Principal Agronomist - Lead Innovative Farming Systems RD&E

Queensland Government; Toowoomba Regional; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Queensland Government seeks a Principal Research Agronomist to provide strategic leadership for the Farming Systems Innovation team and manage a portfolio of RD&E projects that advance productive, profitable and sustainable grain farming across Queensland.

The role requires a PhD in farming systems or plant physiology, a relevant degree, and extensive experience in field experiments, robotics, drones, and satellite data integration.

Qualifications

• A Degree in Agricultural Science, Applied Science, Rural science or equivalent academic qualification from a recognised University.
• A PhD in farming systems, plant physiology or a similar discipline, and at least seven years of progressive research experience spanning academia and industry, is highly desirable.
• Current ‘C' class driver licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the Farming Systems Innovation team to foster a high performing team and build / implement a portfolio of RD&E projects that supports continued innovation for productive, profitable and sustainable farming systems in line with Department and government priorities.
• Develop, lead and conduct a portfolio of RD&E projects that are relevant and rigorous and deliver new insights to growers, agronomists and industry which they need to assess, refine and apply new practices in grain farming systems across Queensland.
• Undertake farming system research, development, and extension activities that inform the Queensland farming systems on how to respond to an increasing variable climate and address major constraints within their system.
• Build and maintain effective and mutually beneficial internal and external relationships and collaborative partnerships with national and state government bodies, industry organisations and stakeholders associated with Farming Systems Innovation in Queensland and more broadly across Australia.
• Initiate and contribute to project development, planning and management including milestone reporting, preparing and managing multi-million-dollar budgets, adapting and responding to change as required and update operational plans accordingly. Evaluate outcomes and prepare project reports for departmental and funding bodies purposes.
• Communicate effectively through a range of methods and negotiate effectively with staff, managers, clients, stakeholders and funders to achieve project outcomes.
• Allocate resources efficiently, ensure timely delivery against competing demands, and handle human resource and operational issues within a dispersed multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Farming systems

Plant physiology

Ag-Tech integration

Field experimentation

Budget management

External funding

Education

PhD in farming systems or plant physiology

Degree in Agricultural Science or equivalent

Current C-class driver license

Tools

Robotics

Drones

Satellite data analytics

Job description

Queensland Government seeks a Principal Research Agronomist to provide strategic leadership for the Farming Systems Innovation team and manage a portfolio of RD&E projects that advance productive, profitable and sustainable grain farming across Queensland.

The role requires a PhD in farming systems or plant physiology, a relevant degree, and extensive experience in field experiments, robotics, drones, and satellite data integration.