About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Scientific & QA.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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What You’ll Do

Confidential Client is seeking an entry-level Plant Health Technician to support high-volume production of inoculum and related plant health activities. You’ll work in a production-focused scientific environment (laboratory, greenhouse, growth chambers and occasional field sites) and gain hands-on experience in microbiology, mycology, molecular biology, plant pathology, and laboratory production workflows.

• Manipulate and maintain collections of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens
• Perform molecular characterization and identification of microorganisms
• Develop and run in planta and in vitro assays
• Prepare substrates and growth media, and maintain sterile technique
• Infect, dry, harvest, package, label, and document inoculum per SOPs
• Support packaging and shipping under established protocols and regulatory requirements
• Plant, maintain, inoculate plants and collect tissue samples for analysis
• Perform quality assurance and quality control assessments
• Maintain accurate records in online databases and follow GMP and SOP requirements
• Continuously sterilize and maintain lab equipment, materials, greenhouses, and growth chambers
• Occasionally travel to and work at field sites; adapt to changing production priorities

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Responsibilities

• Follow established standard operating procedures (SOPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Maintain sterile technique during laboratory and production procedures
• Accurately label, document, and input data into databases
• Support scientists on directed tasks and small projects
• Maintain a safe, organized, and compliant work environment
• Adhere to health, safety, and environmental protocols, including proper waste disposal

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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s/Ph.D. preferred)
• Background in microbiology, mycology, plant pathology, agricultural sciences, or related microorganism-focused disciplines
• Experience with molecular biology techniques involving biological organisms or microorganisms
• Experience in mycology and/or microbiology preferred
• Strong attention to detail, troubleshooting skills, and the ability to follow SOPs precisely
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a dynamic team
• Comfortable performing repetitive production tasks in controlled-environment settings
• Able to adapt to fast-paced production environments and shifting priorities

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Pay & Benefits

• Pay: $31.50 per hour
• Benefit offerings may include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, voluntary benefits, EAP, commuter benefits, and a 401(k) plan where eligible
• Paid leave eligibility (Paid Sick Leave or other paid leave) and holiday pay as required by Federal, State, or local law

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Physical & Work Environment

• Onsite work in laboratory, greenhouse, growth chambers and occasional field sites
• Ability to occasionally lift 50 lbs or more
• Frequent manual handling tasks (e.g., shaking 4–5 lb bags of inoculum during peak production)
• Occasional work at heights (approximately 4–8 feet)
• Work with laboratory materials and chemicals (bleach, ethanol, growth media/substrates, antibiotics)
• Comfortable working in temperature-controlled chambers and greenhouse settings

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Location & Schedule

• Location: Chesterfield, MO (on-site)
• Schedule: Monday–Friday; typical start by 8:00 AM (7:30 AM during peak production)

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Additional Employer Notices

Confidential Client will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements. Applicants may be eligible for reasonable accommodations under applicable law.

Massachusetts candidates: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.