Principal Technical Officer - Department of Genetics

The Plant Breeding Laboratory is situated at Welgevallen experimental farm and forms part of the Department of Genetics, Faculty of AgriSciences. The incumbent will function as a technical officer within the research environment and also assist with project management.

Duties:

Technical management of the plant breeding research complex (Welgevallen):

• Managing service personnel;
• Facilitating maintenance of vehicles, as well as all electrical, mechanical, laboratory, seed cleaning, planting and harvesting equipment;
• Supervising and maintaining glasshouses and growth chambers;
• Budgeting;
• Purchasing consumables;
• Technical assistance in undergraduate and postgraduate student teaching.

 

Technical and administrative assistance regarding small grain research projects:

• Assisting with making crosses
• Assisting with making selections
• Planting and harvesting  material on several localities
• Collecting trial data
• Relationship building with industry partners and producers

 

Job Requirements:

• B degree in Plant Breeding or related plant production field with a relevant postgraduate qualification
• At least ten years' work experience as a technical officer in a plant production environment
• Experience with the execution of the technical aspects of a modern, conventional plant breeding programme
• Effective organising ability, as well as administrative and presentation skills
• Ability to work independently and in a group
• Knowledge of the small grain industry in the Western Cape
• Good verbal and written communication skills in Afrikaans and English
• Valid Code EC driver's licence and PDP

 

Recommendation:

• Accreditation as a SANSOR seed inspector;
• Proficiency in the SU central ordering software;
• Previous experience in a plant breeding laboratory with triticale and/or wheat

 

Enquiries regarding job content: Willem Botes on 021 808 2637, or at wcb@sun.ac.za
Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Service Centre on 021 808 2753

Closing date: 19 February 2019

Commencement date: 1 April 2019

Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and e-mail address of at least three referees), must reach the University before or on the

closing date of the advertised post.