Laboratory Technician - Germplasm Health and Genomics

## JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: | Laboratory Technician – Germplasm Health and Genomics Division/Programme and Section/Project (if any): | CePaCT, Land Resources Division Location: | Narere, Fiji Reporting to: | Scientist – Germplasm Health and Genomics Number of Direct Reports: | None Purpose of Role: | To assist the Scientist – Germplasm Health and Genomics with the functions of CePaCT’s Germplasm Health and Genomics Unit (GHGU) to meet a number of key outputs as per recommendations of the Crop Trust Review team which the new CePaCT Business Plan also supports. The position will directly assist the SPC Scientist – Germplasm Health and Genomics with activities related to GHGU to ensure that international standards are maintained. Date: | September 2026 ### Organizational Context and Organization Chart The CePaCT Laboratory includes both Plant Tissue Culture and the Germplasm Health and Genomics Unit (GHGU) – both complementing each other in meeting the Centre’s mission for the effective and efficient conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources to support food and nutritional security in the Pacific. In a review commissioned by the Global Crop Diversity Trust in August 2017, CePaCT’s GHGU work of virus indexing was identified as the key area of the Centre’s operations. The review team also identified a huge backlog of activities contributing to poor ranking in accordance with standard indicators set by the Crop Trust to assess Genebank standards. Thus, a key recommendation from the Crop Trust review report was to recruit well-trained personnel as well as supporting staff to help the Centre improve in this area. This recommendation is also strongly supported by the new CePaCT Business Plan developed under a DFAT grant aimed at supporting SPC’s efforts in upgrading CePaCT to a Centre of Excellence. The virus Indexing work of CePaCT is the key determining factor for the availability of the Centre’s crops and varieties as well as complying with international Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards for the exchange of plant materials on all levels – international, regional and national. ### Key Result Areas (KRAs): The role contributes to the effective management of CePaCT's germplasm health, conservation, and distribution activities through the implementation of virus indexing, virus sanitation, and DNA fingerprinting programs. Key responsibilities include maintaining the health status and traceability of germplasm collections, supporting the production and conservation of clean planting materials, conducting laboratory and research activities related to pathogen detection and elimination, maintaining accurate records and databases, and ensuring compliance with quality management and biosecurity standards. The position also supports the efficient operation of CePaCT facilities through laboratory and screenhouse maintenance, monitoring of plant health, procurement support, and collaboration with colleagues to meet collection management, conservation, and distribution objectives. The performance requirements of the Key Result Areas are broadly described below Jobholder is accountable for | Jobholder is successful when KRA#1 – Virus Indexing (35%)- Virus indexing of CePaCT crop accessions as allocated by the Scientist-Germplasm Health and Genomics. Multiplication of clean virus tested crop accessions. - Labelling of CePaCT accessions with the correct health status. - Maintain and update health testing record book and online databases as required by the Scientist-Germplasm Health and Genomics. - Maintain the hygiene of the Germplasm Health and Genomics Unit (GHGU). - Assist the SPC Scientist-Germplasm Health and Genomics with other activities related to germplasm health unit to ensure that international standards are maintained. | - At least 100 accessions of the CePaCT collection virus tested as directed by the Scientist-Germplasm Health and Genomics. - At least 8 plantlets per accession produced for both conservation and distribution. - All crop accessions are labelled with correct health status. - Health testing records are up to date and signed off by the Scientist-Germplasm Health and Genomics CePaCT-GHGU is neat and clean. CePaCT-GHGU meets FAO Quality management standard (QMS). KRA#2 – Virus Sanitation (35%)- Carry out virus sanitation research as directed by the Scientist-Germplasm Health and Genomics. - Virus clean infected materials. | - At least one protocol defined and used for sanitation. - At least 5 accessions virus cleaned. KRA#3 – DNA Fingerprinting (10%)- Build numbers for the crop accessions for DNA fingerprinting. - Extract DNA from the allocated accessions for DNA fingerprinting. | - At least 100 accessions big enough to permit DNA extraction. - DNA of at least 100 accessions extracted and sent for DNA fingerprinting. KRA#4 - Support the Efficient and Effective Functions of CePaCT (20%)- Assist with the conservation and distribution of CePaCT crops upon request. - Monitor virus indexing crops in PEQ. - Assist in the sourcing of equipment and consumables. - Assist in the upkeep of overall CePaCT lab hygiene. - Any other duties assigned by line manager. - Support the phenotyping activities in screenhouse and field. | - Requests from management and countries met. Crops are effectively conserved, and distributions met. - Virus indexing crops are growing well in PEQ. - Equipment and consumables are available in timely manner. No delays to CePaCT work unavailability of equipment and consumables. - Low contamination of cultures. - Allocated duties performed to the line manager’s satisfaction. - Screenhouse and field collections kept up to date. The above performance requirements are provided as a guide only. The precise performance measures for this job will need further discussion between the jobholder and supervisor as part of the performance development process. **Most Challenging Duties Typically Undertaken (Complexity):** - • Sound understanding of virus indexing methodologies, including serological and molecular diagnostic techniques. - • Applies established procedures accurately under the supervision and technical oversight of the Scientist – Germplasm Health and Genomics. - • Recognises inconsistencies in results and understands their implications for germplasm health, traceability, and compliance. - • Demonstrate diligence and technical aptitude while continuously learning specialised virus indexing methodologies. - • Support troubleshooting when methodologies do not produce expected or reliable results. - • Maintain clear, accurate, and concise records for virus indexing activities to support traceability and quality assurance. - • Contribute to the Germplasm Health and Genomics Unit’s (GHGU) work to ensure germplasm released from CePaCT is free from pests and diseases. - • Perform responsibilities consistently to protect CePaCT’s credibility and avoid disruptions to germplasm distribution for affected crops. **Functional Relationships & Relationship Skills:** Key internal and/or external contacts | Nature of the contact most typical External- Member countries | - Facilitating visits to the GHGU laboratories Internal- Library - LRD Colleagues - CePaCT Curator and CePaCT Team | - To obtain research material - For meetings and workshops - Planning and coordination of work ## Level of Delegation: Routine Expenditure Budget:0 EUR Budget Sign off Authority without requiring approval from direct supervisor:0 EUR ## Personal Specification: This section is designed to capture the expertise required for the role at the 100% fully effective level. (This does not necessarily reflect what the current position holder has.) This may be a combination of knowledge / experience, qualifications or equivalent level of learning through experience or key skills, attributes or job specific competencies. ### Qualifications Essential: | Desirable: - A diploma in science or equivalent body of knowledge and experience. | -