Farm Research & Agronomy Coordinator

On-Farm Research & Agronomy Coordinator (Fixed Term – to March 31, 2028)

The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is a not-for-profit farm organization with diverse membership across Ontario agriculture. OSCIA’s mission is to facilitate responsible economic management of soil, water, air, and crops through innovative farming practices. The Department of Research and Knowledge Transfer supports applied, on-farm research initiatives that evaluate beneficial management practices (BMPs) under real Ontario farming conditions and support the adoption of sustainable, profitable farming systems.

The On-Farm Research & Agronomy Coordinator is within the Department of Research and Knowledge Transfer and works primarily on the Living Lab – Ontario program. This role connects farmers, researchers, agronomists, and project partners to implement on-farm research trials across Ontario. The successful candidate will combine practical agricultural knowledge with applied research skills to coordinate field-scale trials, support data quality and sampling activities, and build relationships with farmer cooperators and research partners.

The position is full-time  hours per week, with an end date of March 31, 2028. It is a hybrid role requiring two days per week based out of OSCIA’s Guelph office. Occasional work outside of normal hours and frequent travel may be required to support events, sampling activities, and coordination with farmer cooperators in the evenings based on scheduling needs.

What We’re Looking For:

We seek a candidate with practical farming credibility and applied research experience. The ideal candidate understands Ontario field crop production systems and farm management practices well enough to engage with farmers while understanding the scientific rigor required to support high-quality on-farm research.

This role requires someone who can:

• Work comfortably and professionally with both farmers and researchers;
• Understand how real-world farming practices, equipment, timing, weather, and operational constraints influence trial design and implementation;
• Coordinate and monitor on-farm research trials with attention to scientific protocols and data quality;
• Determine appropriate timing for field activities such as soil sampling, cover crop biomass sampling, agronomic monitoring, and other seasonal measurements;
• Communicate technical information in practical, farmer-focused language;
• Manage multiple moving pieces, including sampling schedules, project deliverables, service providers, farm data collection, and administrative requirements such as invoice tracking and reporting.

This role is highly applied and field-oriented, requiring practical problem-solving and adaptability in real farm environments rather than strictly controlled research settings. It requires comfort working in dynamic farm environments where schedules and priorities may shift quickly due to weather, crop conditions, and farm operations.

The ideal candidate can operate effectively in both farm and research environments, communicating with producers, agronomists, researchers, and project partners. The successful candidate will be comfortable discussing nitrogen management practices and soil sampling strategies in the field, reviewing research protocols with project partners, and ensuring program deliverables and farmer support activities are completed accurately and on time.

Key Responsibilities & Duties:

Research Program Delivery & Support

• Support OSCIA’s applied on-farm agronomy field crop research programs by serving as the primary contact between the Organization, farmer cooperators, and researcher partners, with a focus on the Living Lab – Ontario project and other projects as required.
• Coordinate field-scale agronomic trial activities including monitoring, drone seeding, satellite and NDVI imaging, soil sampling, profit mapping, and other potential research needs.
• Coordinate and conduct field sampling activities aligned with agronomic management practices and seasonal crop timing.
• Manage the quality control of farm operation data and soil health data from farmer cooperators, project service providers, and publicly…