Greenhouse Technician

Job Title: Greenhouse Technician

Job Description

The Greenhouse Technician supports advanced sugarcane research by leading the care and maintenance of plants in a greenhouse and growth chamber environment, ensuring a continuous supply of high-quality donor material for genetic transformation. This role works closely with laboratory scientists to design, implement, and document plant growth practices that optimize plant health and yield. The position is ideal for a hands-on horticulture professional who enjoys working with plants, collaborating with a research team, and contributing to innovative plant breeding and genome editing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Plan, manage, and execute routine greenhouse activities, including planting, transplanting, watering, trimming, and general plant care.
• Order and manage soil, substrates, and other greenhouse supplies to ensure uninterrupted plant production.
• Monitor plants regularly for pests, pathogens, and other stress factors, and take appropriate action to maintain plant health.
• Organize, clean, and maintain greenhouse and growth chamber spaces to ensure a safe, efficient, and orderly work environment.
• Test new growing supplies and media to enhance plant growth and quality, ensuring robust donor material for genetic transformations.
• Ensure a steady supply of high-quality donor material for genetic transformation by coordinating closely with laboratory scientists and aligning plant growth schedules with project needs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for greenhouse facility operations and interactions with regulatory agencies such as the USDA.
• Engage with colleagues in Brazil and other locations to stay informed of advancements in plant growth practices and incorporate relevant improvements into local operations.
• Communicate greenhouse status, plant health updates, and any issues proactively and clearly to the St. Louis research group.
• Identify plant health issues such as disease or stress promptly, notify the appropriate team members, and request support as needed to protect plant viability.
• Follow established Quality Management and Stewardship standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure compliance and consistency in greenhouse operations.
• Maintain accurate, detailed, and well-organized records of plant growth conditions, activities, observations, and outcomes.
• Document plant physiological data and other relevant metrics to support quality management and continuous improvement.
• Prepare basic reports and presentations summarizing greenhouse activities, plant performance, and experimental outcomes.
• Work independently as the primary greenhouse operator while collaborating effectively with laboratory and research staff.
• Contribute to a culture of direct, constructive feedback by both receiving and offering feedback and proposing solutions to operational challenges.

Essential Skills

• Approximately 1 year of hands-on experience in plant care, greenhouse operations, growth chambers, horticulture, or a closely related area (academic or professional experience is acceptable if clearly demonstrated).
• Associate's degree in Horticulture or a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Plant Biology, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated plant care skills, including watering, pruning, transplanting, and monitoring plant health, with clear documentation of where these skills were obtained.
• Experience working in greenhouse and/or growth chamber environments.
• Ability and willingness to perform hands-on work in a greenhouse for the majority of the day, including standing for extended periods.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to maintain detailed, accurate records and documentation.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment and adapting to changing priorities and schedules.
• High emotional intelligence, with the ability to collaborate effectively, communicate clearly, and work well within a team dynamic.
• Ability to thrive in a direct-feedback culture, including openness to receiving feedback and the confidence to provide constructive feedback when appropriate.
• Proactive communication skills to report plant issues, operational concerns, and status updates in a timely manner.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience as a greenhouse technician, horticulture assistant, or laboratory assistant supporting plant research.
• Familiarity with pest and pathogen monitoring and basic integrated pest management practices.
• Exposure to plant breeding, plant biology research, or genetic transformation workflows.
• Experience testing different soils, substrates, or growth media to optimize plant performance.
• Ability to prepare basic reports and presentations for internal stakeholders.
• Interest in supporting cutting-edge molecular and cell biology research focused on genome editing and improved crop varieties.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify issues in greenhouse operations and propose practical solutions.
• Comfort working closely with international colleagues and integrating best practices from global teams.

Work Environment

The role is based in a greenhouse, growth chamber, and laboratory setting within a shared research facility of approximately 2,000 square feet of greenhouse space. The technician will also work with around 10 growth chambers and spend time in a state-of-the-art laboratory equipped with new and emerging technologies. The position is highly hands-on and requires being on one's feet for the majority of the day while handling plants, equipment, and supplies. The environment is fast-paced, research-focused, and strongly collaborative, with a culture that emphasizes high emotional intelligence, teamwork, and direct, constructive feedback. The organization maintains an unusual and attractive focus on research and development, with a significant portion of staff dedicated to plant breeding and innovation, offering opportunities to contribute directly to advancements in sugarcane productivity and sustainability.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Saint Louis, MO.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $25.00 - $27.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Saint Louis,MO.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 1, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.