CALS- Senior Field Coordinator- Perennial Crops Steward- Field Research Unit- Agritech

Senior Field Coordinator – Perennial Crops Steward

As a university founded to be a place where “…any person can find instruction in any study,” inclusion and belonging are at the core of our values and mission. We strive to be a welcoming, caring, healthy, and equitable community where students, faculty, and staff with different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn, innovate, and work in an environment of respect, and feel empowered to engage in any community conversation.

As an individual contributor you will model and support a culture of inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing and continually seek to understand how your role, behaviors, and actions impact the success of this culture.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. The College is a pioneer of purpose‑driven science and home to Cornell University’s second largest population of students, faculty and staff.

We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world‑renowned research, education and outreach, focusing on natural and human systems; food, energy and environmental resources; and social, physical and economic well‑being. The College is fundamentally invested in improving the lives of people, their environments and their communities both in New York state and around the world.

The Field Research Unit (FRU) provides services to faculty, staff and students engaged in field research at Cornell Agri Tech. FRU manages all land, field facilities, and equipment used in support of field research and provides basic services for research conducted in Cornell Agri Tech field plots including site preparation, fertilization, and pesticide applications.

We are looking for a Perennial Crops Steward within the FRU at the Cornell Agri Tech, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva, NY to provide direct support for faculty, staff and students engaged in field research. The Steward will collaborate with Project Investigators, FRU staff, and the FRU Farm Manager to accomplish field research needs and will lead the coordination of FRU resources to provide research support efficiently and on schedule.

• Deliver expertise on diverse research‑specific agricultural practices and general equipment maintenance and modifications.
• Manage small‑plot research preparation, pruning, land preparation, planting, fertilizing, pesticide application, cultivation, crop scouting, irrigation, drainage installations, cover crops, and maintain a soil fertility management plan.
• Apply data management practices to maintain a central land‑use database and track field operations (work requests, time, and materials) to ensure reliable, prompt billing.
• Keep up to date with new advances in technology and their application within farm operations.
• Communicate with coordinators and staff within FRU to resolve issues, utilize equipment, and schedule labor to accomplish the mission of the FRU.
• Attend educational and training meetings and serve on committees as needed or assigned.
• Educate faculty, research technicians, graduate students, and staff on the safe and effective use of specialized farm equipment.
• Communicate with numerous faculty to ensure that their project needs are met effectively and in compliance with safety and operational standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver license and pass a background check.
• Must have ability to use a computer for communications, time entry, scheduling, product research, and online training.
• Capacity to handle confidential and sensitive information with utmost discretion is required.
• Ability to multitask and manage priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to give and receive feedback, communicate, listen, respect others, and use time effectively.
• Highly motivated and exhibit innovation, good judgment, and…