Trialing Specialist

Company Description

About Syngenta

At Syngenta Vegetables and Flowers, we're cultivating tomorrow's variety through innovative breeding that brings vibrant colors to gardens and nutritious vegetables to tables worldwide. We combine centuries of seed heritage with cutting-edge innovation to develop resilient, high-performing varieties that thrive in diverse climates. Join us in shaping the future of sustainable horticulture, where every seed holds the potential to enhance lives through better nutrition and natural beauty.

Job Description

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. To support this mission, Syngenta’s Operations & Trialing Team is seeking a Trialing Specialist in Jacksonville, FL. This role will support the different external trialing activities with growers and Contract Research Organizations (CROs) in the U.S. East area.

Accountabilities:

• End-to-end execution of research-level trials to evaluate the performance of experimental seed varieties/hybrids.
• Responsible for planting, field harvest, product evaluation trial activities, and data collection. Use data collection tools to collect and record detailed observations and measurements from trial plots, ensuring accuracy and consistency in data collection.
• Communicate regularly with the Trialing Lead, Product Placement Scientists, and breeders to report on trial progress and any issues encountered at trial locations.
• Implement the end-to-end Trialing process to comprise setup and maintenance of trials from planting to harvest and tracking of different experimental entries.
• Become an integral member of the trialing team, covering all activities from sowing to harvest, such as planning, seed shipment, seed reception, requests, sowing, planting, transplanting, labeling, harvest, and data collection.
• Operate and maintain GPS-equipped tractors/planters and other seed research equipment with complex mechanical and electronic components.
• Use different phenotyping tools to support trial data collection and data storage. Input and maintain data in IT systems or databases.
• Interact with the commercial Syngenta team and growers to ensure timely trial cycles are achieved.
• Be available for unscheduled work based on business needs or weather conditions (including weekends).
• Collect data for trials, operations KPIs, and workflow KPIs to determine areas for improvement and process risks.
• Effectively communicate on a daily basis with peers, Product Placement Scientists, breeding teams, local Marketing & Sales teams, and supervisors regarding the status of projects and work activities.
• Participate in research projects and process-improvement initiatives related to the trialing and phenotyping of vegetable varieties.
• Participate in team meetings throughout the year to ensure Trialing objectives are met. Discuss observations and findings to contribute to the continued development and success of the trialing team.
• Manage, coach, and train third-party contract labor to ensure accurate results are achieved. Monitor performance indicators for third-party contract labor.
• Follow and apply all HSE (Health, Safety, & Environment) and Stewardship practices and training, as well as provide support to the trialling team.

Ideal candidate is located in the Wellington or West Palm Beach area.

Qualifications

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must reside in and be permanently authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship. This comprises, but is not limited to, OPT, CPT, and H-1B visa holders.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred. BS/BA in Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Science, or an agriculture-related field.
• Strong digital fluency, with a strong skill set in the MS Office Suite and database management.
• Clear understanding of the practices and procedures that affect trial data precision and accuracy.
• Hands-on experience operating GPS-equipped tractors/planters, combines, electronic equipment, tablets, drones, farming software, robotics, and other precision agriculture equipment.
• A basic understanding of plant physiology and breeding is desirable.
• Excellent communication skills. Fluent in English. Spanish recommended.
• CDL License, or the ability to acquire one.

Additional Information

Salary for this position ranges between $74,400 - $83,000 annually.

What We Offer:

• 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.

Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here:

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

WL: 3A

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