Job Description
Integrated pest management technicians work individually and as a part of a team to collect pest (insect, mite, disease, and weed) information that is used to help growers achieve more effective pest control. Positions involve working outdoors in all weather conditions in co-operation with a team of other technicians and supervisors. The position involves extensive driving throughout the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver (See “Locations” below). This is an in-person job with team members from different backgrounds and disciplines. This creates an opportunity for more learning, community building, applicants will experience a positive company culture and camaraderie.
Experience and skills:
Field technicians gain hands-on learning and experience in insect, mite, weed and disease identification. Field work, time management, collecting and organizing data are additional skills that you will develop. You will gain a well-balanced view of both local and global agricultural issues. Extra learning activities are provided throughout the term, including an introductory information session, field trips with local agriculture-based businesses and farms, and various pest ID quizzes/videos/articles. You will contribute to a work culture that prides itself on continual learning and creating sustainable solutions for local producers. This position will provide you with applied real-world experience that will prepare you for future work in related fields. Former technicians have gone on to become permanent staff at E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. (most supervisors started out as summer field technicians!) or on to other jobs at Agriculture Canada, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, instructors at the University of the Fraser Valley and Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and other agri-businesses.
Qualifications:
This position is suitable for applicants who possess a mature work ethic, are interested in agriculture or related disciplines, willing to perform repetitive work for the direct benefit of local farmers, and able to work a physically demanding outdoor job (walking 5- 10km daily on uneven terrain, squatting, crawling, and sweeping plants with a net or reaching taller plants to take samples depending on which crew the applicant is placed on). Applicants must have access to a reliable motor vehicle and valid BC (or equivalent) driver’s license, Class 7 “N” or higher. Please include in your resume or cover letter that your vehicle can be driven between fields during the work day.
Recommended skills/training include:
• Previous experience or education in agriculture, ecology, or biology.
• Basic field orientation skills (mapping, compass, GPS).
• Ability to walk outdoors 5-10 km per day on uneven terrain in a variety of weather conditions.
• Experience in a team environment.
• Experience working independently and able to problem solve.
• Desire to apply knowledge learned in the classroom in a career setting.
• Capable of producing high quality work with limited direct supervision.
• Demonstrate research integrity, including the ability to understand and apply provided policies, procedures, and instructions.
Responsibilities:
• Monitor vegetable and/or berry crops for insects, mites, diseases, and weeds.
• Collect field data and complete field data sheets with consistency and accuracy.
• Identify problems or irregularities in the fields being monitored.
• Communicate effectively with field crews and supervisors via datasheets, phone call, and text.
• Organize and file field data.
• Navigate between and within field sites.
• Other duties as required.
Length of Employment:
• Start dates: Range between April 7, 2025 and May 20, 2025 depending on candidates availability.
• End date: August 22, 2025 or August 29, 2025 depending on start date.
• This is a fixed term position with potential future opportunities for exemplary individuals.
Salary:
• This position is paid hourly at $20/hr in bi-weekly pay periods.
• The work week is 35-40 hours per week Monday – Friday.
• Mileage will be paid at $0.55/km for the use of personal vehicle from farm to farm during the work day on average 25km daily between work sites.
• Vacation pay (4%) is paid out with each paycheque.
Locations:
Depending on the commodity crew, work will take place at any or all of the following locations: Delta, Surrey, Richmond, Langley, Abbotsford, Pitt Meadows.
Company Information: E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. provides IPM services to growers of vegetable and berry crops in the Fraser Valley, Pemberton Valley, and Metro Vancouver. At present, the bulk of the 10,000+ acres of crops we monitor is made up of potato, cranberry, and blueberry. Additional crops include cole crops, other berries (strawberry, raspberry), cucurbits and other root vegetables (carrots, beets). Our monitoring and research services strive to implement and develop pest management tools that are economical and reduce environmental impact.
We are dedicated to inclusivity, equity, and diversity in our workplace and community, bringing creativity from all backgrounds and providing a supportive learning environment. We encourage applications regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and marital status. Individuals selected will be based on the applicant’s possession of skills, knowledge, and capability required to perform the job. We acknowledge that we work on the unceded, traditional, and occupied territories, and as guests of the First Nations and the Métis Nation. We are gracious for the opportunity to work from this land.
Company Website: E.S. Cropconsult
Job Location:Delta, Surrey, Richmond, Langley, Abbotsford, Pitt Meadows, BC
How To Apply: Email your resume and cover letter to Heidi Lundstrum at heidi@escrop.com
Application Deadline: 01/14/2025