse control systems
• Strong project management skills
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Attention to detail
• Strong verbal, written and communication skills
• Ability to manage a variable work schedule around the crop needs
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and projects updates
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others
• Familiarity with Greenhouse systems and crop management
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Ability to troubleshoot Greenhouse Climate controls

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in Horticulture, commercial greenhouse experience preferred