Cultivar Technician II
Hands-on caretaker of curated specimens graded GCL-1 through GCL-3 — propagation, health monitoring, harvest, and containment tending under controlled procedure.
Role Summary
The Cultivar Technician II is the operational backbone of the greenhouse grid. Working a rotating shift within an assigned bay cluster, the technician executes the daily cultivation cycle for living specimens — irrigation, feeding, pruning, propagation, and harvest — while continuously verifying plant health against PhytoSense Mesh telemetry. The T2 operates independently on GCL-1 and GCL-2 specimens and assists, under direct supervision, on GCL-3 work. Every action is bound to a controlled Standard Operating Procedure; no specimen is touched outside an open, signed procedure step. The role is safety-critical: the technician is frequently the first human to detect a turgor collapse, VOC spike, or early containment anomaly.
Key Responsibilities
- Execute the assigned daily cultivation cycle for up to 220 GCL-1/GCL-2 specimens per shift in accordance with SOP-VC-CULT-0112 (Routine Specimen Care), recording completion against each numbered step.
- Take and validate PhytoSense Mesh readings at start-of-shift, mid-shift, and end-of-shift — sap-flow rate, turgor pressure, canopy fluorescence (Fv/Fm), and VOC profile — and reconcile against the thresholds published in Botanical Tracking Metrics.
- Flag any specimen reading outside its nominal band (e.g. turgor < 0.62 MPa, Fv/Fm < 0.78, VOC index > 1.4×) to the Lead within 10 minutes via CHLORA work-order, and place a hold tag on the affected sphere.
- Perform propagation tasks — cutting, division, micro-grafting, and substrate transfer — under SOP-VC-CULT-0098 (Propagation & Cloning), maintaining lineage tags and the specimen genealogy ledger.
- Conduct controlled harvest of foliage, exudate, and seed for the Phyto-Synthesis Bay, weighing and logging yield to ±2 g and routing material per chain-of-custody.
- Tend GCL-3 specimens only when paired with a GCL-3-cleared Senior/Lead, following SOP-VC-CONT-0203 (Graded Containment Handling) and full PPE protocol.
- Verify containment-sphere integrity at each visit — seal status, atmosphere, lock state — and report any deviation immediately to Biosafety.
- Maintain bay cleanliness, tool sterilization, and substrate inventory; complete the end-of-shift handover log and brief the incoming technician.
- Respond to CHLORA-dispatched alerts within the assigned bay cluster and support emergency containment drills per the facility response calendar.
- Never override, defeat, or work around a safety interlock, lock, or hold tag. Escalate, do not improvise.
Required Qualifications
- High-school diploma or equivalent, plus 18 months of cultivation/horticulture experience, or completion of the internal Cultivar Technician I (VC-HR-J012) track.
- Demonstrated competence with PhytoSense handheld readers and CHLORA work-order workflow.
- Ability to read, follow, and sign controlled SOPs exactly; basic numeracy for unit conversion and threshold checks.
- Current Toxin Handling Tier 1 and PhytoSense Operation certification (or obtained within 60 days of hire — see Training Matrix).
- Able to pass GCL-2 medical fitness and respirator fit screening.
Preferred Qualifications
- Associate degree in horticulture, botany, plant science, or equivalent technical field.
- Prior experience with carnivorous, alkaloid-bearing, or engineered cultivars.
- Toxin Handling Tier 2 certification and progress toward GCL-3 clearance.
- Familiarity with propagation of Toxicodendron, Atropa, or Venus Sentinel lineages.
Certifications Required
| Certification | Status at Hire | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Toxin Handling Tier 1 | Required (or ≤60d) | Annual |
| PhytoSense Operation | Required (or ≤60d) | 24 months |
| Emergency Response — Basic | Required ≤90d | Annual |
| Toxin Handling Tier 2 | Preferred / for GCL-3 | Annual |
Physical & Hazard Requirements
- Lift and carry up to 23 kg; stand, kneel, and reach for the majority of a 9-hour shift.
- Wear assigned PPE: nitrile double-glove, sealed sleeve, face shield or respirator per specimen grade, and chemical-resistant apron.
- Tolerate humid (70–95% RH), warm (26–32 °C) bay environments and variable photoperiod lighting.
- Participate in quarterly biomonitoring (alkaloid load panel) and immediate post-exposure medical evaluation when triggered.
Compensation Band
Career Path
Cultivar Technician II is the second rung of the Cultivar Technician Track. With GCL-3 clearance, Tier 2 certification, and 24 months in grade, technicians advance to Senior Cultivar Technician (T3), then Lead Cultivar Technician (T4, VC-HR-J009). Lateral moves include Pollinator Drone Pilot (VC-HR-J052) and, with additional certification and field qualification, Field Recovery Specialist (VC-HR-J021).