Are you looking for a career instead of just a job? Are you an individual who feels a sense of ownership with regard to their work? Then Johnny's Selected Seeds is looking for you!

Johnny's Selected Seeds is a local, privately held, employee-owned seed producer and merchant headquartered in Winslow, Maine, USA. The company was established in 1973 by our Founder and Chairman, Rob Johnston, Jr. Johnny's mission is helping families, friends, and communities to feed one another by providing superior seeds, tools, information and service.

To this end, Johnny's works as a team of employee owners and is currently seeking to hire a Plant Breeding Technician. As an employee-owner with Johnny’s, you could be part of a select team focused on delivering personalized service while providing superior seeds, tools, and information.

As a Plant Breeding Technician, you will be part of our plant breeding team. This person will be responsible for assisting the Plant Breeder in the tomato and lettuce breeding programs, including management of critical field & greenhouse operations, and coordination with key departments on matters related to breeding nurseries, experimental trials, and foundation seed productions. The ideal candidate is motivated, passionate and research-oriented, with a strong interest in agriculture and crop improvement.

This position reports to our Albion, Maine facility.

Job Requirements

• Manage breeding nursery and greenhouse activities, either directly or through coordination with farm manager and crew- including seeding, transplanting, pruning & maintenance, hand pollinations, harvest, seed extraction, etc…
• Assist in basic data collection and entry
• Support efforts in disease screening and molecular marker testing
• Update pedigree records and manage seed inventory
• Assist in coordination of foundation seed productions and quality testing
• Acquire and maintain the department supplies
• Supervise and train temporary employees
• Participate in department and crop-specific team meetings
• Continue training/educational efforts to obtain new skills as required to stay current with changes in the program
• Assist in other projects and perform other duties as needed
• Responsible for the breeding program when immediate supervisor is away

Education Requirements

• BS degree or equivalent, preferably in a Biology or Agriculture-oriented field of study
• A working, practical knowledge horticulture/crop production as demonstrated by previous research and/or farming experience
• Basic knowledge of plant breeding
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with ability to multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to work effectively with co-workers, teams, and alone
• Ability to work extended hours during peak times in the season
• Willingness to travel on occasion
• Ability to represent Johnny’s at outside events (conferences, meetings, etc…

Essential Physical Requirements

• Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination
• Ability to work under a wide range of weather conditions (including inclement/adverse weather)
• Capable of frequent bending and occasional heavy lifting (up to 50 lbs)
• Ability to freely access all areas and locations of the business

Benefits

• Johnny’s offers a great benefits package: Health Insurance (HMO, PPO, HRA, HAS), Dental Insurance, Life Insurance, Short and Long Term Disability, Medical & Dependent Care Reimbursement, Tuition Reimbursement, 401K, and we are very proud to say we are employee owned!

Application

Please mail resume to:

Lisa Madore, PHR
HR Manager
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
955 Benton Avenue
Winslow, Maine 04901

You can also e-mail us your resume to: jssees@johnnyseeds.com 

In addition, please send cover letter with salary requirements, and Johnny's Application for Employment, which can be found at our website: www.Johnnyseeds.com