Senior IPM Scientist - Hybrid, Field Trials & Biocontrol

Placements24; Willows (CA); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Research facilities

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Crop Protection Scientist focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to lead research and field evaluations across crops. The role combines laboratory work with practical farm demonstrations and requires strong communication with growers and extension services.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in crop protection/IPM and a PhD or Master’s in Entomology, Plant Pathology, or Weed Science, plus regulatory knowledge for ZA.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a relevant field with IPM emphasis.
• Minimum 5 years of research experience in crop protection/IPM/biological control.
• Experience designing field trials and analyzing experimental data.
• Familiarity with pests, diseases, and weeds relevant to SA conditions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in cross‑functional teams.
• Knowledge of pesticide regulatory frameworks in ZA.
• Willingness to travel to field sites and work in a hybrid setup.

Responsibilities

• Lead IPM strategy development and validation for key crops.
• Conduct field trials for biological controls and biopesticides.
• Monitor pest/disease incidence and forecast outbreaks.
• Analyze crop health data, soil and weather to inform IPM.
• Collaborate with agronomists and extension officers to share knowledge.
• Develop and maintain pest/disease/weed databases.
• Stay updated on global crop protection research trends.
• Prepare scientific reports and conference presentations.
• Contribute to development of new crop protection products.

Skills

IPM expertise

Field trial design

Data analysis

ZA pest knowledge

Scientific communication

Independent work

Team collaboration

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Master's degree in Entomology, Plant Pathology, or Weed Science

PhD in Entomology, Plant Pathology, or Weed Science

Tools

Statistical software (R/SAS)

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Crop Protection Scientist focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to lead research and field evaluations across crops. The role combines laboratory work with practical farm demonstrations and requires strong communication with growers and extension services.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in crop protection/IPM and a PhD or Master’s in Entomology, Plant Pathology, or Weed Science, plus regulatory knowledge for ZA.