Technician, Soils Laboratory

About Loam:

At Loam, we have the earth in our hands. As a team of scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs, we are on a mission to improve the world’s farmland and address climate change.

We are developing microbial technology to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and build carbon in agricultural soils. With a dedicated agenda to deliver nature based solutions, we help farming businesses prosper by boosting yield and soil health and enabling access to carbon markets.

As a start-up with ambitious founders and investors, our work is fast-paced and multidimensional. We foster a supportive and diverse workplace, where every team member is encouraged to learn and grow beyond their area of expertise.

While everyone at Loam is working in different roles, we all have one job: to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it stably in the soil.

About the Role:

As a Technician in our Soils Laboratory, you will be based with a brilliant team in Orange, NSW. In this role you will be trained to perform high throughput measurement of carbon in soil samples. You will enable our team to produce fast, accurate, reliable data on soil carbon from field trials and farms across Australia. The position consists of hands-on testing, analytical assessment and working at strict set timelines in a fast-paced environment. You will be part of a larger team of scientists, technicians and field officers and have opportunities to engage with and learn from your wider team, with specific training offered on all aspects of the carbon analysis.

Responsibilities

• Follow standard operating procedures for routine soil processing and carbon analysis

• Maintain high laboratory standards of safety, cleanliness and efficiency
• Providing general technical support such as operating, maintaining, calibrating, and testing laboratory equipment
• Report on progress to the wider team

As part of the Loam team, everyone is expected to:

• Be a self-starter, but to ask when uncertain.
• Be open to feedback and committed to learning.
• Be a proactive communicator — we want you to be able to articulate a problem or an idea in a manner that is clear, timely and constructive.
• Treat your colleagues with unconditional respect and regard, while identifying areas where you can help others, or share your knowledge.
• Take accountability and pride in your work, whilst being an advocate for Loam.
• Take accountability for growing and developing the organisation.

Requirements

About You:

• A high level of safety awareness and ability to carry out risk assessments
• Ability to take responsibility for an area and help others conform to standards
• Good attention to detail, work ethic and ability to physically handle soil samples
• Ability to work towards strict deadlines
• Ability to perform tasks involving manual lifting
• Ability to use personal protective equipment including but not limited to respiratory masks and safety glasses.

Benefits

• A custom training package including formal and informal training
• Opportunities to progress your career
• Engagement in cross-functional, cross-geographical product teams
• Work alongside leading scientists and innovators in an international organisation