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Assistant Plot Caretaker, East Tennessee AgResearch & Education Center: UTIA

University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department

University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department

Knoxville, TN, USA
USD 18-22 / hour
Posted on Feb 17, 2026

The Assistant Plot Caretaker supports field operations of the Research Center with a focus on planting, fertilizing, irrigating, and harvesting crops. This position also supports staff and faculty with the upkeep of Research Center grounds, equipment, and facilities. This position also supports outreach and educational activities including classes and events.


The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

The Assistant Plot Caretaker supports field operations of the Research Center with a focus on planting, fertilizing, irrigating, and harvesting crops. This position also supports staff and faculty with the upkeep of Research Center grounds, equipment, and facilities. This position also supports outreach and educational activities including classes and events.

Required Qualifications:

  • Education:
    • High School Diploma
  • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
    • Equipment troubleshooting ability.
    • Safe heavy equipment operation skills including tractors, backhoes, and skid steers.
    • Ability to work in adverse outdoor conditions for long periods of time.
    • Ability to follow instructions and work both independently as well as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Education:
    • Vocational or Technical Training
  • Experience:
    • 2+ years of relevant experience.
  • Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
    • Math skills for calibration and craft work.
      Knowledge of agricultural production including planting, harvesting, animal care, irrigation, and fertility.

Work Location:

  • Location: ETREC Plant Sciences Unit – Knoxville, TN
  • Position is onsite, with occasional overtime, weekend and holiday work.

Compensation and Benefits:

  • UT market range: MR04
  • Anticipated hiring range: $18-22/hr
  • Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
  • Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

  • Resume
  • List of 3 Professional References

About The Department:

One of ten AgResearch and Education Centers located throughout Tennessee, the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center serves as a field laboratory providing experimental plots, lands, livestock, orchards, equipment, and other types of support for research programs developed by AgResearch scientists. The Center was established on land purchased by the university in 1869. Since that time, six units have been added, increasing the Center’s land to nearly 2,000 acres.


  • Assists facility leadership and researchers with harvesting grains, grass, and other agronomic crops.
  • Operates various pieces of agricultural equipment including, but not limited to: tractors, skid steer loaders, tillage implements, planters, sprayers, hay equipment, rotary mower, lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc.
  • Assists in day-to-day activities for the maintenance of grounds and infrastructure of the Research Center.
  • Acts as support staff for mowing, spraying, irrigation, fertilization, and upkeep of landscaped areas and areas around/within research plots.
  • Assists maintenance staff with carpentry work, painting, road grading, equipment maintenance and other general grounds keeping tasks.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Facility Manager or Director.