Agriculture Advisor 2 (Remote)

Job Description

Job Description

Agriculture Advisor 2 (Remote) ID: ARS-PA-117 Location: Lubbock Program: ARS
Wage/Hr: $75.00 Hours/Week: 12 Minimum Age: 55

For over 25 years, National Experienced Workforce Solutions (NEW Solutions) has specialized in connecting experienced workers (ages 55+) with full-time and part-time job opportunities that support the critical missions of Federal Agencies across the United States.

NEW Solutions connects experienced workers (ages 55+) with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS). These experienced professionals provide administrative, scientific, and technical support to the Agricultural Research Service through the Experienced Worker Program (EWP).

Positions listed here do not guarantee employment for any definite period. Enrollment in the Experienced Worker Programs administered by NEW Solutions is temporary. The enrollment relationship between NEW Solutions and the Enrollee is an ?at-will? relationship. This means that an Enrollee is free to terminate enrollment at any time during the enrollment period, and NEW Solutions and the Agency have the right to terminate the relationship with the Enrollee.

PLEASE NOTE: An ?Enrollee? is not a federal employee, nor an employee of NEW Solutions. An ?Enrollee? is a participant in a grant program established through a Cooperative Agreement funded by the agency and administered by NEW Solutions. The enrollee shall not sign federal documents, authorize the use of federal funds, nor initiate or conduct federally funded research projects. The enrollee shall not author articles for publication as a federal employee, nor coordinate scientific research between the Government and private industry. The enrollee shall not present themselves as a Government employee or Government representative at meetings both foreign and domestic or when coordinating federal agencies? areas of research. The enrollee shall not make decisions on federally based research on behalf of Government policy makers, and the enrollee shall not supervise any Government employees.

This opportunity applies to applicants legally eligible to work in the United States.

*This position will be open until filled. NOTE: This position has the option to work remotely.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 10 year(s) of experience in field research working on dryland cropping systems. OR PhD Degree in Background in agronomy and soil science with emphasis on dryland cropping systems and use of simulation models.

• N/A
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint

Duties:

Build a comprehensive, long-term dryland cropping systems database that unifies biophysical, agronomic, management, and bibliographic information from three USDA-ARS research locations: Fort Collins, Colorado; Bushland, Texas; and Lubbock, Texas. Enrollee will be creating and maintaining a detailed directory of scientists involved in dryland cropping research, including experts from ARS, universities, extension programs, and industry. The enrollee shall not sign federal documents, authorize the use of federal funds, nor initiate or conduct federally funded research projects. The enrollee shall not author articles for publication as a federal employee, nor coordinate scientific research between the Government and private industry. The enrollee shall not present themselves as a Government employee or Government representative at meetings both foreign and domestic or when coordinating federal agencies? areas of research. The enrollee shall not make decisions on federally based research on behalf of Government policy makers, and the enrollee shall not supervise any Government employees.

• This multi-year project aims to build a comprehensive, long-term dryland cropping systems database that unifies biophysical, agronomic, management, and bibliographic information from three USDA-ARS research locations: Fort Collins, Colorado; Bushland, Texas; and Lubbock, Texas. By integrating decades of weather records, soil characterization data, crop rotation histories, nutrient management information, and yield outcomes, the project will create a durable resource that supports cross-site comparisons and long-term agricultural systems research. The effort begins with a coordinated scoping phase in which teams from all three ARS sites identify available datasets, agree on standardized data categories, and determine the most effective database structure. Early alignment on metadata fields and interoperability standards ensures that the system will function cohesively across locations. Once the framework is established, each site will conduct a detailed inventory of existing data. This includes daily to seasonal weather histories, soil survey information and laboratory analyses, crop rotation and management records, nutrient applications, and yield data at the field and rotation level. A major component of this phase is the consolidation of bibliographic materials- peer-reviewed papers, conference proceedings, press releases, and other gray literature. The extensive publication history from Big Spring, Texas will serve as an initial foundation for this bibliographic archive. With the inventory underway, technical staff will design and develop the database architecture. This includes defining table structures, establishing relationships among datasets, creating controlled vocabularies, and preparing templates for future data entry. Preliminary datasets will be uploaded to test functionality and ensure consistency. The integration and quality-assurance phase will focus on cleaning, formatting, and loading site-level datasets into the unified system. Rigorous quality checks will verify accuracy, resolve inconsistencies, and ensure alignment with metadata standards. Economic and risk-related information will also be incorporated during this stage. Once the database is fully functional, it will be deployed across the ARS locations. Ultimately, the project will deliver a robust, multi-decade dataset that enhances the capacity for long term system analysis and cross-site comparison. It will also provide streamlined access to scientific publications relevant to dryland cropping systems and establish a durable platform capable of supporting future modeling efforts, decision-support tools, and collaborative research initiatives.   80%
• The person in this position plays a central role in developing a comprehensive roadmap for dryland cropping systems across the semi-arid Great Plains, beginning with Texas and Colorado. They are responsible for creating and maintaining a detailed directory of scientists involved in dryland cropping research, including experts from ARS, universities, extension programs, and industry. This involves gathering contact information, documenting areas of expertise, tracking publications, and staying current with ongoing research activities. Using this directory, they compile an organized inventory of existing knowledge, research strengths, and gaps within the field. Drawing on their extensive experience in dryland systems, they support strategic planning by helping identify priorities, emerging needs, and opportunities for collaboration. They facilitate communication among researchers, coordinate information-sharing activities, and ensure that data and documentation are accurate, complete, and regularly updated. Their work strengthens connections across the research community and provides leadership with the information needed to guide future investments and initiatives in dryland agriculture.   20%

• Physical requirements: N/A Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

NEW Solutions is committed to promoting equal opportunity and to an environment free from discrimination and harassment in any form administering Experienced Worker Programs under cooperative agreements with federal agencies. It is NEW Solutions' policy to comply with all applicable laws that provide equal opportunity and to prohibit unlawful discrimination in enrolling participants in the federal programs.