Technical Development Mgr

Verdesian Life Sciences; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Verdesian Life Sciences is seeking an experienced Field Agronomist to manage field trials and on-farm demonstrations in specialty crops across the U.S. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy or related fields, have over 5 years of experience in agronomy, and demonstrate strong skills in data analysis and customer relations. This position requires 40-60% travel. Proficiency in Excel and excellent communication skills are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, Soil Science, or related field (Ph.D. preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in field agronomy or crop consulting.
• Strong working knowledge of plant nutrition and crop physiology.
• Experience designing and executing field trials.
• Excellent communication skills for translating complex concepts.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage field trials in specialty crops.
• Analyze agronomic data to support product claims.
• Provide agronomic support and build relationships with growers.
• Translate field data into insights for internal teams.
• Support regulatory activities ensuring alignment with label requirements.

Skills

Field trial management

Data analysis

Interpersonal skills

Knowledge of specialty crops

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

Essential Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage field trials and on‑farm demonstrations in specialty crops (e.g., fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, vines, potatoes, turf, or other high‑value systems).
• Ensure trials are agronomically sound, statistically defensible, and aligned with intended claims and use‑patterns.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret agronomic, physiological, and yield/quality data to support product performance claims.
• Provide feedback to the lab/greenhouse team and Product Management on formulation performance, crop response variability, and use‑case optimization, consistent with the organization’s emphasis on scientifically validated product performance.

Field Research & Product Validation

• Design, implement, and manage field trials and on‑farm demonstrations in specialty crops (e.g., fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, vines, potatoes, turf, or other high‑value systems).
• Ensure trials are agronomically sound, statistically defensible, and aligned with intended claims and use‑patterns.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret agronomic, physiological, and yield/quality data to support product performance claims.
• Provide feedback to the lab/greenhouse team and Product Management on formulation performance, crop response variability, and use‑case optimization, consistent with the organization’s emphasis on scientifically validated product performance.

Agronomic Support & Commercial Enablement

• Serve as the subject‑matter expert (SME) for product use in specialty crop systems, integrating products into grower‑relevant fertility, stress mitigation, and crop quality programs.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to support customer meetings, field days, and technical trainings.
• Help sales teams position products credibly by explaining mechanisms of action, realistic performance expectations, and best‑fit agronomic scenarios.
• Support the development of crop‑specific guidelines, technical bulletins, and decision tools grounded in field data and biological rationale.

Grower & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build trusted relationships with growers, consultants, researchers, and specialty crop influencers.
• Act as a technical face of the company in the field, answering agronomic questions, troubleshooting performance issues, and reinforcing product confidence.
• Provide in‑season agronomic support to ensure correct product use and to identify opportunities for program improvement.

Data, Insights & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Translate field data into clear insights for internal teams, including Product Management, Regulatory, Marketing, and R&D.
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing by documenting learnings from trial programs and customer interactions.
• Support regulatory and stewardship activities by ensuring field use aligns with label requirements and regional crop practices.
• Other duties not listed above may be assigned by immediate supervisor.

Criteria

• Broad agronomy knowledge of specialty crops in the U.S. and around the globe.
• Experience managing the technical aspects of product development projects for crop inputs.
• Experience planning, facilitating or summarizing agronomic field trials.
• Experience in technical support for differentiated products in a competitive market.
• Strong interpersonal and customer relation skills, but also an innovative and creative thinker.
• Strong ability to work well with others to achieve objectives, but independent and comfortable working from a remote office at home.
• High level of proficiency for analyzing and summarizing data (i.e., Excel, ARM, etc.).
• Achieves results: self‑starter, self‑disciplined, detailed and organized. Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner. Prioritizes and plans work activities and uses time efficiently.
• Adaptability & change management: effectively deals with and handles change and uncertainty; adapts easily and quickly to a changing environment without losing effectiveness; resilient.
• Personal development: listens well and is aware of personal strengths and weaknesses and takes continuous action to improve personal capabilities.
• Uncompromising ethics; passionate for excellence; unaccepting of mediocrity; efficient with time.
• This position requires 40-60% travel on average (some weeks zero travel, some weeks 5 days).
• Work location preferred in one of the following states: CA, but other adjacent states will be considered for strong candidates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, Soil Science, or a related field (Ph.D. degree preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in field agronomy, technical services, or crop consulting, with direct exposure to specialty crop systems.
• Strong working knowledge of plant nutrition, soil fertility, crop physiology, and stress responses.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing field trials or on‑farm research.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex biological concepts into practical agronomic recommendations.
• Willingness to travel extensively during the growing season.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk; and stoop or kneel. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to ten pounds, occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty pounds, and rarely lift and/or move more than twenty‑five pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.