Trialing Specialist Technician

Syngenta Group • Highland, IL

8h • Hybrid

About The Position

Syngenta Seeds is a global leader in developing and producing seeds that enhance crop quality, yield, and resilience against challenges like disease and drought. Headquartered in the United States, the company focuses on providing innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops. This Trialing Specialist Technician position is part of Syngenta's Operations & Trialing Team, supporting the Highland, Illinois site. The role is crucial for executing research-level yield trials for corn, soybean, and wheat across a territory including Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky. The primary goal is to ensure trials are conducted on time, with high precision and accuracy, in a safe and compliant manner, to generate top-quality data for identifying superior products. This is a permanent, full-time "Peak Time Employee" position, which includes a required annual unpaid break period of approximately three months between growing seasons. The active assignment period runs annually from February 1st to October 31st. While the role can be supported remotely, optimal support locations are within the Highland – Effingham area.

Requirements

• Associate's degree in agriculture related discipline and/or relevant experience.
• A valid driver's license with an acceptable driver's history is required.
• Ability to work in high or low temperature conditions in field or greenhouse.
• Capable of lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Capable of working long hours during time-critical periods of the growing season.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship support from Syngenta.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in operating and maintaining agricultural machinery, and/or agricultural research equipment.
• Ability to work with a moderate level of supervision while traveling to off-site locations to prepare, plant and accurately collect and manage data obtained from trials.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a federal medical card to operate commercial motor vehicles is required.
• Pesticide Applicators License Holder or ability to acquire.
• A basic understanding of agriculture and agronomy practices is desirable.
• A basic understanding of the practices and procedures that affect trial data precision and accuracy.
• Experience in the operation, adjustment, maintenance of and ability to do minor repairs on various plot equipment, including a planter, tractor, cultivator, sprayer, and combine.

Responsibilities

• Function as an integral member of a team responsible for planting, plot maintenance, spraying, note taking (phenotyping) and harvesting research level yield trial plots.
• Operation and maintenance of agricultural machinery, and or agricultural research equipment to include: precision planters, drones, automated phenotyping equipment and research combines.
• Perform all tasks and work in a manner compliant with and in support of all safety and stewardship related company policies and practices, including completing all required company training courses.
• Support tasks to achieve the Trialing managers desired results, e.g., assisting the team with field layout, planting, phenotyping, and harvest.
• Effectively and regularly communicate with peers and supervisors regarding the status of projects, status of work-related activities, quality and timeliness of data collected.
• Plant, spray, maintain and harvest research level corn, soybean and wheat trials to meet data quality standard and operational deadlines.

Benefits

• A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members.
• Offers flexible work options to support your work and personal needs.
• Full Benefit Package (Medical, Dental & Vision) that starts your first day.
• 401k plan with company match, Profit Sharing & Retirement Savings Contribution.
• Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, Education Assistance, Wellness Programs, Corporate Discounts, among other benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees