Jobs at Corteva Agriscience

Your Challenge:

• Responsible for all the execution of agronomy management on the site to ensure that a quality product is delivered for the crops planted on site which include but are not limited to field preparation, irrigation, planting, sampling, pollinations and harvesting with the help of the seed production specialist.
• As an Agronomy Specialist you will be responsible for guiding and managing the on-site team reporting to you.
• Works as part of a team to execute experiments/trials efficiently and accurately within seasonal deadlines
• Responsible for the execution of the day-to-day agronomy, maintenance and upkeep of the whole farm.
• Manage the labor assigned to you on the farm and prioritize tasks in collaboration with the Seed Production Specialist and Operations Lead.
• Responsible for maintaining and overseeing all research equipment.
• Ensure fields are prepared and maintained to deliver a quality product.
• Must be able to safely drive tractors, operate planters or any agricultural equipment on site.
• Manage seasonal agronomy workload on site.
• Responsible for developing and executing site fertilizer and chemical spray programs and sourcing of chemicals.
• Ensure understanding and adherence to spatial and/or temporal isolation to maintain the company’s good track record in regulatory compliance.
• Contribute to the implementation of research quality management systems on the site.
• Assisting the Operations Lead with implementation and training on new equipment and processes
• Adhere to safety programs and protocols (safety, efficiency, effectiveness) specific to direct work environment, identify and communicate potential risks and benefits
• Collaborate with the Operations Lead to establish a structured framework for daily operations and seasonal planning and management of the site.
• Collaborate with the Seed Production Specialist to manage and execute pollination activities.
• Connect with external vendors based on site needs.

To Grow What Matters, You Will Need

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in agriculture or scientific related field plus 5 years industry related experience required
• Leadership skills
• Strong background in agronomy and plant cultivation
• Extensive knowledge on pesticides and herbicides would be beneficial.
• Extensive knowledge on crops like maize, sunflower and soybeans is needed.
• Experience with irrigation systems and scheduling
• Proven ability to make timely decisions and solve problems
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills are required for fostering teamwork, enhancing a good working environment, and effectively developing strong working relationships with a diverse group of people
• Ability to supervise and prioritize multiple tasks is critical
• Technical and mechanical skills for troubleshooting, maintenance and upkeep of equipment, to ensure excellent condition and safety of equipment at any time
• Proficiency in Office software such as spreadsheets, mail, calendar and presentation tools
• Demonstrates strong knowledge of safety regulations and national laws, and leads by example to inspire and motivate team members to uphold the same standards
• Willingness to work outside of regular hours as required by operational demands
• Must be able to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Valid driver’s license is required
• Ability to operate power equipment is recommended. (Timing of pesticides and herbicides could fall outside normal office hours)

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Your Challenge:

Operational:

• Manage and accountable for the daily center operations, ensuring on-time completions to meet research and business needs.
• Responsible for all agronomy and research management on site to ensure high-quality products and data for crops planted, including but not limited to planning, field preparation, crop management, regulatory requirements, sampling, pollination, harvesting, packaging and shipping.
• Plan, organize, and direct research operations to ensure the most effective use of assets while meeting research/business objectives; may include, but not limited to the management of:  personnel, equipment, facility and land use.
• Manage research operations through subordinate staff that have full accountabilities for their respective area(s).
• Coordinate leadership team meetings by developing agendas, schedules, and ensuring appropriate follow-ups.
• Effective management of land cooperators and off –site storage.
• Oversee the maintenance and upkeep of the farm, research equipment, and facilities, including off-site storage.
• Accountable for the implementation of research quality management systems on the site, facilitate audit requirements. Ensure Regulatory compliance
• Meet with employees individually to stay abreast of business issues, workload levels, and employee concerns.
• May participate in field activities as determined by specific location needs.
• Manage all contingent/seasonal staff needs prioritizing tasks in collaboration with teams of specialists (agronomy and seed production).

Field Testing Network:

• Contribute to the planning, management and execution of Field Testing activities assigned to the site
• Ensure regulatory and stewardship requirements are implemented and maintained at all times
• Ensure data requirements for all on-station and off-station are of the highest quality and on time.

Tactical Planning (3-12 months):

• Work with research center leadership team to proactively forecast and anticipate work demands, resource needs, and space requirements for both short- and long-term planning.
• Review of operations and fixed projections and implement corrective actions to meet production and budget targets.
• Provide feedback regarding the center’s operating and capital budgets; monitor and manage capacity constraints, labor scheduling, and equipment issues.
• Identify, establish  and implement best practices and ensure these practices are sustained. 
• Monitor and manage capacity constraints, equipment problems, labor scheduling, etc. to ensure research goals are met.
• Identify and resolve problems with help as needed from the local team, Operational Leadership teams and upper management (Logistics Lead, Scientists and EZ Leads, etc.).
• Collaborate with breeders, research scientists, and other specialists to establish and achieve project objectives.
• Analyze, review and maintain high standards of data quality and research integrity throughout all stages of research processes and testing.
• Connect with external vendors and manage relationships as needed.

Teamwork and Employee Development:

• Coach, support and develop employees on their team in a manner that fosters effective collaboration and teamwork, demonstrating and modeling the Core Values.
• Establish and support individual and team performance goals that are attainable and aligned with business strategy.
• Hold employees accountable for achieving performance results and demonstrating work behaviors that promote collaboration and teamwork in an effective manner while demonstrating and modeling the Core Values.
• Recognize and value employees through ongoing recognition of individual and team results.
• Strongly encourage employee feedback and ideas for process improvements.
• Implement and train staff on new equipment, processes, and best productivity practices.
• Guide and coach employees through unforeseen or challenging situations.

Promote a Culture that Demonstrates Core Values While Generating High Quality Results

• Promote health, safety, and environmentally- friendly practices
• Ensure SHE programs are implemented and fully executed
• Foster a positive Safety Culture on and off the job
• Ensure RMS and Management Review is in place and effective.
• Provide oversight of and monitor quality levels through all stages of research processes and testing.
• Ensures that the research facility maintains its social license to operate through community engagement initiatives

Scientific:

• Ensures that all operational practices are agronomically sound
• Work in conjunction with Research Scientist(s) and EZ Lead(s) to establish project goals consistent with business unit goals which reflect internal and external customer needs. 
• Provide management, scientific leadership and creativity when initiating, designing, and executing research within/across projects.
• Remain current on new technology by participating in professional meetings, career development activities and by encouraging others to bring information into research activities.
• May be involved with scientific studies to support breeding programs or processes per the employees interest and skill set (molecular breeding involvement, product advancement, regulated testing, seed production technologies, disease related work, etc.)
• May monitor research progress and meet with participating researchers to identify problems and opportunities impacting the business unit.
• May serve on teams appropriate to cross project research initiatives.

To Grow What Matters, You Will Need

• Master's Degree or Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in Agriculture Science related field
• 5 -7 years’ experience in field/horticultural operations is required; experience in the seed industry is preferred.
• Strong background in agronomy and plant cultivation
• Strong working knowledge of high intensity plant production environment and nursery management required
• Experience in maize cropping and maize seed production will be advantageous
• Extensive knowledge on pesticides and herbicides would be beneficial.
• Demonstrated management and leadership experience of operational teams is critically required
• Proven ability to make timely decisions, solve problems and build consensus.
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills are required for fostering teamwork, enhancing a good working environment, and effectively developing strong working relationships with a diverse group of people
• Ability to supervise/handle multiple tasks at one time is critical.  
• Proven ability to make timely decisions and solve problems
• Proven success in outcomes based biological operations
• Strongly self-motivated with the capability to motivate others, initiate projects, make decisions and solve problems while remaining goal/project focused.
• Requires ability to look several months forward to anticipate labor needs, resource needs, space requirements, etc. 
• High aptitude for learning.
• High workload with long hours and weekend work during seasonal peaks which includes frequent visits to field locations including occasional overnight travel, sometimes for an extended period.
• Physical ability to lift 15kg, ability to work outside in all kinds of weather, ability to stand/sit for extended periods. 
• Experience in, and knowledge of, biotechnology regulatory frameworks would be significantly advantageous.
• Experience with irrigation systems and scheduling.
• Technical and mechanical skills for troubleshooting, maintenance and upkeep of equipment, to ensure excellent condition and safety of equipment at any time.
• Proficiency in current MS Office suite with capability to learn proprietary software tools for crop and production management.
• Familiarity with quality frameworks (e.g. ISO/GAP) for compliance with safety regulations, country laws, phytosanitary needs.
• Experience in coaching others to develop and implement SOP’s or protocol will be beneficial.
• Ability to plan and communicate planning will be key to success
• Ability to think strategically while balancing day to day practical needs to ensure execution
• Ability to solve complex problems to meet strict seasonal timelines
• Ability to work outside in all kinds of weather, and after-hours when required (certain chemical applications could fall outside normal operating hours) and the operating environment is determines by crop and biology needs.
• Valid driver’s license is required, current ability to operate agricultural equipment is preferred, capability to learn to operate equipment will be required.

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You will be responsible for the following.

• Deliver, implement and support new agronomy and/or plant breeding technologies and solutions within seed production research and characterization to drive seed production research and characterization objectives
• Represent Seed Production Research and Characterization (SPRC) and Global Seed Operations (GSO) at research centers to meet field testing needs and help drive technological advancements Identify gaps and needs within seed production research and characterization to improve the cost, quality and reliability of seed production
• Develop, oversee, and execute research protocols and projects against science plans that can deliver superior hybrids, incremental savings and improve the cost, quality and reliability of seed production
• Collaborate with the global SPRC group to advance seed production research and characterization in Africa with a strong focus on global standardization
• Responsible for analyzing and interpreting field data, with attention towards data quality, and specialized maintenance of Production Research field trials and parent characterization plot trials at regional research hubs
• Work both independently and cross-functionally with multiple stakeholders to prioritize projects and resources, refine project scope, expectations, and potential benefits Understand and apply the benefits of precision agriculture, data analytics, field imaging, and new technologies to high quality field research

Your Challenge:

• As Seed Production Research and Characterization Producibility Scientist – Africa, you will implement new scientific concepts and/or technologies to provide solutions that improve producibility and reduce variability in Corteva Seed Production.

To Grow What Matters, You Will Need

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Agronomy, Agricultural research, or Ag technical field.
• 5+ years’ experience in agricultural field research
• Strong record of innovation and applying new technology
• Excellent people, managerial and organizational skills
• Excellent communication – oral, written, under diverse circumstances and audiences
• Results driven and capacity to influence within a matrixed organization and across functions
• Demonstrated statistical and data skills, attention to detail, results orientation
• Ability to travel for business, local and international

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Your Challenge:

• Recruiting, developing, and supporting seed growers (acreage planning, training, quality control) as well as coordinating all field activities (allocations, planting, rouging, pest management, detasseling, defoliation, male removal, yield estimation, harvesting, and conducting research).
• Documentation Control and Corteva in-house systems
• Extensive travel required including weekends during season

To Grow What Matters, You Will Need

• National Diploma in Agriculture (minimum requirement)
• Ideal: B-Tech or BSc in Agriculture
• Minimum 3 years’ related experience
• SANSOR training / knowledge and added advantage
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with farming community
• Driver's licence