Technical Officer

at  Stellenbosch University

Duties/Pligte

• General supervision of research greenhouses and glasshouses;
• Maintaining tunnels, greenhouses and glasshouses, including the irrigation systems;
• Planning and managing contract research projects; liaising with industry partners; drawing up trial plans; collecting and reporting trial data;
• Administrative and financial management of greenhouse research funds;
• Providing technical assistance with research and postgraduate student training;
• Providing technical and administrative support to undergraduate modules and practical sessions, as well as liaising with students;
• Identifying potential research priorities.
• Algemene toesig van navorsingskweekhuise en glashuise;
• Instandhouding van tonnels, kweekhuise en glashuise, insluitend die besproeiingstelsels;
• Beplanning en bestuur van kontrak navorsingsprojekte; skakel met industrie vennote, opstel van proefplanne, insameling en rapportering van die proewe se data;
• Administratiewe en finansiële bestuur van kweekhuis navorsingsfondse;
• Verleen tegniese bystand met navorsing en nagraadse studente-opleiding;
• Verleen tegniese en administratiewe ondersteuning by voorgraadse kursusse en praktika, en skakel met studente;
• Identifiseer potensiële ontwikkelingsareas vir navorsing.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• BAgric qualification or similar with greenhouse production as a subject;
• Sound scientific linguistic ability;
• Experience in greenhouse activities, either in research or commercial capacity;
• Knowledge of trial planning and layout;
• Sound technical skills;
• Practical experience with installing and maintaining drip irrigation systems and climate control in a greenhouse, nutrient solutions, growth media preparation, EC and pH monitoring;
• A driver’s licence that has been valid for more than 12 months;
• Willingness and availability to work overtime occasionally as dictated by seasonal research work;
• Complete computer skills in terms of basic programs such as MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Sound general language abilities to suit a multilingual university environment.
• BAgric kwalifikasie of soortgelyk met kweekhuis verbouing as `n vak;
• Goeie wetenskaplike taalvaardigheid;
• Ervaring in ’n kweekhuis omgewing binne ’n navorsings of kommersiële hoedanigheid;
• Kennis van proefbeplanning en uitleg;
• Goeie tegniese vaardighede;
• Praktiese ervaring met die opstel en instandhouding van drup besproeiingsstelsels, asook klimaatbeheerstelsels in `n kweekhuis, voedingsoplossings samestellings, groeimedium voorbereiding, EC en pH monitering;
• `n Rybewys wat al vir langer as 12 maande geldig is;
• Bereidwilligheid en beskikbaarheid om soms oortyd te werk soos seisoenale proefwerk vereis;
• Volle rekenaarvaardigheid ten opsigte van basiese pakkette soos MS Word, Excel en PowerPoint;
• Goeie algemene taalvaardigheid geskik vir `n meertalige universiteit.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling

• Knowledge of production methods of tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, lettuce and herbs in soilless production systems.
• Kennis van produksiemetodes van tamaties, komkommers, soetrissies, slaai en kruie in grondlose produksie-stelsels.

• General supervision of research greenhouses and glasshouses;
• Maintaining tunnels, greenhouses and glasshouses, including the irrigation systems;
• Planning and managing contract research projects; liaising with industry partners; drawing up trial plans; collecting and reporting trial data;
• Administrative and financial management of greenhouse research funds;
• Providing technical assistance with research and postgraduate student training;
• Providing technical and administrative support to undergraduate modules and practical sessions, as well as liaising with students;
• Identifying potential research priorities.
• Algemene toesig van navorsingskweekhuise en glashuise;
• Instandhouding van tonnels, kweekhuise en glashuise, insluitend die besproeiingstelsels;
• Beplanning en bestuur van kontrak navorsingsprojekte; skakel met industrie vennote, opstel van proefplanne, insameling en rapportering van die proewe se data;
• Administratiewe en finansiële bestuur van kweekhuis navorsingsfondse;
• Verleen tegniese bystand met navorsing en nagraadse studente-opleiding;
• Verleen tegniese en administratiewe ondersteuning by voorgraadse kursusse en praktika, en skakel met studente;
• Identifiseer potensiële ontwikkelingsareas vir navorsing