Beekeeper

Job description

Primary Purpose:
Support Hawaiian Queen in the production of premium-quality queen bees and honey.
Essential Duties:
Work as a beekeeper:
Harvesting queen bees using prescribed techniques
Stocking nucleus hives
Counting and storing queens harvested daily
Relocating beehives
Feeding and medicating bees
Harvesting honey
Extracting honey in Honey House including set-up and clean-up
Repairing hives and frames
H2A Collaboration Duties:
To create a more collaborative environment that fosters mutual well-being any returning H2A employee previously hired by Hawaiian Queen may also be paid hourly to assist new H2A employees to navigate their new environment in duties such as but not limited to:
-Assist with scheduling DMV appointments
-Assist with scheduling Social Security Administration appointments
-Assist with scheduling appointments with banking centers
-Demonstrate where and how to wash laundry, where to go grocery shopping, how to send money wires home, etc.
-Guide H2A employees on Hawaiian Queen Cabin Rules and establish a weekly plan for maintenance of worker housing. Collaborators will be responsible to fully review all units, and receive and address feedback or concerns from workers.
Other Duties:
Miscellaneous duties including but not limited to washing and detailing trucks and vehicles and general maintenance duties like sweeping and trash removal.
Hawaiian Queen operates in an all hands on deck environment where you will sometimes be asked to do your part to get the job done.
Working Conditions:
All weather conditions inside and outside, sun or rain, heat and humidity. Employee will be exposed to bee stings. Work Hours:
6:00-3:00pm Monday through Friday, some Saturdays.
Equipment Use:
Basic beekeeping equipment, including hive tools and smokers. Advanced beekeeping equipment used in grafting for queen bees.
Mental and Physical Demands:
Heavy lifting of 75 pounds unassisted
Communication Demands:
Strong verbal communication required between management and other employees. Good written communication is a plus.
o Light and appropriately operate a smoker
o Identify different casts in the colony
o Open and examine a colony
o Properly manage the colony throughout the year
o Identify and take care of any issues that the colony encounters
o Make hive splits
o Re-queen colonies
o Identify and monitor pathogens that affect beehives
o Identify and build/assemble standard hive equipment
o Properly feed colonies if needed
o Prevent colony robbing
o Monitor for pathogens and pests
o Participate in honey extraction in honey house
o Valid driver license, clear driving record. Must be 18 years of age. Skills/Knowledge:
o Identify and repair standard hive equipment
o Be able to drive a pick-up truck, stick shift and automatic
Experience:
o Must have at least 6 months verifiable work experience in beekeeping
Wages:
o All beekeepers will be paid not less than $18.74 per hour.

Employer Commitments:
1) universal protections and benefits
2) participation in Farm Labor Stabilization Program Grant (FLSP) research and reporting which includes granting access to workers to take surveys and participating in in-person interviews,
3) workers will all be made available to attend a 2-hour paid training on
their rights and resources while working in the U.S.
4) responsible recruitment methods, including recruiting U.S. based workers
first, followed by recruitment by government Ministries that are registered
with the government in the country (if they exist), or a letter articulating
their recruitment practices, if they used a private recruiter.

*The protection and benefits included in this job order apply in its entirety to H-2A workers and U.S workers in corresponding employment

Special Requirements

Beekeepers may be eligible to receive up to $18.74 per hour if they:
Have at least 2 years of verifiable work experience in beekeeping, or Demonstrate an ability to manage up to two colonies with light supervision and demonstrate strong verbal communication skills with managers and other employees.