KWS is looking for a Greenhouse Research Associate to join the team in St. Louis. The Greenhouse Research Associate has a firm understanding of advanced molecular and tissue culture research with 5+ years of Research Greenhouse technical skills and can independently perform specific assignments to make a difference in crop research. Within their area of technical competence, the Greenhouse Research Associate works on several temporary assignments simultaneously requiring experience with multiple methods or practices, and exceptional communication skills. The Greenhouse Research Associate may direct some aspects of these methods as assigned by their manager or customers. In addition, the Greenhouse Research Associate demonstrates some creative scientific expertise to identify problems and contribute to developing potential solutions within select methods and practices.  

Essential Job Functions:

• The senior resaeach assocate greenhouse  assists the greenhouse manager in all aspects of greenhouse operations, including hand crossing, seed multiplication, seedling production, leaf tissue sampling, and record keeping, in support of plant  biotech research programs. Supervises and trains employees and temporary workers to adhere to quality standards and protocols. 
• Assist in the packaging for shipment of tissues, seeds, and plants in accordance with USDA, FDA, and KWS standards and regulations.
• Conduct experiments consisting of several methods or practices according to protocol with accuracy to meet project plan schedule. 
• Maintain accurate, detailed, timely and organized records of experimental conditions, data and results.
• Contribute to analysis of technical data and adaption of routine methods according to assignment needs.
• Optimize work processes for specific methods and practices by assisting in the identification of problems and providing input on potential solutions.
• Design effective workflows for specific methods within an experiment, planning individual timelines and adapting approaches to match shifting demands in close collaboration with the Greenhouse manager 
• Operate, maintain and clean equipment.
• Responsible management of workspace resources.
• Document progress, results, and ensure accurate recording of research work in the electronic lab notebooks and laboratory information management systems.
• Demonstrate leadership to build effective partnerships on technical programs and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Comply with and participate in development of work instructions that outline methods and practices to be applied.
• Assist with mentoring of Interns and may also be required to assist with onboarding of Research Associates.
• Ensure Company handbook, Rules, Guidelines, Procedures and safety policies are followed and personal protective equipment is used correctly.
• Meet attendance requirements. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications:

• Associates degree in field of plant science, biotechnology or similar field
• Experience with LIMS or similar inventory database systems
• High competence operating M365 applications. i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Word, Sharepoint
• Ability to communicate and write clearly, concisely and accurately in English.
• Ability to follow and improve protocols and clearly document and maintain laboratory records to generate reproducible results.
• Demonstrated interest in participating in development of new technologies striving for technical excellence through collaboration, self-improvement, and an open mind. 
• Must have the legal right to work in the United States without sponsorship. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associates degree in field of plant science, biotechnology or similar field with 7 years of relevant full time work experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree in field of plant science, biotechnology or similar field with 5 years of relevant full time work experience.
• Masters’s Degree in field of plant science, biotechnology or similar field with 3 years of relevant full time work experience. 

Scope of Responsibility: 

• Member of project team(s), not accountable for a project or workflow.
• Over 80% of working time for hands-on work in the Greenhouse, or for computational research.
• No direct reports.
• Secure observance of regulations on context of occupational safety, compliance, know-how protection and internal QM regulations.  

Working Environment:
Scientific laboratory and Greenhouse environment 

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, read, use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to focus. Working in high temperature, humid, environment is also required.