Research Supervisor - Agriculture - Crookston, MN

Position Overview

The research plot manager position is part management and provides direct research support to the Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC) research portfolio. The management component includes serving as the NWROC contact point for research requests submitted by faculty and principal investigators (PIs) who wish to use NWROC resources. It also involves managing research land and coordinating plots. The position directs activities and supervises research assistants assigned to the NWROC Research Support Group.

The research support component involves supporting the operations, maintenance, setup, and calibration of field equipment required for field research.

• Research Plot Management and Coordination (50%)
• Oversee the development and implementation of an effective land and cropping management plan for research land.
• Determine space allocation for approved research projects and oversee implementation.
• Act as liaison between research faculty, PIs, technicians, and students to plan, coordinate, and execute research using NWROC resources throughout the project lifecycle.
• Communicate effectively with research staff and project teams to match NWROC resources and availability.
• Coordinate necessary activities and requirements within the center’s research portfolio with all NWROC units.
• Ensure proper setup, management, and data collection for research plots while maintaining operational efficiency.
• Supervision and Team Leadership (25%)
• Direct activities and supervise members of the Research Support Group, including research staff and seasonal labor.
• Communicate and manage research employees with a collaborative team approach.
• Conduct annual performance reviews for direct reports and ensure goal settings align with the NWROC mission.
• Maintain employee work‑hour records for summer staff and the Research Support Group using manual and electronic databases for accurate recordkeeping and billing.
• Manage and delegate tasks and authorities to other Research Support Group personnel as appropriate.
• Promote safe work practices that comply with university and environmental policies and regulations within cropping research operations.
• Direct research field support and data record keeping (20%)
• Operate, maintain, and calibrate field plot equipment for research objectives, including tillage, fertilization, planting, pesticide selection, application, plot management, and harvest.
• Oversee and input proper cropping data into multiple data tracking programs and software to ensure compliance and data quality.
• Track progress of experiments, sample processing, and data collection.
• Manage and execute general equipment upkeep and maintenance.
• Outreach and Public Engagement (5%)
• Participate in NWROC outreach efforts, including field days, community events, and educational programming.
• Collaborate with NWROC researchers and staff to organize public events that showcase the research portfolio and the NWROC.
• Represent the NWROC in community partnerships, university collaborations, and outreach initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus at least five years of relevant experience, or advanced degree plus at least three years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and work experience totaling at least nine years.
• 5 years of experience in agricultural operations.
• Evidence of effective communication skills.
• Evidence of working effectively in a collaborative team atmosphere.
• Must currently possess or be able to obtain a Non‑commercial (A/C) pesticide application license during the probationary period.
• Experience with Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and/or Access.
• Experience in agronomic production practices for crops common to northwest Minnesota, including small grains (wheat, barley, oats), soybean, corn, and sugarbeet.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in agricultural research environments or university‑based field operations.
• Supervisory experience and demonstrated leadership.
• Familiarity with 21st‑century precision agriculture technologies.

The Northwest Research and Outreach Center (NWROC) in Crookston, Minnesota is one of ten research…