Job Title: Senior Manager, Leafy Field Operations
Reporting to: Lead, Commercial Supply Chain, Field & Grower Relations
Location: California; driving distance to Santa Maria
About Pairwise:
Pairwise is a mission-driven, food+tech company dedicated to building a healthier world through better fruits and vegetables. Pairwise was founded in 2017 by scientists at Harvard University, MIT, and Broad Institute who are eminent in the field of gene editing, as well as biotechnology industry pioneers. Our team is tuned in to consumer food trends, and we believe that consumers deserve more variety and innovation in their fresh food choices. We are primed to deliver that innovation through one of the best gene-editing platforms in food and agriculture. Pairwise has an exclusive 5-year research collaboration with Bayer to develop products in corn, soybean, wheat, canola, and cotton. Plus, Pairwise is developing new types of leafy greens, berries, and stone fruit, with the first product expected in late 2023. Pairwise is based in the start-up friendly Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina.
About This Role:
As we expand our footprint across the food, agriculture, and biotechnology landscape, we are seeking an individual to leverage their commercial agricultural understanding, along with tactical and communication skills, to work with partners and contract growers ensuring the best possible agricultural production of leafy greens. This role will be joining a very cross-functional and collaborative organization where working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders in our leafy green field operations will be the norm.
To be successful in this role you will need to be motivated to provide feedback in the product development and commercialization processes, working with many internal stakeholders and be excited to do this in a fast-pacedp environment where ownership and action is encouraged.
Essential Functions:
• Responsible for coordinating, organizing, and participating in day-to-day activities for commercial field production including, but not limited to, working with external growers on the care of leafy greens, assisting in qualification of new commercial growers, field data collection and analysis, being present/assisting in planting and harvesting, etc.
• Evaluate field conditions to ensure optimal growing conditions and crop quality.
• Help to develop and build ongoing relationships with grower’s field management staff.
• Collect and organize field data and distribute in a timely manner.
• Contribute to the development of proprietary technical data sheets on new varieties.
• Support the development of grower marketing materials.
• Maintain awareness and report back to internal and partner stakeholders on field conditions along with challenges facing the broader grower community (e.g., pests, disease, etc.).
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that partners comply with contract provisions.
• Support and contribute to ESG/sustainability activities.
• Contribute to and execute against plans to deliver key priorities including revenue goals, growing strategies, margin attainment, and commercial reporting.
• Travel is required although the requirements will vary throughout the year – between approximately October through March expect frequent trips to the Yuma Valley and during April through September expect frequent visits to Santa Maria; some of these will be multiple day/overnight travel and other seasonal travel to key vegetable production regions is likely.
Required Education & Experience:
• AS (AA) degree with 3+ years of experience, BS preferred with 2-3 years of experience, or equivalent experience in plant science, botany, agronomy, horticulture, or other relevant biological discipline.
• 3+ years in the commercial vegetable agriculture with a preference for experience in field evaluation and optimization of commercial leafy greens or brassica.
• Ability to lead through influence.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders across functions, geographic locations, and time zones.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to set clear priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Versatile team player that is comfortable under pressure and able to solve problems.
• Solid analytical skills and ability to translate data into fact-based decision making.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication.
• Available for domestic travel, including valid driver’s license.
Offerings:
• Comprehensive Benefits Plan, including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA/FSA, 401k, Life Insurance, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, and more!
• Flexible PTO (use what you need, when you need it), in addition to company holidays.
• Casual work environment.
• Mission-driven organization focused on creating healthier fruits and veggies.
• A cutting-edge, driven community looking to lead the industry in innovation and nutrition.
EEO Statement:
We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Pairwise we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.