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Turfgrass Research Facility Technician
City: West Lafayette
Job Description:
Job Summary
Purdue University is seeking candidates who enjoy working outdoors for the position of Turfgrass Research Center Technician at the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center. The Daniel Center is a 21-acre research facility that houses over 75 turfgrass management research projects in any given year that are conducted by a team of turf scientists comprised of faculty, staff, post-docs and graduate students. The interdisciplinary collaborations of the team serve the public and the turfgrass industry at large by finding solutions to turf problems faced by homeowners and professional turf managers. The research facility includes an 80 person meeting room which is used for education and Extension serving nearly 4,000 people annually. A summer Field Day attracts over 400 attendees to attend research talks and Trade Show showing the high level of work done at the Daniel Center to serve the interests of the Green Industry.
What You'll Be Doing:

• Develops and maintains a preventative maintenance program for motorized turf maintenance equipment
• Responsible for maintenance of turf equipment including reel-type mowing units
• Responsible for winter reconditioning of all equipment
• Mows greens, tees, approaches, fairways and roughs
• Operates tractors, front loaders, skid loader, fork lift, trucks, trencher, rotary and reel mowers, and hand held power equipment
• Performs sodding and reseeding
• Performs general landscaping
• Performs operation checks and corrections of golf course-type irrigation system
• Responsible for compiling current and precise pesticide usage reports and inventory
• Performs accurate, area specific pesticide applications with boom-type spray equipment
• Performs thorough cleaning and maintenance of spraying equipment to assure proper operation and reduce potential cross-contamination
• Maintains chemical storage and mixing areas in compliance with county, state, and federal regulations
• Trains proper procedures and oversees jobs assigned to student laborers which includes: proper equipment operation and care, as well as safety procedures

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or Horticulture with Turfgrass Science coursework
• 1 year experience related to grounds maintenance and related equipment maintenance
• In lieu of degree, an equivalent combination of education and experience may also be considered. (Associate's degree + 3 years of experience; HS/GED + 5 years of experience)
• Knowledge of repair and maintenance of motorized equipment for turfgrass maintenance with the ability to create and implement a preventative maintenance schedule for same equipment
• Knowledge in the safe mechanical operation and calibration of all turf area spraying equipment
• Category 3B pesticide applicator certification or demonstrate the ability to acquire one within 6 months
• Knowledge of repair and maintenance of golf course-type irrigation systems.
• Ability to follow oral and written directions as well as the ability to work directly with faculty and graduate/undergraduate researchers at the center.
• Physical strength, stamina and agility
• Possession of a valid Indiana driver's license

What We'd Like You to Know:

• To learn more about Purdue's benefits summary
• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Non-Exempt (Eligible For Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Non-exempt Defined Contribution Plan
• Purdue University is an EO university

Who We Are:
The Purdue Turfgrass Program, housed within the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, stands among the top turfgrass science programs in the nation, distinguished by its integration of research, teaching, and Extension. At the heart of the program is the W.H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center, founded in 1998 and named in honor of Purdue's first turfgrass professor, whose legacy of education and service continues to define the program's mission. What sets the Daniel Turf Center apart from comparable facilities at other land-grant institutions is its design as a true hub for all program activities - a facility that hosts over 100 research experiments annually while simultaneously training more than 4,000 industry practitioners each year through Extension programs and public outreach conducted in its dedicated on-site classroom. The program's interdisciplinary team of scientists conducts cutting-edge research spanning species and cultivar evaluation, pesticide and biopesticide management, nutrient cycling, drought physiology, and weed, insect, and disease biology and control - with visitors able to observe hundreds of turfgrass varieties across at least ten species managed as golf course putting greens, fairways, lawns, and sports fields. Financial support from the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF), for which Purdue serves as a key partner, further amplifies the program's capacity for national and international impact. Together, this combination of world-class facilities, interdisciplinary collaboration, robust industry partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to practitioner education positions Purdue's turfgrass program as a model for how land-grant institutions can serve both science and society.
Career Stream
Administrative and Operational Support 2
Pay Band S040
Link to Purdue University's compensation guidelines: https://www.purdue.edu/hr/mngcareer/compguidelines/index.php
Job Code #20003400
Link to Career Path Maker: https://www.purdue.edu/hr/careerpathmaker/
*Effective August 1, Purdue implemented a new background screen policy: any internal transfer will receive a new background screen if one has not been run within the last year.
Why Purdue?
Purdue University is a place where every role contributes to the pursuit of excellence, innovation, and community impact. As part of the Indianapolis team, you'll help drive Purdue's continued growth and success-supporting leaders who are advancing research, education, and engagement in Indiana and beyond. Here, your talent and initiative will be valued, and your work will make a difference every day.
Who We Are
Purdue is a community built on collaboration, with global perspectives, Boilermaker pride and endless opportunity to live, learn and grow. Join us and contribute to our culture.
EO
Purdue University is an EO/EA University.