Company description

The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, regenerative grain agriculture at a scale that matches the enormity of the intertwined climate, water, and food security crises. An independent 501c3 non-profit founded in 1976, the organization seeks to reconcile the human economy with nature's economy, starting with food. The transdisciplinary team of scientists, together with global partners, are developing new perennial grain crops, like Kernza©, and diverse cropping systems that function within nature's limits while researching the social transformation required for a just, perennial human future.

Job description

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks. We are seeking an Integrated Pest Management Specialist who will work with the IPM Team to scout, strategize, and implement arthropod pest treatments in greenhouses, hoop houses, grounds, and fields at the Salina, KS TLI (The Land Institute) Headquarters. The IPM Specialist will be a Kansas state-certified commercial pesticide applicator who safely handles pesticides in compliance with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, TLI Chemical Board, and TLI IPM Team standards. The IPM Specialist will manage pests using biological, cultural, mechanical, physical, and chemical controls with an emphasis on the least toxic approach. This position is an internal support position, which will directly report to the Facilities Operations Manager and be expected to work well with all Land Institute staff on the Research, Greenhouse, and Operations Teams in relation to IPM needs and communication at TLI.  
 

Primary Responsibilities + Expectations

• Maintains appropriate CPA (Commercial Pesticide Application) certification for the state of Kansas and related ongoing education hours. 
• Works alongside Facilities and the Pest Management Team to evaluate and integrate best practices and IPM strategies across campus including maintaining records, protocols, and communication. 
• Co-creates and helps share IPM protocols and internal educational materials for staff training. 
• Collaborates with lead scientists to develop a pest management plan for every research project in the greenhouse and in the field. 
• Regularly performs arthropod scouting on TLI grounds, greenhouses, and fields; installing and inspecting trapping devices, counting, and keeping electronic records. 
• Regularly performs building and field inspections to identify structural, maintenance, and procedural modifications which will decrease pest incidence. 
• Conducts accurate pest identification and recommends treatments. 
• Responsible for all aspects of coordination and execution of IPM applications in the greenhouses, facilities, and fields. 
• Keeps track of schedule and consistently applies biological, cultural, and chemical controls in the TLI facilities, greenhouses, and fields.  Communicates regularly and works with IPM Team and other TLI staff to execute appropriate applications and strategies.  
• Mixes and applies pesticides, operating spray equipment and machinery safely. 
• Maintains detailed inspection and required chemical usage records for the grounds, greenhouse, and farm. 
• Performs regular inventories and maintains labels and MSDS sheets for chemicals used in IPM 
• Helps maintain IPM equipment and supplies in both the greenhouse and at the farm 
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned. 

 Diversity +Inclusion:

• Participate in The Land Institute’s diversity initiatives
• Develop, maintain, and honor relationships with diverse groups and people
• Build relationships with diverse partners with a mind toward further collaboration

Organizational Competencies

• Mission Driven: You are passionate about the mission of The Land Institute and are interested in aligning your skills and personal genius to benefit this work.
• Courageous: You do not retreat or shy away from hard things. You face challenges and conflict with professionalism, grace, and resolve.
• A Boundary Spanner: You bring an interdisciplinary skill set and you model self-awareness in your own preferences. You are motivated to always be learning and you adapt to span boundaries with people across a range of different perspectives.
• Inspiring and Inspired: You are inspired by the people around you, finding and harnessing the genius in your colleagues to meet the organizational objectives, and you are inspiring to others through example and your own genius applied.
• Growth Mindset: You have the vulnerability to know what you don’t know, admit your flaws, and learn from others to grow and develop yourself and the organization.

 Who You Are

• Bachelor's Degree in Entomology, Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Studies, OR 3 or more years of pesticide application experience in a field or greenhouse setting.  
• Have or have the ability to obtain a Kansas CPA License within 6 months of hire date 
• Knowledge of basic arthropod taxonomy (I.e., orders of insects) 
• Willingness to learn more specific arthropod taxonomy (I.e., genus and species) 
• Ability and willingness to apply organic and conventional pesticides 
• Ability to wear a respirator, Tyvek, and other personal protective equipment 
• Ability to work outdoors in sometimes inclement weather (heat, rain, etc.) 
• Ability to maintain print and computer records  
• Ability to use appropriate machinery, hand, and power tools to execute essential job functions 
• Strong interpersonal communication skills supported by proficiency in verbal and written communications. Ability and enthusiasm to effectively communicate with TLI staff.  
• Personal Cell Phone  
• Driver's License in good standing to perform job duties

Qualifications That Could Help You Succeed

• Knowledge of fertilizer and/or pesticide applications 
• Knowledge of biological specific preservation techniques  
• Knowledge of organic and commercial integrated pest management practices. 
• Expertise in evaluating, creating, and implementing greenhouse and field IPM protocols and demonstrations. 

 Environmental + Working Conditions

Tasks involve the regular and sustained performance of moderately physically demanding work, often involving some combination of climbing ladders, bending, reaching, standing, operating equipment, working on uneven terrain, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which involves lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (up to 60 pounds) and occasionally heavy items (up to 100 pounds).  

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 35,568* - 50k

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline