Propagation Specialist

ABOUT ECHO

ECHO is a Christian agricultural networking, training and resourcing organization. Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of a diverse global network to defeat hunger and improve lives through sustainable food and agroecosystem strategies. ECHO has a significant network of over 19,000 individuals and organizations built over 40 years working in more than 190 countries. These partners serve as the primary multiplier for ECHO tested options and research.

SUMMARY:
Coordinate activities in a propagation nursery used for plant production and training. In plant production, the goal is to supply high-quality plant material to ECHO’s retail nursery, farm, and auxiliary agriculture areas efficiently and cost-effectively. In training, the focus is to provide experiential learning that builds the horticultural capacity of ECHO interns, students, and agriculture development practitioners in propagation techniques and nursery operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Plant Production

1. Provide quality trees and plant material to the retail nursery, global demonstration farm, auxiliary areas, and ECHO trainings and network. Maintain live germplasm collections in coordination with the NARIC and network.
2. Maintain an organized, clean, safe, and efficient propagation and production nursery operation that facilitates research and models small-scale nursery management options.
3. Coordinate the work of the Propagation Assistant, volunteers, interns, and work teams to accomplish daily tasks and larger projects.
4. Utilize Best Management Practices outlined by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in propagation and production operations.
5. Maintain plant inventory and ensure availability for the Nursery, Global Farm, and auxiliary areas.
6. Collaborate with the Global Farm, Seed Bank, Agroforestry Systems, and Livestock departments to provide plant materials and propagation support.
7. Provide regular deliveries of requested plants to the retail nursery, including an invoice of plant costs.
8. Maintain an accurate cost basis for plants produced in the propagation nursery, with assistance from the Finance Department every three years, and facilitate an annual inventory audit.
9. Coordinate with the Seed Bank on perennial seed collection and provide consistent soil media and watering for direct seed germination trials.
10. Collaborate with Research to support ongoing propagation research, providing plant material and greenhouse space as needed.
11. Improve and update propagation infrastructure as needed to support nursery goals.

Training

1. Support ECHO’s global network of agricultural practitioners by providing nursery-related expertise through trainings, echocommunity.org engagement, occasional writings, and consultation activities.
2. Provide in-depth trainings for interns, staff, and on-campus network members in tropical and subtropical fruit and tree management, practical nursery skills, and small-scale nursery operations.
3. Provide foundational instruction and ongoing guidance to interns and on-campus network members on plant propagation (seed, cuttings, division, air layering, grafting), mixing/composition and use of growing media, routine nursery operations (potting, stepping up, watering, weeding), and nursery workflow.
4. Provide guidance to interns and network members on basic plant health monitoring (e.g., pests and disease) in nursery settings.
5. Coordinate with the Agroforestry Systems Manager to support interns’ care of plants propagated for their areas of responsibility on the Global Farm.
6. As needed, assist the Market Garden in fruit harvest and quality control for sale and/or food bank donations.
7. Coordinate with the Nursery Manager to provide trainings for the public and local community during events such as GF3, GIG, special seminars, and FGCU classes.

Secondary Duties

1. Obtain and maintain a private pesticide applicator license and train-the-trainer certification.
2. Cross train with the Farm Manager, Assistant Farm Manager, and Agroforestry Systems Manager on pesticide training, key intern trainings, freeze protection, and select workshop presentations.
3. Participate periodically in international ECHO conferences/symposia, Regional Impact Center seminars/workshops, and relevant local university extension training activities.
4. Perform additional duties as assigned by the Nursery Manager.

QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:

1. Practical experience in horticulture and nursery management in tropical/subtropical climates, with enthusiasm for hands-on training.
2. Strong skills as a hands-on trainer and ability to guide interns, volunteers, and work teams effectively.
3. Ability to work independently while collaborating with other staff members.
4. Experience in task and volunteer coordination.
5. Must subscribe to the ECHO Statement of Faith and demonstrate character traits consistent with ECHO’s core values.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
A degree in horticulture and/or agriculture is preferred as well as significant experience with plant propagation and nursery management. Employee should display solid people management and task management skills. Experience in a retail or production nursery setting is desirable. Experience with facilitating hands-on training is highly desired.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
Those directly supervised:                         Apprentices, Propagation Assistant
Those indirectly supervised:                      Interns, Volunteers, Work Teams

Other departments to work closely with:   
Other SFRC Departments, Training and Extension, Public Outreach, Operations

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk; use hands, talk and hear. Fine motor skills such as typing, the use of a computer mouse and telephone handset are required.

The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to sit, stoop, bend, kneel, and crouch. The employee must occasionally lift, push, pull, and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Work involves a combination of indoor and outdoor working conditions, primarily outdoors. Weather conditions may be challenging (heat, rain, and wind). The noise level in the work environment can be high at times.

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

TRAVEL:
Travel is primarily local during the business day. Occasionally there might be opportunities to visit international and/or domestic sites to build capacity and further develop propagation skills to maintain network-relevant demonstrations.

OTHER DUTIES:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

AAP/EEO STATEMENT:
ECHO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner.

In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status, genetic information, or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes.  It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate all employees and prospective employees strictly according to the requirements of the job.

ECHO is a Christian religious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to religious discrimination requirements. ECHO’s hiring practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception to the “religion” component of the employment discrimination laws for religious organizations and permits them to give employment practice preference to members of their own religious beliefs.