Director, Agronomics Research and Development (PhD) - Remote

SiteOne Landscape Supply•Roswell, GA

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Director of Research & Development (R&D), Agronomics, is responsible for leading the strategic direction and execution of research initiatives focused on crop science, soil health, plant nutrition, and sustainable agronomic practices. This role will drive innovation, support product development, and partner cross‑functionally to deliver high‑impact agronomic solutions aligned with business objectives. This individual will serve as a subject matter expert, providing scientific leadership while translating research insights into practical, scalable solutions for commercial applications.

Requirements

PhD in Turfgrass Management, Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Horticulture or related field
10+ years of progressive experience in agronomic research or agricultural R&D
Proven ability to lead teams and drive innovation in a commercial environment
Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, with experience speaking to groups of varying sizes
Natural ability to build rapport and engage audiences, both one-on-one and in group environments
Proven experience promoting products, services, or brand value through presentations, events, or customer interactions
Must be comfortable with up to 25% enterprise-wide travel

Nice To Haves

Proven experience owning or contributing to P&L performance, with a strong understanding of revenue drivers, margin optimization, and cost management

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the R&D strategy for agronomic products aligned with company growth goals
Identify emerging trends in crop science, soil management, and sustainable agriculture
Build and maintain a strong innovation pipeline for new products, technologies, and services
Be responsible for curriculum and delivery of field training for the agronomics category and for individual, new product launches
Design, oversee, and evaluate field trials, greenhouse studies, and agronomic research programs
Lead development of products related to fertilizers, crop protection, biologicals, and soil amendments
Ensure scientific rigor, data integrity, and compliance with regulatory standards
Analyze and interpret data to produce actionable insights and recommendations
Lead and develop a team of agronomic technical and training leads
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Set performance goals and provide coaching and mentorship
Partner with Category, Sales, and Marketing teams to bring new solutions to market
Translate complex agronomic research into customer‑facing messaging and training materials
Support field teams with technical expertise and troubleshooting
Partner with new and existing basic manufacturers of fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs to ensure early access to new products and new formulations of existing products
Build relationships with universities, research institutions, and industry organizations
Represent the company at conferences, industry events, and technical forums
Collaborate with external partners on trials, grants, and research initiatives
Secure funding from suppliers to support research and development
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local agricultural and environmental regulations
Support product registration and documentation for new product development