Agronomy Testing Specialist

Role: Agronomy Testing Specialist
Location: Durham, North Carolina (Local candidates given top priority)
Position Type: Contract
Key Focus Areas: Agronomy, Agronomic Field Testing, Test Engineering / Data Management
Job SummaryThe Agronomy Testing Specialist will serve as the owner and administrator of the proprietary field trial management platform. This role oversees all aspects of Farm Scale Trial planning, assignment, protocol maintenance, execution, QA/QC, and data reporting. Acting as a bridge between Commercial Agronomy, R&D, Data Science, and IT teams, the Specialist ensures farm-scale trial data is accurately captured, standardized, and analyzed to drive product advancement and market insights.
Key Roles & ResponsibilitiesTrial & Program Management

• Own and manage the trial platform processes, including Farm Scale Trial planning, protocol setup, user assignment, establishment, and tracking through completion.


• Work closely with Commercial Agronomy to catalog and execute farm-scale trials that directly align with strategic commercial and R&D goals.


• Maintain the central protocol library, managing access and standardized protocols for all platform users.


• Lead QA/QC processes across all trial stages, establishing clear compliance requirements for Contract Research Organizations (CROs).


• Communicate strategies, tactics, timelines, and budgets across internal cross-functional teams to keep all stakeholders aligned.


• Handle administrative management for CROs, including billing and invoicing workflows.

Data Integration & Analytics

• Lead data entry, transfer, and management from adjacent field trial systems (e.g., Total Acre/YMS, INVISION) into the primary platform.


• Partner with the Data Science and Statistics teams to prepare, clean, and transfer data for advanced statistical analysis.


• Collaborate with IT and external system vendors to maintain, troubleshoot, and upgrade platform functionality.


• Address data-related questions from commercial and R&D teams to support market development and product positioning.

Data Output, Visualization & Reporting

• Build and manage interactive dashboards, data visualizations, and reporting summaries to present insights on trial progress and results.


• Facilitate timely delivery of market-facing insights to key business stakeholders.


• Support web platform integrations and functional updates in coordination with Marketing and IT teams.

Qualifications & RequirementsEducation & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Agronomy, Agronomic Research, Plant Biology, Remote Sensing/Geospatial Monitoring, or a related agricultural field required. Master’s degree preferred.


• Experience: 3+ years in agronomic field trial research and data management. (Robust graduate-level research or relevant agronomy internships will be considered toward experience).

Technical & Tools Proficiency

• GIS & Data Formats: Demonstrated capabilities with geospatial data, spatial file management, and spatial formats (e.g., ArcGIS, JD data formats, GeoJSON).


• Analytics & Visualization: Experience creating dashboards and reporting structures using Microsoft Power BI and PowerApps.


• Statistical Tools: Proficiency or familiarity with statistical analysis software (e.g., R, SAS) is preferred.


• Software: Proficient in standard Microsoft Office applications.

Domain Knowledge & Core Competencies

• Strong foundational knowledge of North American crop production practices, crop physiology, crop nutrition, and biologicals.


• Proven background in field trial data collection, data pipeline transfer, and field trial data hygiene/QAQC.


• Familiarity with general agronomic field operations and safety protocols.


• Ability to manage complex, multi-project trial programs independently while maintaining strict quality standards.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical problem-solving skills.


• Excellent presentation and verbal communication capabilities across diverse mediums (webinars, conference calls, small groups, and large audiences).


• Proven capability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional, multi-disciplinary, and international teams.


• Willingness and ability to travel within North America and internationally as needed.