Agronomist

Gold Leaf Farming

6h•$130,000 - $160,000

About The Position

GLF’s Agronomist is our senior agronomy leader and trusted technical partner to the VP of Operations, helping shape and continuously refine the agronomic roadmap that drives maximum yield and long-term sustainability. This role aids in the establishment of GLF’s farming standards, blending strong science, practical field execution, and disciplined capital stewardship to deliver yield growth and orchard longevity. As a hands-on member of the Operations team, the Agronomist turns data and research into clear, actionable recommendations for the farms. They are responsible for advising Farm Managers in elevating yield potential and protecting tree health across 12,000 (and growing) acres of almonds and pistachios, ensuring our practices are not only scientifically sound, but also workable in real farm conditions and aligned with return on investment. This is a highly farm-present role across California and Arizona. The Agronomist works shoulder to shoulder with Farm Managers and Asset Managers - building technical capability, challenging assumptions, strengthening agronomic consistency, and driving measurable improvements in yield, efficiency, and long-term performance. The Agronomist serves as a: Subject matter expert in agronomy and agtech Business-minded partner who deeply understands cost of production and tradeoffs Trusted advisor to farm teams Self-starter who proactively identifies and solves problems related to climate, soil, water, pests, and nutrients Key contributor to strategic planning and expansion into new crops and regions Practical experiment designer delivering actionable and practical insights

Requirements

Master’s or PhD in Agronomy, Plant or Soil Science (or equivalent experience)
Experience designing and executing field-scale trials
Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret agronomic data
Practical farm management or operational agriculture experience
Willingness to travel frequently and be highly farm-present
Strong communication and relationship-building skills
Excited about technology and comfortable using standard business software (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Nice To Haves

Spanish fluency preferred but not required

Responsibilities

Optimize Cost of Production-Focused Agronomic Strategy (80% of time)
Help establish and refine GLF’s agronomic roadmap to maximize yield and long-term sustainability
Evaluate agronomic decisions through an ROI lens, balancing crop and tree health with financial discipline
Continuously improve fertility, irrigation, pest, and soil strategies at each farm alongside FMs and AMs
Analyze soil, tissue, yield, and operational data to guide decision-making
Design and oversee practical, field-level experiments that farm teams can execute consistently
Stay current on agronomic trends and translate best practices into cost-conscious programs
Support the sourcing, evaluation, implementation, and improvement of agtech use to drive improved yield outcomes
Support diligence and strategic evaluation of new crops and regions
Internal and External Stakeholder Management (20% of time)
Build trusted relationships with Farm Managers, Asset Managers, and cross-functional partners
Be someone FM’s want to call - approachable, practical, respectful, and present
Influence with candor and humility while respecting decentralized decision-making
Ensure strategies reflect real operational and financial constraints
Participate actively in operations meetings, agronomy reviews, and farm performance discussions
Engage with universities, researchers, and vendors to solve problems and vet innovations