Research Farm Manager

This position is responsible for operating an irrigated research farm in LaSalle, Colorado focused on soil health research, alternate cropping and tillage systems, and precision technology. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in agriculture cropping and tillage systems suited to water-limited environments as well as managing the farm operationally with a research content.

Operational Accountabilities:

• Collaborate with Soil Health and Sustainability Science Lead to help develop and oversee all operations (e.g. budget, farming, site assets, equipment, field days) on a 100 acre innovation farm rededicated to soil health, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture research.
• Participate in recruiting on-farm personnel.
• Manage all on-farm personnel including direct reports, graduate students, etc.
• Prioritize and balance workload for on-farm reports in line with strategic goals.
• Responsible for any/all on-farm personnel training/codes, including health and safety (e.g. golden rules for driving; incident reporting/investigations). Foster continuous personal development via Individual Development Plans (IDPs), continuing education/learning, and direct mentoring.
• Coordinate and vet project requests from potential collaborators and stakeholders.
• Maintain meticulous records on farm management history.
• Promote operational excellence and optimization of farm assets via a ROI mindset.
• Lead by example in demonstrating team culture that upholds Syngenta’s standards.
• Manage and maintain farm for events that deliver science-based, applicable, and cost-effective soil health and sustainability scientific outcomes to business/growers (e.g. field days).
• Coordinate and collaborate with regional academic, government, and Syngenta farm managers to create an effective and synergistic network.

Technical Accountabilities:

• Collaborate with the Soil Science team to conceive, design, implement, conduct, manage, process and interpret data, and communicate research findings on enhancing soil health, sustainable and regenerative practices, and Syngenta & novel products at the LaSalle CO innovation farm.
• Collaborate with internal (e.g. Soil Science, Digital Ag Solutions, Valagro, BinBuster, AgriEdge) and external (e.g. Colorado State Univ., commodity/grower groups) stakeholders to contribute to NA regional efforts to deliver soil health, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and water (irrigation, plant available water) management results.
• Work with Soil Health and Sustainability Science Lead to track soil health metrics and systematically link soil health and sustainability technical outcomes.
• Deliver science-based, applicable, and cost-effective soil health and sustainability outcomes to business/growers (newsletters, field days, presentations at workshops, stakeholder forums, etc.).
• Disseminate and transfer soil health research findings to stakeholders with emphasis on accomplishments and impact (databases, prediction tools).
• Link soil health and sustainability scientific outcomes to ag production, ROI, water management, and agrichemical efficacy, fate, and transport.
• Working knowledge and experience working with precision agriculture software for research experimental planning, design, and analysis.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for Syngenta in internal and external forums and working groups.

• Bachelor’s degree in an agriculture-related discipline with extensive relevant experience or Master’s degree required; PhD preferred. At least five years demonstrated experience in agricultural production with knowledge of and working experience in agricultural sciences, especially in soils.
• Experience in and understanding of agronomic cropping and tillage practices, water regulations, pest/irrigation management, and regenerative farming practices in water-limiting environments (experience in Colorado preferred).
• Experience in and understanding of scientific experimental design, data collection, and statistical analysis; understanding and awareness of practices and procedures that impact experimental data quality (precision, accuracy).
• Working knowledge and understanding of soil health, regenerative agriculture practices, and irrigation/plant available water with agronomic, environmental, and economic implications.
• Experience in grower-researcher interactions; Deliver value-added science to business and growers.

Critical Knowledge, Experience, and Capabilities:

Ability to:

• Collaborate with scientific R&D team members to help set and contribute to our soil health strategy and deliver high quality research accomplishments with impact.
• Develop and manage budgets, conduct experiments, and deliver research results associated with soil health and sustainability science projects.
• Operate farm, irrigation, and precision agriculture equipment and software systems.
• Set priorities and make informed decisions in a cost-effective and timely manner.
• Collaborate with business and growers to address their challenges/needs and communicate soil health findings and positions.
• Proactively anticipate operational and research challenges/needs; independently solve problems as they arise.
• Effectively communicate complex science to diverse internal/external stakeholders.
• Deliver cost-effective, innovative solutions to complex ag problems in water-limited regions.
• Prepare and deliver internal and external scientific and communication materials, including publications.
• Effectively use MS Office, Smartsheet, and other standard office software.
• Effectively use precision agriculture software for research experimental planning, design, and analysis.
• Effectively use and support proprietary IT systems for data collection, analysis, tracking agronomic practices, and metric/KPI tracking.
• Deliver operational management and technical outcomes in agreed upon timelines.
• Manager and grow direct reports, graduate students, etc.; Manage workloads.
• Constantly demonstrate and promote cost-effective, solutions-oriented approaches.
• Draft, communicate, implement, and manage farm operational and research budgets.
• Interact and communicate effectively and respectively with internal (e.g. leadership, scientists, business partners, direct reports) and external (e.g. growers, customers, policymakers, regulatory agencies) stakeholders.
• Adapt quickly within a fast-paced and dynamic work unit.
• Troubleshoot problems, issues, and patterns from partially conflicting data or information.
• Learn, implement, and champion new/innovative technologies.
• Model Syngenta’s commitment to safety, sustainability, and product stewardship.
• Work independently and as a team member in a proactive, dynamic R&D environment.
• Travel when necessary (10%).

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Salary Range: $95,000 - $180,000 per year

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Syngenta Group is one of the world’s leading sustainable agriculture innovation companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. Our 53,000 people across more than 100 countries strive every day to transform agriculture through tailor-made solutions for the benefit of farmers, society and our planet –making us the world’s most local agricultural technology and innovation partner.

Syngenta Group is committed to operating at the highest standards of ethics and integrity. This is a commitment that we are making to investors, customers, society and employees. Syngenta Group is also committed to maintaining a workplace environment free from discrimination and harassment.