Research Specialist - NC Crop Improvement Association

North Carolina Crop Improvement Association (NCCIA) program is administered through the NCSU Crop Science Department. The function is to ensure a reliable seed source for NC growers that are true to type and without noxious weeds and off-type plants within a tolerance level. This applies to all grain crops such as barley, oats, peanuts, wheat, tobacco, triticale, and soybeans as well as crops that do not use seed per se, like strawberries, sweet potatoes, and turfgrass.

The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences encompasses various disciplines in research extension and teaching. The department's mission is to develop future leaders in crop, soil, and environmental sciences, improve crop plants and products, devise effective and sustainable crop production systems, devise effective and sustainable soil management techniques in both agriculture and urban settings; and disseminate crop, soil, and environmental science knowledge for the benefit of users and producers of food, feed turf, biofuels and fiber in North Carolina, the nation, and the world.

Essential Job Duties

The Research Specialist will serve as an inspector, seed certification consultant, auditor, and promoter of seed certification for NCCIA. The duties of this position are quite diverse and require a great deal of flexibility, adaptability, seed production knowledge, and the desire to learn.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Required to train interns regarding NCCIA standards/protocols and safe use of inspection equipment.

• Required to promote seed certification activities at selected conferences and field days.

• Deal with clients daily and serves as the "face" of certification: therefore, the reputation of seed certification is based on the ability of the inspector to communicate properly.

• Must also document variety of verification testing plans, data analysis and provide written and verbal reports to the Director.

• Communication with association members, seed producers, seed conditioners, potential clients, and the association board of directors is critical to performance in this position.

• Must write accurate detailed reports.

• Must clearly demonstrate and teach complex standards/protocols and safety issues to less experienced inspectors.

• Responsible for the promotion of certification activities: therefore, excellent verbal skills are essential for this position.

• Collect seed samples to validate the purity and germination of seed lots.

• Must also obtain and process seed lots through the NCCIA seed lab.

• Organize data collected from field inspection reports and summarizes results in formal reports and presents findings to related organizations.

• Update AgTrakker/Access based databases, review them for accuracy, and present findings at association-sponsored meetings.

• Audit Approved Conditioners and Alternative Labeler Reports to determine the accuracy of tagging sheets and seed production reports; these reports are very complex and require years of experience to interpret.

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Other Responsibilities

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Experience/Education

Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Other Required Qualifications

• Possess excellent decision-making ability and excellent communication skills.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office software.

• Ability to work with scientists, seed companies, growers, and end-users of seed to ensure genetic purity and excellent product in the marketplace.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in seed production of crops grown in North Carolina and the seed certification process.

• Disease and weed identification experience and the ability to distinguish plant characteristics between varieties of the same crop.

• Experience hauling and backing a trailer.

• Ability to operate an ATV.

• Minor mechanical experience needed or the ability to learn how to work on small equipment.

Required License or Certification

• A valid driver's license is required for travel and the ability to obtain a NC driver's license within 60 days of hire.

• This incumbent will need to travel off-site independently for field inspections and will need to occationally drive a four wheeler safely.

Valid NC Driver's License required Yes Commercial Driver's License Required? No