Beekeeper (Santa Maria, CA)

About Beeflow

Beeflow is a biotech startup company that leverages scientific knowledge and technology to improve the impact of ecosystem services in agriculture. Beeflow creates and manages pollination programs for farmers with the goal of consistently increasing crop yields. The company combines scientific knowledge of crop pollination, bee biology & behavior and chemical ecology with proprietary technologies including molecules that help train bees to pollinate specific crops and a plant-based bee diet that enhances bees’ immune system. This novel approach to pollination management allows growers to produce more with less.

Based in California and with operations across the US West Coast, Mexico, Peru and Argentina, Beeflow closed an $8.3M Series A in May 2021 with Ospraie Ag Sciences, Future Ventures, Vectr Ventures, Jeff Wilke (former CEO of Worldwide Consumer at Amazon), SOSV and others. Beeflow’s team of experts includes biologists, ecologists, entomologists, agronomists, and entrepreneurs.

For more information about Beeflow, please visit www.beeflow.com.

About this role

The Beeflow Beekeeper is responsible for hands-on activities related to executing the Pollination Program. The position supports the delivery of quality hives to farms and the administration of Beeflow’s technologies for enhanced pollination.

This position is on an on-call basis, focused primarily on auditing hives and feeding them with our technologies. Hive audits are required both before and after the blueberry season. We ask for availability at the end of October/beginning of November, with overall availability needed from October through December.

Responsibilities

• Carry out hive audits to determine the quality of hives
• Monitor and report quality status through the pollination season
• Feed hives with Beeflow’s technologies with care and precision
• Keep hives productive and healthy to help with pollination needs.
• Inspect for mites or any other pest/disease.
• Conduct hive movement to ranches within district(s).
• Repair any damaged hives and assemble hives.
• Operate heavy machinery (forklifts, flatbeds, trailers, etc...).
• Ability to work shifts ranging from 6 to 16 hours during the day or occasionally during the night.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Fluency in English and Spanish is highly preferred.
• Knowledge and experience of the farming industry and issues, ideally within the local region.
• Not allergic to bee stings.
• Minimum one year of beekeeping experience is required.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Ability to travel to other nearby cities/regions in order to take audits of hives and administer feedings independently if required.
• Able to lift up to 50lbs.
• Currently living in Santa Maria (CA) area.

Work Environment

• Ability to stand or walk for extended periods of time
• Ability to work with bees and wear appropriate protective equipment
• Ability to work in outdoor environments in varying weather conditions
• Must be comfortable working with bees and getting stung

Benefits

Compensation Target: 25 / hourly

Beeflow reserves the ability to adjust the compensation range based on the final candidate’s experience, skillset, and geography.

• Opportunity to join an innovative and growing Ag Tech Start up whose mission is to contribute to the creation of a food system in harmony with nature.
• Work alongside a team of talented and passionate professionals, having the opportunity to make your first steps in beekeeping and learning more about bee biology.
• Competitive salary