Research Associate, Senior (Plant Materials Development County Specialist, 0078398T)
University of Hawai'iAbout the role
Posting number: 2026-01434
Department: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation System
Job classification: RESEARCH SUPPORT
Posting type: Open
Categories: Environmental Services, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Research, Sciences, Green-Collar/Environmental
Summary
Title: Research Associate, Senior (Native Plant Materials Development Program, Plant Materials Development County Specialist)
Position Number: 0078398T
Hiring Unit: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, Office of Land and Ocean Conservation Futures (LOCF)
Location: Schofield Barracks- East Base Facility
Date Posted: July 6, 2026
Closing Date: July 31, 2026 @ 11:59pm
Band: Pay Band B
Salary: salary schedules and placement information
Additional Salary Information: Commensurate with education and experience
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Temporary/Permanent: Temporary
Other Conditions: This position is annually renewable contingent upon satisfactory performance and/or availability of funding.
Duties and Responsibilities
(Note: **denotes Essential Functions)
- **Implements the work plan for the UH Manoa Plant Materials Development Program, a partnership between the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), ensuring timely and effective completion of program objectives.
- **Directs, supervises, and assigns work to Seed Production and Seed Collection Technicians (4 FTE), including hiring, promotions, terminations, approving time reporting, conducting performance evaluations, developing staff skills, and ensuring workplace safety.
- **Oversees the collection, accessioning, processing, storage, and distribution of wild plant materials, including stock and bulk seed products, in accordance with established protocols.
- **Establishes and manages small- to medium-scale field production (e.g., the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ (OHA) Kukaniloko OHA property and CTAHR’s agricultural research stations) for native plant stock seed development and supports field establishment of native plant populations for bulk seed production for multiple native plant species.
- **Manages harvesting, accessioning, processing, and storage of wild plant materials and stock and bulk seed products.
- **Ensures quality control of plant materials production and associated biological data, including oversight of data entry, database management, and documentation accuracy.
- **Coordinates and tracks partner and subcontractor activities related to plant material collection, propagation, site preparation, and production logistics.
- **Coordinates site access, logistics, and field activities with partner organizations.
- *Tracks expenditures and procures project supplies and equipment; maintains inventories and ensures proper use and maintenance of equipment.
- **Troubleshoots, documents, and assesses challenges related to plant material development and production, and develops improvements to workflows and production techniques.
- **Contributes to permit applications, compliance documentation, and required internal and external reports, including written and quantitative project reporting.
- **Communicates and coordinates program activities with UH units, collaborating agencies, and project partners.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Professional Work Experience:
- Possession of a baccalaureate degree in agriculture, biological science, natural resource management, environmental science, or a related field, and three (3) to six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for plant materials development, native plant production, biological or agricultural resource management, and supervision of staff; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills, and abilities as indicated.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
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