Come join our team!
The Sanford Lab in the Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences at UW–Madison is seeking an Agricultural Equipment Operator I/II to support a dynamic field research program focused on cropping system ecology, soil health, and diversified agricultural systems. The successful candidate will work as an integral member of a collaborative research team managing a diverse portfolio of long-term and contemporary field experiments at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station.
The position is responsible for the day-to-day agronomic management of research plots, including field preparation and tillage, planting and seeding, cultivation, fertilizer and manure application, pesticide applications, and crop harvesting. The position will also coordinate field operations with research sampling and experimental protocols to ensure that treatments and data collection are implemented accurately and on schedule.
In addition to field operations, the position will operate, maintain, and perform routine mechanical work on tractors, combines, wagons, planting and tillage equipment, trailers, and other agricultural machinery. The position will also oversee the Agroecosystems Field Laboratory and maintain equipment used for processing and handling soil, plant, and biomass samples.
A major focus of the position will be supporting the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial (WICST), a 37-year long-term research experiment examining the agronomic, ecological, and economic performance of diverse cropping systems. The position will also support a range of federally and privately funded research projects involving conventional and organic cropping systems, dairy-forage systems, cover crops, soil carbon, and ecological intensification.
This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who enjoys working outdoors, operating and maintaining agricultural equipment, and contributing to innovative agricultural research. The position offers the opportunity to work closely with faculty, graduate students, research staff, and collaborators while playing a critical role in the successful operation of a diverse and highly productive field research program.