[Pollinator] PAm: Honey Bee Breeding Technician and Coordinator

[Kelly Rourke]

Honey Bee Breeding Technician and Coordinator

2 positions available

Full-time positions are available to join an ongoing breeding project near
Hilo, Hawaii, focused on Varroa resistance in commercially desirable honey
bees. These positions will be hired through Hawaii Island Honey Company and
managed via a cooperative agreement of the research group, Project Apis m,
Hawaii Island Honey Company, USDA and Arista Bee Research. The location
makes use of the favorable climatic conditions to breed bees year-round.
Honey bee lines are established, tested and selected for high levels of
Varroa resistance, using bee breeding techniques and Varroa- resistance
selection methods. In addition, colonies are tested for their performance
as pollinators and honey producers in commercial beekeeping settings. We
are currently looking for two motivated apiarists to join this state-of-the
art project. Job level will be based on education and experience of the
candidate.

You can learn more about this project in this article
<https://www.projectapism.org/project-apis-m-blog/the-hil-bee-project> and in
this video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JJ9Jo3w7AM&t=2s>.

Candidate qualifications

The ideal candidate will be an experienced beekeeper, capable of diagnosing
diseases, feeding and supering colonies, harvesting honey, making nuclei,
rearing queens, managing Varroa, have experience with colony assessment
techniques and, ideally, instrumental insemination.

Training and experience in conducting research is desirable. Relevant
skills include the following: detailed data collection in field and lab
conditions; organizing, analyzing and presenting complex information;
critical thinking and attention to detail; microscopy and basic laboratory
techniques.

Computer skills needed include communications using email, web-based file
storage, word processing, spreadsheets, data entry and database management.

Good communications skills are required. Communication occurs with project
partners, beekeepers, and other honey bee researchers involved in breeding
project, by phone, email and in person.

Desired education level is a Bachelor’s Degree with relevant experience.
The job level will be dependent on the requested skills with advancement
based on subsequent performance.

For the execution of the field work, the candidate must be in good physical
condition, able to work in remote locations under adverse conditions for
prolonged periods, and capable of lifting and carrying fifty pounds of
equipment unassisted. Must not be allergic to insect venom.

Candidate possesses a valid driver’s license throughout the duration of
employment. Continuation of employment is dependent upon program and
operational needs, satisfactory work performance, availability of funds,
and compliance with applicable Federal and State laws.

Duties

• Maintain and evaluate, as part of a team, more than 500 colonies using a
variety of measures: Varroa infestation

and reproduction, and colony health, growth, temperament and honey
production.

• Coordinate and execute queen rearing activities, including stock
selection, nuc maintenance, grafting, drone production, semen collection,
instrumental insemination, and isolated mating yard use.

• Maintain laboratory space at Hawaii Island Honey Company. Collect and
maintain scientific data, summarize data and report to project partners
both on-site and at other locations.

• (supervisory level) Familiarity and skill to review scientific and
beekeeping literature. Write or co-author progress and budget reports, in
consultation with project partners.

• (supervisory level) Supervise, delegate and maintain work for several
staff, typically two assistants for breeding activities and occasionally
larger teams for beekeeping tasks.

• (supervisory level) Other duties may include, but are not limited to:
building and delivering project communications materials (presentations,
PowerPoint, printed material, newsletter and blog pieces, website content),
maintaining budget records and procurement files for the project in
collaboration with project partners and meeting several times a year with
project partners to update project progress (through phone, teleconference
or in person). Act as project representative at government and industry
meetings (~1 per year), and travel to a variety of sites (foreseeably
Louisiana, California, North Dakota) to harmonize methods and evaluate
program progress.

Compensation

Salary $15-30 /hour plus health insurance benefits. Appointment level and
compensation commensurate with experience. Positions available immediately.

Application

Please submit the following items in one .pdf document: 1) Cover Letter 2)
Resume 3) Supervisory References 4) Copy of
Degree(s)/Transcript(s)/Certificate(s). Applications will be reviewed as
they are received, interviews will begin March 22. Email application to
Patty Shreve, Patty at projectapism.org. No phone calls.


-- 

Kelly Rourke
Director of Programs
Pollinator Partnership
423 Washington Street, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
e:  kr at pollinator.org
w: www.pollinator.org
p: 415.362.1137

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