Field Agronomist SAC - Nelspruit at Bayer

Role purpose

• Drive innovation at the Africa Cluster Innovation hub by delivering high quality & usable data.
• The Field Agronomist will primarily be responsible for conducting and or oversee of field trials in a safe and efficient manner, providing quality data for use in bio dossiers, project decision making and transfer of knowledge to Market Development, Customer Marketing, Breeding and the Commercial teams.
• In addition, the Field Agronomist will play a pivotal role in driving activities on the Innovation Hub.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• To carry out allocated trials, safely, efficiently and to a high standard in order to provide useable data for the process of registration of new and existing active substances/products and determine the validity of proof-of-concept projects.
• Insure by means of a Farmers Service Agreement contract that cooperator understands the complexity of trials conducted on his/her farm.
• Negotiate with cooperators (farmers/landowners) the compensation amount for crop destruct on which global agronomic solution and non-registered products have been tested.
• Actively provide knowledge and observations from field trials on project developments to Agronomic Solutions Managers (ASM) by updating Scientific Outlook (SCOUT) program continuously throughout the season.
• Manage, develop and implement strategies and procedures at Vongotti
• Station (Africa Innovation Hub) in order to drive innovation.
• To be responsible for the maintenance of Innovation hub site equipment to ensure accurate and safe application of chemicals to trial sites and maintain storage facility in a professional manner.
• Explore and optimize usage of the Easy Data Collector (EDC) application and other digital tools to increase trial data capacity, accuracy & improve timelines of data available into SCOUT.
• Liaise with external stakeholders (farmers, agents & industry groups) on new trends in the market and share with relevant internal stakeholders.
• Contribute to the Development of the crop strategy by supporting the ASM’s with relevant in-field knowledge sharing.
• Propose and motivate product development projects to ASM’s for proposals at relevant Crop Teams.
• Support Market Development on knowledge transfer for a smooth transition from registration trials to demonstration trials.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• University Degree/Diploma or equivalent in Agriculture, Horticulture or Biological/Data Sciences; with focus on crop protection
• Minimum of 5 years working experience in a similar role.
• Knowledge of crops and practical cropping systems as well as experience with field trials and field-testing methodology, including
• digital tools.
• Excellent human relationship and social competence (teamwork skills) required.
• Good networking and communications skills.
• Good organization and planning skills to manage complexity.
• Flexible and reliable person.
• Embraces change.
• Experience in data science in addition to high competence with IT applications including Microsoft Office and database systems.
• Proficient in English language - written and spoken
• Car driving license.
• Relevant competence certificates - AVCASA