Research Associate, Senior

Research Associate, Senior

Position Number: 0079537

Hiring Unit: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC)

Location: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI

Band: C

Salary: salary schedules and placement information

Full Time/Part Time: Full-time

Month: 11-month

Temporary/Permanent: Permanent

Other Conditions: For best consideration, all application materials should be submitted by July 31, 2026, 11:59PM HST. Complete applications and required document attachments must be submitted before close of vacancy. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the hiring committee. Please see application instructions.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Administers and manages agricultural service centers including directing of all administrative aspects of the Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC), the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Farm, and entrepreneurial activities within the CTAHR, including the Centers for Applied Research and Extension Services (CARES) across the state.
2. Designs and implements programs to generate revenues and oversees all technical aspects of the centers to ensure financial sustainability and programmatic growth.
3. Provides direction and leadership for CTAHR services, establishing college-wide policies and procedures for sample testing, seed, seedling, and food production, innovation incubation, and the transmittal of results and invoicing.
4. Directs fiscal strategy for auxiliary revolving accounts for all CTAHR service center income-generating activities, driving cost-efficiency and revenue optimization to sustain service center operations.
5. Plans, manages, and administers the operations and maintenance of service center facilities, ensuring they effectively serve CTAHR, commercial producers, researchers, and the general public.
6. Develops short and long-term plans that include the identification of goals and objectives for programs, facilities operations, operating budgets, and capital improvements across the service center network.
7. Serves as a technical manager and subject matter expert for programs requiring substantial interfacing, coordination, and planning across broad organizational lines, particularly between campus labs and county CARES centers.
8. Partners with faculty in designing studies on the feasibility, suitability, and operational utility of new agricultural systems and entrepreneurial concepts, such as controlled environment plant production systems and the integration of robotics and smart sensors.
9. Develops initiatives and efforts to expand programs with the intent to broaden service to the agricultural community, including the management and future development of the CTAHR's Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Farm.
10. Tracks progress and quality of performance, deciding on the acceptability or required correction for work products or analytical services (e.g., soil, tissue, feed, and food analysis) rendered to the community.
11. Designs and develops improvements for complex subsystems, facilities, and equipment to significantly enhance the usefulness, reliability, and maintainability of the college's diagnostic and innovation infrastructure.
12. Prepares and writes proposals to sponsors to solicit support for University projects and entrepreneurial activities.
13. Other duties as assigned.

*Denotes Essential Functions

Minimum Qualifications

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree in agriculture, plant physiology, soil science, biology, chemistry, agricultural business, or a related field and 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for laboratory management, agricultural services, commercial food production, or business development; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
2. Advanced and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of developing and emerging concepts, principles and methodologies in the area of agriculture.
3. Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of principles, theories, federal and state laws and systems associated with agriculture.
4. Demonstrated ability to understand problems from a broad interactive perspective and use reasoning to discern underlying principles and issues when problem solving, and apply creative thinking to resolve problems in new and innovative approaches.
5. Demonstrated written and verbal competence in presenting ideas, concepts and models clearly using persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation.
6. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
7. Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software, and utilize analytical instrumentation required for analysis.
8. For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Masters or higher degree in plant physiology, biology, chemistry, or a related agricultural or business field.
2. Direct experience in running an agricultural business, diagnostic service laboratory, or an agricultural innovation incubator.
3. Advanced supervisory and strategic leadership skills.

To Apply

1. Cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and some, if not all, desirable qualifications;
2. Resume/Curriculum vitae (CV);
3. Names of three (3) professional references (contact information including email address); and
4. Official transcripts or original documentation from the institution confirming the degree (copies acceptable; however, official transcripts sent directly from the degree-granting institution are required upon hire).

• Any confidential data should be redacted (e.g. social security number, date of birth, etc).
• Diplomas will not be accepted.

Note: Complete applications and required document attachments must be submitted before close of vacancy. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the hiring committee.

Inquiries: Dr. Parwinder Grewal, View email address on click.appcast.io