R&D Scientist (CCA)

The Wonderful Company; Lost Hills (CA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Wonderful Company is seeking an R&D Scientist for Wonderful Orchards in California. You will design and execute field and laboratory studies on agronomy, irrigation, cultivars, and crop physiology to drive higher yields and quality, often working independently across multiple farming locations.

Join a team focused on innovative farming solutions, with duties ranging from experimental design to data reporting and collaboration with academics and operations staff.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Plant Science, Crop Science, or Agricultural Sciences with 4 years post-degree agricultural research experience or
• Bachelor’s Degree in Plant Science, Crop Science, or Agricultural Sciences with 8 years post-degree agricultural research experience
• Direct research experience with Wonderful Orchards crops is preferred but not required
• Knowledge of trial design, data collection, and analysis; ability to implement improvements into practice

Responsibilities

• Establish and implement initiatives with supervision of Director of Research
• Coordinate and conduct applied agricultural field and laboratory experiments
• Enhance robustness of experiments through meticulous trial design, data analysis and reporting
• Oversee internal and external personnel across field and lab sites
• Collaborate with academics and vendors to explore farming improvements
• Create budgets and track costs for field and lab experiments
• Provide technical consultation to Farming Directors and field personnel
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and safety

Skills

Field research

Data analysis

Statistical skills

Budgeting

Communication

Team player

Education

Master’s Degree in Plant/Crop Science

Bachelor’s Degree in Plant/Crop Science

Tools

SPSS

RStudio

Excel

Job description

• Compensation: USD 92,000 - USD 105,000 - yearly

Company Description

With approximately 100,000 planted acres in California's San Joaquin Valley, Wonderful Orchards is the world's largest grower of almonds, pistachios and pomegranates. Wonderful Orchards is a part of The Wonderful Company, a privately held $5 billion global company dedicated to harvesting health and happiness around the world through its iconic consumer brands which include Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, Teleflora, and JUSTIN Wine.

Job Description

Summary of Position

As a member of R&D team which is responsible for validating and creating farming innovations, R&D Scientist implements daily, seasonal, and yearly technical and research tasks at their base location and as needed across all farming locations. Responsible for understanding complex problems and designing and implementing field studies, quickly delivering high impact findings that lead to business success of economically improved yields and quality. Must be able to work independently and remotely under field, lab and office conditions. Must be able to navigate in a widely divergent work environment, interacting with academic professionals as well as farming operations staff. Activities include applied experiments in agronomy, irrigation, cultivars, farming systems, crop protection and crop physiology.

Duties & Responsibilities

Functions include but are not limited to the following. Must be able to move freely between tasks depending on work load, season, etc.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Establish and implement initiatives with supervision of Director of Research.

Coordinate and conduct applied agricultural field and laboratory experiments while supporting numerous sequential and overlapping activities.

Enhance the robustness of experimental activities through continuous vigilance for precision and accuracy of tasks, including trial design, data analysis, and reporting of results.

Engage in Wonderful’s corporate culture, participating in organizational and individual activities that deliver on principles of a growth mindset for success.

Oversee activities by skilled internal (interns, work crews) and external (academic or vendor) personnel, under field and/or lab sites.

Interact and collaborate with public (academic) and private (vendor) technical experts to explore existing and future farming improvements.

Creation of budgets as well as cost tracking for applied field and lab experiments.

Provide technical consultation to Farming Directors, Crop Managers, Pest Control Advisors, Spray Operations, Irrigation Managers, and field personnel.

Seek out and implement opportunities to improve workplace efficiency and safety.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, shall, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Master’s Degree (with research thesis) in field of Plant Science, Crop Science, or Agricultural Sciences AND 4 years of post-degree agricultural research experience OR

Bachelor’s Degree in field of Plant Science, Crop Science, or Agricultural Sciences AND 8 years of post-degree agricultural research experience

Direct research experience with Wonderful Orchards crops is preferred but not required

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Track record of identification and testing of improvements, with successful implementation / commercialization resulting in business impact

Multi-year / multi-crop experience with trial design, implementation, data collection

Statistical analysis using SPSS, RStudio or Excel Data Analysis Toolpak

Innovation-oriented, seeking to address current and future challenges with inquisitiveness and dedication to detail

Customer-oriented focus, serving the needs of farming operations as an adjunct member of farming teams

Digitally proficient, prepared for paperless work environment

Understanding of public and private ag research landscape

A team player, flexible, consistent, and reliable, able to work with minimal supervision

Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and orally for justifying innovative change to various audiences (executives, farm management teams, farming personnel)

Knowledge and experience with horticultural crop farming, with preference on orchards or permanent crops under scientific studies

Understanding of commercial agricultural conditions and practices, with previous experience relating to conducting scientific studies with grower / farmer cooperators

Ability to have safety, productivity, and attention to detail as daily objectives

Assess changing workplace conditions and confidently make adjustments within the context of assigned tasks

Prior experience with budget estimates and cost tracking for field scientific studies

LICENSES, AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS:

Valid California Driver’s License with reliable transportation to and from work.

Holding or appropriate education / experience to obtain PCA and CCA certifications is recommended but not required.

Pay Range: $92,000 to $105,000. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience

Wonderful Orchards and The Wonderful Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and with opportunities for advancement. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.