Title: Field Evaluation Specialist
Reporting to: Lead, Technical Development - Leafy Greens
Location: Santa Maria, California Area
Expected Salary Range: $75,000 – $100,000
About Pairwise:
Pairwise is a mission-driven food+tech company dedicated to building a healthier world through better fruits and vegetables. Founded in 2017 by eminent scientists in the gene editing and biotechnology fields, Pairwise holds licenses from Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital to base editing and high-fidelity enzymes. We also are tuned in to consumer food trends, and we believe that consumers deserve more variety and innovation in their fresh food choices. Our team is 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 mid-2023. Pairwise is based in the start-up friendly Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina.
About This Role:
Pairwise is hiring an experienced Field Evaluation Specialist to assist in the organization and execution of the field research program resulting in product commercialization. The Field Evaluation Specialist partners closely with the Technical Development Leads, and other Specialists, to ensure the execution of field trials in the Santa Maria, Salinas and Yuma Regions in order deliver high-quality data. You will be a key player in the advancement of products from R&D to Commercial. The role requires a basic understanding of field evaluation and optimization activities, agronomy, and cropping systems. Many of the technical aspects of the role will be learned on the job, therefore a key requirement will be a desire to be in the field 80-100% of the time and a demonstrated eagerness to learn and attention to detail.
You will communicate with contract labor or 3rd party research organizations; we require demonstrated strong soft skills of communication with diverse audiences to represent the Pairwise brand. You must be a self-starter with the ability to work without direct supervision. This role often requires significant travel between trial locations and long days to meet the needs of the field research program. You must be agile to adapt to changing field conditions.
Example job requirements include ensuring crop establishment, growth, harvest, and processing; agronomic troubleshooting; and the day-to-day organizing and coordinating of the efforts of contract staff and contracting companies. Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated success in these areas, particularly in leafy greens. Your contribution is critical to help Pairwise meet its aggressive targets while building a culture where science can be fun.
Essential Functions:
• Lead, coordinate, organize, and participate in the day-to-day execution of field research.
• Evaluate field conditions daily to ensure optimal growing conditions and product quality.
• Clearly communicate progress and coordinate with Pairwise R&D, Commercial, Regulatory, Product Development teams and external service providers.
• Align contract staff and contracting companies with the execution needs of the program.
• Collect/organize high quality field data and distribute in a timely manner.
• Approximately 50% travel is required although the requirements will vary greatly throughout the year. Between February and October, frequent day trips in the Santa Maria Region with occasional support in Salinas. are required. During the Yuma winter season (September to April), multiple day, overnight travel will be required every other week. Other seasonal travel to key vegetable growing regions is likely.
• Flexibility with start and finish times is required as leafy greens are harvested at night or the early morning. Flexibility with schedule is also required.
Required Education & Experience:
• Associates degree, or equivalent experience, in biology, plant science, botany, agronomy, horticulture, or other relevant biological discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in the field.
• Experience in R&D field evaluation and optimization of Ag products.
• Ability to lead through influence and managing contract organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to answer scientific questions and deliver commercial priorities.
• Experience in leafy greens is preferred.
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.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel, and techniques that require fine motor skills and repetitive motions. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
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.
No Recruiters please.