Technical Agronomist

Woven; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Phylos seeks a Technical Agronomist to serve as the technical SME for seed-based cannabis cultivation across diverse systems. You will work with Sales, Marketing, and Product, delivering on-site support, training content, and robust data on product performance to maximize customer ROI.

You will collaborate with research partners and customers to optimize cultivation practices, develop technical collateral, and present findings at industry events and trials, aiming to accelerate adoption of

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture, Agronomy, Agriculture or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in seed-grown crop production, including crop management and trials.
• 2+ years of cannabis/hemp industry experience.
• Intermediate familiarity with Google Suite, trial data collection tools, and project management tools.
• Strong agronomy/horticulture knowledge across indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor environments.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical cultivation support for customer growers, in-field and remote.
• Develop and deliver customer and internal training and technical collateral.
• Capture, analyze, and communicate product performance data.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Product, Quality and CS teams.
• Represent Phylos at industry events and build external relationships.

Skills

Horticulture

Crop production

Cannabis industry experience

Data collection

Google Suite

Project management

Communication

Field travel

Education

Bachelor of Science in Horticulture

Tools

Trial data collection tools

Job description

Phylos is a cannabis genetics company helping growers of all sizes to succeed commercially with seeds that produce the highest quality cannabis in the most cost-effective way. Phylos supports commercial-scale cultivation with the industry’s first Production-Ready Seed™: premium, phenotypically stable, fully-feminized F1 hybrid seeds that deliver exceptional flower quality, potency, vigor, and yield. Phylos also leverages its proprietary technologies and its cultivation, extraction, and formulation expertise to provide partners with unparalleled Rare Cannabinoid genetics.

We’re passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical ability, ethnicity, and perspective are stronger and more innovative companies. More importantly, creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work is the right thing to do.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Technical Agronomist serves as the technical subject matter expert for seed-based commercial cannabis production across diverse cultivation systems. This critical customer-facing role focuses on ensuring successful customer seed-based cultivation and providing expertise regarding successful product deployment in specific environments.

The Technical Agronomist collaborates directly with Sales, Marketing, Product, Quality, and Customer Service departments, as well as Phylos’ research and trial partners and customers, to develop robust expertise in cultivating Phylos seed varieties in various environments. The Technical Agronomist is responsible for both external and internal deliverables, including on-site advanced technical support, development of technical collateral, and collection and communication of product performance data.

Ultimately, the Technical Agronomist works to maximize customer success and ROI when using Phylos technology, and accelerate Phylos’ expansion through repeat seed purchases and loyal customers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Team and Product Alignment:
• Work closely and regularly with the Breeding R&D and Phylos research partner teams to develop a thorough knowledge of Phylos products and optimal production practices specific to each variety, and seed production generally.
• Lead Customer Technical Cultivation Support:
• Serve as the expert technical point of contact for customer growers, providing in-field and remote support to promote successful crop outcomes when growing Phylos seeds. Support will include both proactive outreach and reactive troubleshooting as issues arise.
• Make recommendations regarding product fit for customer environments; transfer purchasing discussions to Sales team as appropriate.
• Develop and lead customer and internal team (sales, customer service) training programs, including content creation and technical support, to transfer essential knowledge on best practices for growing seed-based commercial productions of Phylos varieties.
• For Strategic and other select customers, lead technical calls and in-person customer visits to maximize yield, quality, end-use product utilization and other success metrics. May include contact across all growth stages, including pre-planting, veg and flowering stages, harvest, and post-harvest assessment.
• Develop and Execute the Phylos Trial Program:
• Lead the technical aspects of the commercial trial program with an aim to showcase Phylos product performance and convert trial customers to repeat sales / implementation of seed-based production.
• Product Performance Data and Market Insight:
• Capture, record, and analyze product and production practices data, as well as feedback and insight from customers to inform the development of cultivation best-practices, new products, technical and marketing collateral, quality event responses, and product fit in varying environments.
• Provide informed input on products and production practices to Sales during the Customer Business Planning Process, and contribute to the Product Advancement process with insights on product fit, customer feedback, market needs, competitor performance, and assessment of next-generation Phylos candidate varieties.
• External Networking and Company Brand-Building:
• Build and maintain connections with industry and supply chain leaders, extension personnel, and university researchers, as necessary and appropriate.
• Collaborate with Marketing to develop case studies, support materials, technical collateral, and other support documents; serve as the technical reviewer for external documents.
• Represent Phylos at industry trade shows and customer events.
• Establish a presence on social media that highlights Phylos technical competencies; respond to media technical questions.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture, Agronomy, Agriculture or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in industry working with the production of seed-grown crops, including crop management, trials, and working directly with growers/cultivators on seed-grown crops.
• 2+ years of cannabis/hemp industry experience.
• Intermediate familiarity with Google Suite, trial data collection tools, and project management tools.
• Strong general agronomy/horticulture, technical and crop production knowledge, including knowledge of indoor, greenhouse, and outdoor grow technologies and environmental systems
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to:
• Communicate effectively and professionally in person
• Develop professional and effective written communications
• Educate others on complex topics
• Maintain excellent professional relationships at all levels of an organization, including growers, sales and marketing teams, and leadership positions.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to systematically collect, record, analyze, and present data, and manage a full and dynamic customer contact schedule
• Ability to conduct a situational analysis, troubleshoot, and derive solutions to cultivation and crop production issues
• Awareness of industry trends, technology, and developments
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Confident and self-driven to accomplish objectives.
• Requires 60% work on-site, 40% travel.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Position requires frequent travel
• Position may require sitting for long periods of time, including during nationwide travel
• Position requires visual acuity and ability to assess aroma
• Position may require standing, kneeling or stooping, and walking for long periods of time, over uneven ground
• Position may require working directly with plants in dirt, both potted and in field settings
• Position may require interacting with, although not operating, large farm machinery including planters, combines, harvesters, and in-field extractors
• Position may occasionally require lifting of up to 50 lbs
• Position may require use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in field settings

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is performed in varying and unpredictable settings, including offices, vehicles, indoor cultivation facilities, greenhouses, and outdoor settings, in natural weather conditions, including higher or lower temperatures than in a standard office
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations
• Position may require irregular work schedule at various times of the year to accommodate customer needs
• Position requires travel via auto, airplane, or other transportation, often involving overnight stays
• Position requires use of standard office equipment