On-Farm Research & Agronomy Coordinator (Fixed Term)

Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association • Guelph, ON

12d • CA$63,000 - CA$73,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The On-Farm Research & Agronomy Coordinator is a full-time position (36.25 hours per week) with a fixed term ending March 31, 2028. This role is part of the Living Lab – Ontario program delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). The position acts as a liaison between farmers, researchers, agronomists, and project partners, focusing on the implementation of on-farm research trials across Ontario. The successful candidate will utilize practical agricultural knowledge and applied research skills to coordinate field trials, ensure data quality, and build relationships with farmer cooperators and research partners. This is a hybrid role requiring two days per week in the Guelph office, with potential for occasional work outside standard hours and frequent travel. The role demands adaptability in dynamic farm environments and comfort working with diverse stakeholders.

Requirements

• Post-secondary degree in soil science, agronomy, crop science or a related field.
• Strong understanding of Ontario field crop production systems, seasonal farm operations, and agronomic management practices is required.
• 2-5 years of relevant industry experience.
• Practical agricultural experience and comfort working directly with Ontario farmers are essential for success in this role.
• Experience with Ontario field crop production systems, seasonal agronomic decision-making, and agricultural operational timing is required.
• Familiarity with planting, nutrient management, harvest timing, cover crops, tillage systems, and soil fertility practices, is required.
• Must have a very strong understanding of farm operations and production practices for field crops, along with the ability to calculate fertilizer rates, as well as knowledge of planting dates and crop growth stages for common crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat, etc.
• Must have significant experience and competency with executing field crop research, including sampling protocols, experimental design, data collection and analysis.
• Must have experience with best management practices in Ontario.
• Strong understanding of agriculture, environmental and economic farm sustainability, biosecurity, and soil health and water quality.
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, and a passion for engaging directly with stakeholders on a regular basis (both in person and virtual).
• Ability to perform farm operational data conversions and calculations, including converting an application rate of a fertilizer product to actual lbs applied.
• Excellent communication skills, including ability to communicate directly with producers via phone and email, social media, and report writing.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, effective time management, and strong organizational skills that include setting priorities, and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency in computer programs including all Microsoft applications, data visualization software, and digital survey-management programs.
• Understanding of data sharing and security principles, and experience navigating sensitive information.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team, providing innovative and creative contributions and seeking opportunities for improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to deal with periods of high demand and ability to remain positive and flexible to changing demands.
• Valid Driver’s Licence.
• Frequent travel is required and while mileage will be compensated, access to a personal vehicle is essential.
• Knowledge of how to conduct on-farm field crop research trials, including design, execution, sampling and monitoring.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with Ontario field crop agriculture practices and best management practices, specifically in field crops, related to soil health and water quality.
• Knowledge of field crop farming practices for corn, soybean and wheat, including farming operations, timing of production activities and producer needs.
• Understanding of growth stages for corn, soybean and wheat.
• Familiarity with government funded cost-share programming and field crop on-farm applied research initiatives.
• Knowledge of best practices for administration and coordination of research programs.
• Strong technical skills around on-farm field crop research trial implementation and execution.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with ability to support farmers and stakeholders professionally.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications, including Excel, and comfort working with databases and reporting tools.
• Effective public speaking and presentation skills.
• Ability to make informed field and sampling decisions based on crop stage, agronomic practices, seasonal conditions, and farm operations.
• Ability to conduct and set-up on-farm field crop research trials, including design, execution, sampling and monitoring, and demonstrated skills in developing applied on-farm research protocols and approaches.
• Ability to determine when on-farm field crop research activities would take place and how to coordinate that with farmer operational activities and timing throughout the growing season.
• Ability to communicate well with farmers, as well as with researchers.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and coordinate with internal and external partners.
• Ability to perform data conversions and calculations related to fertilizer application rates and other producer-related farming activities.

Nice To Haves

• A research-based master’s degree with an on-farm component and a focus on field crops would be considered an asset.
• Certified Crop Advisor or P.Ag designation would be an asset.
• French language skills are an asset.

Responsibilities

• Support OSCIA’s applied on-farm agronomy field crop research programs by serving as the primary point of contact between the Organization, its farmer cooperators and its researcher partners, with a primary focus on the Living Lab – Ontario project, and for other projects as may be required.
• Coordinate field-scale agronomic trial activities including monitoring, drone seeding, satellite and NDVI imaging, soil sampling, profit mapping, and other potential research trial needs.
• Coordinate and conduct field sampling activities aligned with agronomic management practices and seasonal crop time.
• Manage the quality control of farm operation data and soil health data from farmer cooperators, project service providers, and publicly available sources.
• Provide oversight and assistance to farmer cooperators in field crop research trial design, set-up, execution and data collection.
• Contribute to the setup of farm-specific models for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation in HOLOS, Agrisuite, and commercial software for cooperator sites.
• Support data management, tracking, and reporting performance measures and program deliverables for applied research programs in field crops.
• Support the knowledge translation and transfer of research outcomes to project stakeholders, farmer cooperators, and Ontario farmers.
• Assist farmers and collaborators with the invoice submission process.
• Attend program meetings and capture discussions and action items through compilation of notes.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records to support internal reporting and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with Research and Knowledge Transfer staff, other OSCIA departments, government staff and researchers (such as AAFC and OMAFA), academic researchers, and other ag-industry partners to support research trial development and ongoing trial implementation.
• Support interactions and relationships with stakeholders and project funders.
• Promote research results and research programs through speaking and representing the organization at events and meetings, as well as planning of research meetings.
• Promote a positive farmer and researcher experience through proactive communication and consistent support.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A collaborative, constructive and dynamic work environment.
• The ability to make meaningful contributions to leading-edge agricultural programming.
• Hybrid work opportunity: OSCIA staff work from our Guelph head office a minimum of two days per week, and are supported in an ability to work off-site for up to three days per week.
• Progressive policies to support work-life balance and professional development.
• Onsite parking is available at no cost.
• A competitive salary commensurate with experience level.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level