Research Center Leader

Corteva Agriscience; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Health benefits

Paid time off

Parental leave

Retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Life at Corteva

Job summary

Corteva Agriscience is seeking a Research Center Leader to oversee a high-visibility agricultural research center in the Indianapolis area. You will shape strategy, lead diverse teams, and ensure outstanding research, safety, and operational excellence while connecting innovation to real-world impact.

During startup and growth, you will provide both site leadership and hands-on research, then broaden to organizational leadership and strategic integration, partnering with scientists, operations,

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in Agronomy, Weed Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Nematology, Crop Science, Plant Biology, Agricultural Engineering, or related field.
• Experience leading an agricultural research site or facility.
• Experience coaching, talent development, and performance management.
• Experience managing operational budgets, facilities, equipment, and resources.
• Strong knowledge of field research, experimental design, agronomic operations, data integrity.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, assess, interpret, and communicate field research trials.
• Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder engagement, and relationship-building skills.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to work safely in an agricultural research environment.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Lead the vision, strategy, operations, and performance of a multi-crop, multi-functional agricultural research center.
• Build, coach, and develop a high performing team while fostering a culture of safety, inclusion, collaboration, and accountability.
• Partner with scientific, technical, operational, and business stakeholders to advance innovation and research excellence.
• Serve as the primary leader and integrator across site activities, helping align expectations, priorities, and resources.
• Create meaningful experiences for customers, industry partners, universities, community members, and visitors through field tours, demonstrations, events, and educational engagements.
• Oversee site resources including facilities, equipment, land, infrastructure, budgets, and long‑term capability planning.
• Champion world‑class safety, stewardship, compliance, quality, and operational excellence.
• Lead and execute a portfolio of field research trials during the site’s growth phase, including planning, implementation, assessment, data collection, interpretation, and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Field research

Research design

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Driver's license

US work authorization

Education

PhD or MS in Agronomy or related field

BS with extensive directly related experience

Job description

Corteva Agriscience is seeking a Research Center Leader to lead a highly visible agricultural research center in the Indianapolis area.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of agricultural innovation by bringing together scientific excellence, field research, operational leadership, stakeholder engagement, and customer-focused experiences. As Research Center Leader, you will create the conditions for diverse teams to succeed, foster collaboration across disciplines, and ensure the site delivers outstanding research, world-class experiences, and operational excellence. The role combines strategic leadership with practical execution, helping build and grow a flagship research center that connects innovation to real-world agricultural impact.

During the center’s startup and growth phase, the successful candidate will provide both site leadership and hands‑on research project execution while helping establish the people, processes, infrastructure, and culture needed for long‑term success. As the center evolves, the role will increasingly focus on broader organizational leadership and strategic integration.

What You’ll Do

As Research Center Leader, you will:

• Lead the vision, strategy, operations, and performance of a multi‑crop, multi‑functional agricultural research center.
• Build, coach, and develop a high performing team while fostering a culture of safety, inclusion, collaboration, and accountability.
• Partner with scientific, technical, operational, and business stakeholders to advance innovation and research excellence.
• Serve as the primary leader and integrator across site activities, helping align expectations, priorities, and resources.
• Create meaningful experiences for customers, industry partners, universities, community members, and visitors through field tours, demonstrations, events, and educational engagements.
• Oversee site resources including facilities, equipment, land, infrastructure, budgets, and long‑term capability planning.
• Champion world‑class safety, stewardship, compliance, quality, and operational excellence.
• Lead and execute a portfolio of field research trials during the site’s growth phase, including planning, implementation, assessment, data collection, interpretation, and reporting.

Why This Role Matters

As Research Center Leader, you will help transform scientific concepts into practical solutions while creating an environment where researchers, customers, partners, and other parties can collaborate to address the evolving challenges of agriculture.

You will play a key role in building a premier research destination that demonstrates innovation, fosters learning, advances scientific discovery, and creates value for agriculture around the world.

To Grow What Matters, You Will Need

• PhD or MS in Agronomy, Weed Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Nematology, Crop Science, Plant Biology, Agricultural Engineering, or a related discipline with significant relevant leadership experience; or a BS degree with extensive directly related experience.
• Experience leading an agricultural research site or facility, field research program, or similarly complex operation.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing people, including coaching, talent development, and performance management.
• Experience managing operational budgets, facilities, equipment, infrastructure, and resources.
• Strong knowledge of field research, experimental design, agronomic operations, scientific quality, and data integrity.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, assess, interpret, and communicate field research trials.
• Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder engagement, and relationship‑building skills.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to work safely in an agricultural research environment.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience across multiple crop, biological, crop protection, or agricultural technology platforms.
• Experience connecting laboratory, greenhouse, engineering, data, and field research activities.
• Experience supporting customer, executive, industry, academic, or public‑sector engagement activities.
• Knowledge of regulated research, quality systems, stewardship practices, and research site compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting site startups, expansion projects, organizational change, or capability development initiatives.
• Experience utilizing digital research tools, operational metrics, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Why Join Corteva?

The Research Center Leader role offers a rare opportunity to build and lead a flagship research center at the intersection of science, innovation, operations, internal, and external engagement. You will influence how new ideas move from concept to field, help create memorable experiences for customers and partners, and contribute to advancing agricultural innovation for generations to come.

If you are passionate about developing people, building partnerships and creating meaningful impact through science and innovation, we encourage you.

Benefits – How We’ll Support You:

• Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills

• Be part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better place

• Health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment

• Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well‑being pay per year, plus paid holidays

• Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father

• Future planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program

• Learn more about our total rewards package here - Corteva Benefits

• Check out life at Corteva! www.linkedin.com/company/corteva/life

We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.

Corteva Agriscience is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.