Supervisory Research Agronomist/Agricultural Economist/Soil Scientist/Microbiologist

Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS); Pendleton (OR); On-site; USD 105,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The USDA Agricultural Research Service's Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center in Pendleton, Oregon seeks a Supervisory Research Agronomist/Agricultural Economist/Soil Scientist/Microbiologist to lead the Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit (SWCRU) as Research Leader (GS 14 or 15).

This permanent, federal position directs an interdisciplinary team focused on advancing sustainable wheat production and soil and water conservation across the Columbia Plateau.

Responsibilities

• Lead an interdisciplinary team of scientists developing advanced technologies, improved techniques, and optimized equipment for crop production and soil and water conservation in the Columbia Plateau and related land resource areas.
• Identify and conduct basic and applied research and shape the unit's future research directions to improve economic and environmental viability of wheat production systems.
• Hire personnel and manage the human, fiscal and physical resources assigned to SWCRU, provide technical consultation, interact with stakeholders, and report scientific results.

Job description

The USDA Agricultural Research Service Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center in Pendleton, Oregon invites applications for a Supervisory Research Agronomist/Agricultural Economist/Soil Scientist/Microbiologist to serve as the location’s Research Leader (GS 14 or 15) of the Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit (SWCRU). For more information on the research unit, please visit https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/pendleton/columbia-plateau-conservation-research-center/. To view a promotional video of the location, please visit https://youtu.be/IEQii0lPPEs.

The incumbent will lead an interdisciplinary team of scientists developing advanced technologies, improved techniques, and optimized equipment for crop production and soil and water conservation in the Columbia Plateau and related land resource areas. Research will be performed in National Program 216 Sustainable Agricultural Systems with emphasis on 1) Building agroecosystems for intensive, resilient production via G x E x M; 2) Increasing efficiencies for agroecosystem sustainability; 3) Achieving agroecosystem potential. The incumbent is responsible for independently identifying and conducting basic and applied research and leading the unit’s future vision for practices that improve economic and environmental viability of wheat production systems. Duties of the Research Leader include: maintaining and enhancing the creativity and productivity of the SWCRU; hiring personnel and managing the human, fiscal and physical resources assigned to SWCRU; providing technical consultation, both internal and external to ARS; interacting with stakeholders; and ensuring proper interpretation and reporting of scientific results and information.

The application period opens Monday, 08/24/2026, and is set to close on Monday, 09/23/2026, but may be extended. U.S. citizenship is required for this permanent position.

** USDA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider **