Irrigation Technician

Employment: Full-Time Regular Status                    ‍

FLSA Status: Exempt‍

Company: Sun Pacific Farming Cooperative, Inc.     ‍

Enterprise: Citrus Farming

Department: Operations                                             ‍

Location: Davis Mardo Office‍

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JOB SUMMARY: The Irrigation Technician will be responsible for assisting the Northern Farming Area Director in maintaining the irrigation systems, training and supervising personal to perform routine irrigation maintenance, maintaining fertilizer and pH control systems, servicing the automated irrigation hardware, routinely checking and monitoring wells, and preforming distribution uniformity tests on the irrigation systems. The area covers citrus, kiwi, pistachio and walnut acreage within the Northern Farming Enterprise that spans an area: Marysville, Reedley, Ivanhoe, Farmersville and Ducor.‍

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Reporting Relationship:  The Irrigation Technician will directly report to and work under the supervision and direction of the Northern Area Farming Director.

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ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

‍The essential job duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Performing routine, block level, inspections of irrigation systems on 8400 acres several times a year and report required maintenance through App;
• Performing routine, ranch level, inspections of irrigation systems on 8400 acres several times a year and report required maintenance through App;
• Training & monitoring routine irrigation system flushing;
• Train & monitoring routine digging and soil probing;
• Training, monitoring, and performing distribution uniformity testing on each block every 3 years. (150blks/year);
• Work with management to review and flag irrigation plans that fall outside management standards;
• Inspect and perform simple repairs to irrigation systems and filter stations;
• Check and report acid, sulfur, fertilizer tank levels;
• Routinely sample pH & EC of irrigation water;
• Assist in the programming and monitoring of advanced irrigation/fertility automation systems;
• Perform monthly inspects and simple repairs on advanced irrigation/fertility automation systems;
• Perform biannual well water depth surveys on 150+ wells;
• All other tasks, projects, duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Company and/or the Northern Area Farming Director.

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DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with irrigation systems design;
• Experience with commercial citrus/kiwi/pistachio/walnut production;
• Experience with irrigation scheduling;
• Bachelor’s degree in plant science, water resources, or agricultural field of study, or equivalent experience;
• Demonstrated ability to learn new software, techniques, and functionalities quickly and efficiently;
• Intermediate computer skills including the Microsoft Office suite with heavy emphasis in Excel and ARC-GIS; and, PCA/CCA/QAL licenses preferred
• Bilingual, English/Spanish, preferred.

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‍SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIIES:

• Detailed understanding of commercial irrigation components;
• Self starter, driven to perform, and curious to learn; Ability to observe different stress signals in fruit and foliage;
• Understanding of pest and disease pressures and how they affect tree/vine health;
• Understanding of crop, soil, irrigation and fertilization interactions;
• Understanding of leaf tissue and soil sample interpretation;
• Proficiency in app-based navigation and programs;
• Proficiency/comfortability of ATV operation, loading and unloading; Intermediate skill in Microsoft Excel;
• Intermediate skill in Microsoft Office;
• Attention to detail and a deep understanding of methods to ensure data integrity;
• Effective reporting and communication skills; and 
• Ability to prioritize, adapt and multi-task in a fast paced, changing environment.