Dryland Crop Scientist: Field Trials & Drought Innovation

Placements24; Upington; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 in Upington, Northern Cape, ZA, seeks a Crop Scientist focused on dryland farming to advance sustainable agriculture in water-scarce environments. You will lead field trials, analyze data, and help translate research into practical guidance for local farmers. The role requires a Ph.D.

or Master's in Agronomy or related field, 3+ years of hands-on experience, and proficiency in SAS or R. You will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams and contribute to grant proposals in

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, or related field with emphasis on dryland agriculture.
• Minimum 3 years hands-on field research in arid/semi-arid environments.
• Experience designing, executing, and analyzing field trials.
• Proficiency in SAS or R; strong scientific writing and communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct field experiments for dryland crops.
• Analyze data on crop performance, water use, and soil health.
• Develop drought-tolerant varieties and improved cultivation methods.
• Collaborate with agronomists and soil scientists on interdisciplinary projects.
• Manage research plots from planting to harvest.
• Translate results into practical farmer recommendations.
• Prepare scientific reports and presentations for conferences.
• Contribute to grant proposals for research funding.

Skills

Field trial design

Statistical analysis

SAS or R

Scientific writing

Independent work

Team collaboration

Dryland knowledge

Driver's license

Education

PhD or MSc in Agronomy / Crop Science

Tools

SAS

R

Job description

Placements24 in Upington, Northern Cape, ZA, seeks a Crop Scientist focused on dryland farming to advance sustainable agriculture in water-scarce environments. You will lead field trials, analyze data, and help translate research into practical guidance for local farmers. The role requires a Ph.D.

or Master's in Agronomy or related field, 3+ years of hands-on experience, and proficiency in SAS or R. You will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams and contribute to grant proposals in