Research Coordination Manager

Job Description

Company Description

The North Carolina Soybean Producers Association is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the profitability of soybean farmers in North Carolina. The association emphasizes economically and environmentally sustainable practices to support the agricultural industry. By serving as a resource and advocate, the organization works toward fostering growth and success for local soybean growers.

About the Position

The Research Coordination Manager is responsible for the association’s strategic objectives for improving soybean production, yield and quality in North Carolina, and for supporting team members’ efforts to achieve strategic goals in all areas of the association’s work. The Research Coordination Manager manages the association’s annual research grant awards to public and private institutions, serves on external committees and workgroups to prioritize research needs and implement collaborative research projects, and advises university faculty and administrators on the association’s research priorities, needs and requirements.

The Research Coordination Manager is the liaison between the soybean farmer industry in North Carolina and the Extension Soybean Specialist in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. The Research Coordination Manager represents the association on regional and national soybean research collaboratives.

The position is responsible for communications to growers about the association’s research investments and outcomes. This function requires collaboration with the association’s Communications Manager.

The position is full-time, reports to the Executive Director and is in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Specific Responsibilities:

· Solicit, review and rank research proposals; assist the association’s research committee with annual research awards to university faculty and private institutions.

· Manage grant-funded projects, oversee lifecycles, ensure deliverables are met, track progress against timelines and budgets.

· Ensure compliance with funder requirements for successful project completion, work with team to align activities with project goals.

· Support the association’s board of directors in setting long-term research priorities and in evaluating the impact of research investments.

· Staff the association’s research committee and serve as the association’s subject matter expert on applied research, agricultural research, and agricultural production.

· Attend field days, grower meetings, Extension meetings, regional / national soybean research meetings, and in general represent the association to farmers, to the industry, and to academia.

· Draft written articles and other content summarizing and evaluation research project deliverables for publication in association newsletters, reports, and on social media.

· Plan farmer-facing soybean production meetings, seminars, conference sessions.

· Engage with the North Carolina Extension Service, the Soybean Extension Specialist at North Carolina State University, university faculty and county Extension agents to prioritize, plan and implement soybean production research.

· Represent the association at meetings, workgroups and seminars hosted by the United Soybean Board and engage with colleagues from U.S. state soybean boards.

Qualifications:

· Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field of study; formal training or experience in applied agricultural research.

· Valid passport; ability to travel within the U.S. and internationally.

· Valid driver’s license.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills.

· General knowledge of research methods, basic knowledge of statistics, familiarity with applied agricultural experiments and research protocols on farms and on research stations.

· Familiarity with soybean production in the U.S. including currently available seed technology, plant nutrition products, and pesticides, as well as production practices.

About You

The successful applicant will be able to work in a small-team environment and will support teammate’s efforts to create positive impacts for North Carolina soybean farmers. Training in an agricultural discipline such as crop science, soil science, plant pathology, entomology, agricultural engineering or another relevant discipline is expected. A farm background with experience of soybean production and other row crops would be beneficial but is not required. Knowledge of research methods including small plot research protocols and on-farm research protocols is expected. Experience sharing soybean agronomic management advice with growers through Cooperative Extension programs is a plus. The ideal candidate will possess highly effective oral and written communication skills and will exhibit the ability to adhere to timelines and commitments with minimal supervision.

Salary and Benefits

The position offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in the range of $75,000 - $105,000, health and dental insurance, and employer-sponsored retirement plan.

To Apply

The Association will accept applications until the position is filled.