Agronomy & Field Trial Technician

Ohalo; Seacliff (CA); On-site; USD 33,062 - 45,460; Full time

Job summary

Ohalo in Watsonville, CA, is seeking an entry-level Agronomy & Field Trial Technician to support field trials from planting through harvest and data collection.

This hands-on role offers experience working with our agronomy and breeding teams to bring next-generation potato varieties to growers. Willingness to travel up to 20% and perform outdoor physical work are required.

Qualifications

• Recent college graduate or 2+ years of hands-on field agronomy experience.
• Able to perform physically active outdoor work (lifting up to ~40 lbs).
• Organized and detail-oriented; able to follow data collection protocols.
• Basic computer skills for recording field data.
• Good communication and teamwork abilities.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% and hold a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Support trial planting including plotting, seed handling, and equipment setup.
• Assist with trial harvesting, including sorting, labeling, and phenotyping.
• Conduct in-season data collection using standardized protocols.
• Accurately record and organize field data with apps and spreadsheets.
• Maintain field equipment and ensure sites are labeled and mapped per protocol.
• Communicate observations and field updates to trial and breeding teams.
• Follow safety practices and site-specific protocols while outdoors.

Skills

Outdoor work

Physical fitness

Data collection

Documentation

Communication

Teamwork

Driver's license

Travel readiness

Detail orientation

Education

Recent college graduate or 2+ years field experience

Job description

Position Title: Agronomy & Field Trial Technician

Location: Watsonville, California (up to 20% travel)

Type: Full-time

Opportunity:

Ohalo has developed the world's first true hybrid potato seed system using its proprietary Boosted Breeding platform. We're looking for an Agronomy & Field Trial Technician to support field trials for our true seed potato varieties, from planting through harvest and data collection. This is an entry-level, hands‑on role ideal for someone eager to build a career in field research and breeding, working alongside our agronomy and breeding teams to help bring next‑generation potato varieties to growers.

Key Responsibilities

• Support trial planting, including printing plot stakes and labels, seed handling, and planting equipment setup.
• Assist with trial harvesting, including sorting, labeling, phenotyping tubers as needed.
• Conduct in-season data collection (e.g., stand counts, crop health observations, growth staging) using standardized protocols.
• Accurately record and organize field data using data collection apps and spreadsheets.
• Help maintain field equipment and ensure trial sites are labeled, mapped, and maintained to protocol.
• Communicate observations and field updates clearly to the trial and breeding team.
• Follow safety practices and site‑specific protocols while working outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Qualifications

• Recent college graduate with no prior experience or non‑graduate with 2+ years of hands‑on field agronomy experience.
• Comfortable performing physically active outdoor work, including bending, lifting (up to ~40 lbs), and walking fields for extended periods.
• Well‑organized and detail‑oriented, with the ability to follow standardized data collection protocols consistently and manage multiple simultaneous projects.
• Basic computer skills for recording and organizing field data.
• Good communication skills and ability to work well as part of a small field team.
• Willingness to travel to trial sites as needed (up to 20%).
• Valid driver's license.

Preferred Experience

• Coursework or hands‑on experience in agronomy, plant science, horticulture, or a related field.
• Experience with breeding or agronomic field trials is a plus, including familiarity with plot‑based research, GPS‑based field mapping, installing soil temperature and moisture sensors, or basic soil/tissue sampling.
• Familiarity with potato or other row‑crop production systems.

The anticipated base pay range for this role is $24.00 - $33.00 per hour for our Watsonville location. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs. This range reflects multiple levels within this role.

About Ohalo

Ohalo™ aims to accelerate evolution to unlock nature’s potential. Founded in 2019, Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops to sustainably feed our population. Ohalo’s breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. For more information, visit www.ohalo.com.

Notes: If you previously applied for a job at Ohalo Genetics, we encourage you to restate your interest in the position by submitting your application.

No visa sponsorship is available for this position at this time.

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