Agricultural Crop Research and Land Supervisor - Waseca, MN

Position Overview

Reports to:

SROC Director of Operations

Location:

Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC), Waseca, Minnesota, (in person position)

Priority Deadline for applicants will be May 12th, 2026

This position is leadership for the SROC agricultural crop research team, including daily management of field, crop, and related facility operations that support agricultural, horticultural, and livestock research, education, and outreach  Agricultural Crop Research and Land Supervisor works under the Director of Operations and plays a key role in planning and implementing field research and rotational land activities by managing resources and staff.

The position collaborates with internal and external researchers and ensures safe, efficient, and productive operations within agricultural crop research conducted  also serves as the SROC contact point for cropping and land based research and research requests submitted by faculty and principal investigators (PI's) who want to use SROC resources for their research projects. Additionally, the supervisor leads outreach efforts in the crop research team, translating research and field activity into public engagement and educational opportunities.

The ideal candidate combines practical agricultural management and research experience with strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills to support SROC’s mission of advancing sustainable agriculture and community engagement.

Research and Land Management (40%)

• Develop, manage, and implement effective land and agricultural management plans for active research plots, rotational land, and livestock feedstock.
• Oversee and coordinate the planning and implementation of all agricultural and research operations, including tillage, planting, pest management, harvest, and feedstock production for livestock research.
• Develop and manage annual land‑use and crop rotation plans in coordination with research faculty, research leads, and the Director of Operations.
• Ensure efficient and timely completion of all SROC field activities supporting research, rotational land, and livestock needs.
• Manage procurement of supplies, cropping inputs, and services necessary to sustain operations.
• Maintain accurate records of land use and cropping activities using digital logs and GIS for reporting to collegiate and university leadership or government agencies.
• Review and approve plot requests, plot fees, labor, and supply billing as monthly charges for work conducted in field plots in conjunction with other SROC program leads.

Supervision and Team Leadership (25%)

• Ensure adequate labor, including seasonal staff, is hired, available, trained, and assigned to complete daily tasks.
• Direct and supervise staff of 3+ team members, including permanent and temporary workers, students, and seasonal employees involved in agricultural and horticultural operations.
• Provide training, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities for staff members.
• Foster teamwork and communication across all areas of agricultural crop research and other SROC programs.

Research Support and Collaboration (20%)

• Act as the liaison between research faculty, program leads, technicians, equipment operators, and students to plan and implement rotational field and research activities.
• Operate, maintain, and calibrate field and plot equipment to meet research and rotational acre objectives.
• Ensure proper setup, management, and data collection for research plots and rotational acres while maintaining operational efficiency.
• Monitor progress of experiments, sample processing, and data collection to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Coordinate land and resource allocation for ongoing and proposed research projects with the Director of Operations.

Outreach and Public Engagement (10%)

• Lead and participate in crop research and center outreach efforts, including field days, community events, and educational programming.
• Collaborate with SROC staff to organize public events that showcase agricultural and horticultural research.
• Represent SROC in community partnerships, university collaborations, and outreach initiatives.

Safety and Compliance (5%)

• Ens…