Testing Research Associate

Bayer•San Juan Bautista, CA

8d•$78,640 - $117,960•Onsite

About The Position

Join our team as a Testing Research Associate and play a pivotal role in advancing our vegetable pipelines. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and passionate individual to join a multidisciplinary team of vegetable breeders, horticultural scientists, data scientists, and engineers. You'll work on creative solutions to complex business problems using advanced field and greenhouse operations, equipment, analytics, and cutting-edge automation techniques.

Requirements

BSc. in Horticulture, Agronomy, or a related field with a minimum of 5 years of crop management experience, either in open field or greenhouse environments
Knowledge and experience with agricultural equipment and vegetable crops production practices
History of leveraging technology for crop management and data collection

Nice To Haves

PhD with 1 year of experience or MSc with 3 years of experience in related fields

Responsibilities

Plan and execute experimental protocols and performance trials in protected culture and open field environments for tomato, sweet peppers, and cucumbers
Operate research equipment, take notes, enter data management with internal IT systems, and comply with seed stewardship standards
Develop, execute, and continuously improve strategic testing plans in alignment with business objectives to deliver results within the crops
Execute protocols and trials to generate quality data enabling breeding partners to advance new products based on performance and market needs
Capture data in Windows and iOS operating systems (desktop computing, iPhones, iPads) and conduct data quality checks and assurance
Leverage metrics applications and quality control processes to realize accuracy, efficiency, and expanded improvements to protocols
Manage relationships with growers and third-party cooperators to ensure timely completion and integrity of data collected
Create and use tools from collected and analyzed data to develop the performance story and support the transfer of product and agronomic knowledge
Use overall understanding of market potential, competition, key trends, research, and emerging market forces to become an industry expert
Explore new technologies to increase capacity, speed up current processes, and deploy novel technologies in data collection and crop management
Perform tasks to ensure compliance with Bayer policies and quality standards, including safeguarding of equipment daily use logs, calibration, and maintenance
Work extended hours during peak seasons, including non-traditional day-time hours with potential overnight travel
For site-based individuals, focus on managing and executing agronomic and crop husbandry practices, as well as other site management activities