Agricultural Assistant

Position Function:

The successful candidate will assist program leaders with various collection of soil carbon samples across the mid-south, data entry, data organization, GIS, producer communication, and other responsibilities that support project success.

Salary Grade:  07

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Mississippi State University is a top-ranked research institution, and the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture (WFA) has a strong applied focus in wildlife conservation and management. The 35- member faculty within the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture leads one of the most productive research programs in the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. The department is well-known for its highly collegial and interdisciplinary faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and research and extension associates that help make the department one of the premier institutions for applied wildlife and fisheries sciences in the nation. As one of the fastest growing undergraduate programs in the region, our 300 undergraduate students concentrate in wildlife agriculture science, human-wildlife interactions, conservation biology, wildlife veterinary medicine, conservation law enforcement, and wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture sciences. The department also houses 60 graduate students across a variety of programs. For additional information see https://extension.msstate.edu/natural-resources/wildlife and https://www.wildlifefisheries.msstate.edu/.

Area of Specialization:

Natural Resources

Anticipated Appointment Date:

December 2024. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Operating soil sampling equipment, sample collection transport, and processing. Verifying in-field practice adoption, record keeping, data management and entry, and reporting. Other duties as assigned, including, but not limited to:

1. Assists professors, extension associates, and/or students with research and/or projects.
2. Operates soil sampling equipment.
3. May assist with cleaning and servicing vehicles and equipment.
4. Provide technical assistance to producers and partners.
5. Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: High School Diploma or GED.
Licenses: Must have valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in agriculture, natural resources, or similar area of study. Basic knowledge of farm practices & equipment, and cropping systems in the mid-south.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to work independently, operate field equipment, and follow research protocols as outlined by supervisor. Use of ATV required.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Ability to work in extreme weather conditions.
Requires heavy physical work; heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling required of objects up to 50 pounds. Travel to distant field sites, some overnight and out of state travel is required.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Apply online. Submit cover letter with brief, 3-5 sentence summary of qualifications and willingness/unwillingness to relocate, resume, and 3 professional references.

Screening Date:

November 27, 2024, until filled. 

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and