Station Technician Champaign

Field of Work: Breeding stations,
Location: Champaign
Legal Entity: [[division]]
Contract Type: Regular
Is Full Time: Yes
Job ID: 16690

Join our Champaign Breeding and Research team! KWS Cereals USA is looking for a Station Technician who will support the wheat breeding activities by creating or executing work plans for all aspects of trial activities including planting, irrigation, pest control, ratings and harvest. Using experience and knowledge to ensure maintenance of accurate records and adherence to quality standards and trialing protocols which may include regulated material. Responsible for correct and safe use of equipment and devices utilized in tasks and fixes problems that may arise in the field. This permanent position is a full time and located in Champaign, IL.

Essential job functions:

• Technical support of the wheat breeding activities in the USA.


• Support the Station Manager to execute effective field research operations at all locations, which includes preparation, sowing, maintenance, and harvest of the breeding nursery and yield trials.


• Operate the required proprietary software for data collection.


• Operation of small research equipment including tractors, plot planters, sprayers and plot combines.


• Ensure that company assets are adequately maintained.


• Assist the breeders in field data collection and harvest activities.


• Coordinate necessary activities to turn around seeds between harvest and sowing.


• Training and providing technical supervision of seasonal staff.


• Ensure purchasing is kept within budget and authority levels are not exceeded.


• Work variable hours as needed.


• Ensure the company handbook, Rules, Guidelines, Procedures, and safety policies are followed, and personal protective equipment is used correctly.


• Regularly travel and/or drive on behalf of the business.


• Meet attendance requirements.


• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications:

• Knowledge of crop production, farming practices, and farm equipment operation and repair.


• Good mechanical skills.


• Ability to work outdoors.


• Ability to work non-standard hours when needed.


• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be willing to obtain and maintain a CDL.


• Possess or be able to obtain and maintain a forklift driver’s license.


• Possess or be able to obtain and maintain a pesticide applicators license.


• Basic computer skills (Microsoft O4ce, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).


• Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills.


• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.


• HS diploma or equivalent.

Preferred qualifications:

• BA/BS in Agriculture or related degree.


• 2+ years of applicable work experience working in crop farming and/or field-based research environment.


• People management skillsWorking environment:

Our offer:

• Competitive salary ($25.5 - $28 per hour) and bonus system


• Health, dental, vision benefits


• Pension plan and 401(k) with employer match


• Flexible paid-time-off (PTO)


• Professional training and development opportunities

Must wear required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as needed. Able to work in varied environmental conditions (loud, hot, cold, dusty, damp, etc.), which will include outdoor work and exposure to different pollens. Flexibility to work rotating shifts as needed (including weekends, night shifts, and holidays). Ability to work individually and within a team setting. Travel as needed which may include overnights.

Physical demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms and bend and twist. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Interested? Then submit your application via our online application system SuccessFactors! Please click the “Apply” button.

About KWS

KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies. Nearly 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries generated net sales of around €1.68 billion in the fiscal year 2023/2024. A company with a tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for almost 170 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seed for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflower. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods to continuously improve yield for farmers and plants’ resistance to diseases, pests and abiotic stress. To that end, the company invested more than €300 million last fiscal year in research and development. For more information: www.kws.com/career. Follow us on LinkedIn® at https://linkedin.com/company/kwsgroup/.

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