Trialing Specialist Technician

Job Description

Position:
Trialing Specialist Technician – supporting Syngenta's Highland, Illinois site. This role will support yield trials across Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky. Remote work is possible; preferred locations are the Highland‑Effingham area.

• Act as an integral member of a team responsible for planting, plot maintenance, spraying, phenotyping, and harvesting research‑level yield trial plots.
• Operate and maintain agricultural machinery and/or research equipment, such as precision planters, drones, automated phenotyping equipment, and research combines.
• Perform all tasks in compliance with safety and stewardship policies and complete required company training courses.
• Support the Trialing Manager in achieving desired results, including field layout, planting, phenotyping, and harvest.
• Communicate regularly with peers and supervisors regarding project status, work activities, and data quality and timeliness.
• Plant, spray, maintain, and harvest research‑level corn, soybean, and wheat trials to meet data quality standards and operational deadlines.

• Associate’s degree in an agriculture‑related discipline and/or relevant experience.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving history.
• Ability to work in high or low temperature conditions in a field or greenhouse environment, lift up to 50 pounds, and work long hours during time‑critical periods of the growing season.
• Eligibility to work in the United States without sponsorship support from Syngenta.

• Experience operating and maintaining agricultural machinery or research equipment.
• Ability to work with moderate supervision while traveling to off‑site locations to prepare, plant, and accurately collect data from trials.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a federal medical card to operate commercial motor vehicles.
• Pesticide applicator license holder or ability to acquire one.
• Basic understanding of agricultural and agronomy practices.
• Basic understanding of procedures that affect trial data precision and accuracy.
• Experience operating, adjusting, maintaining, and performing minor repairs on plot equipment such as a planter, tractor, cultivator, sprayer, and combine.

Salary range: $24 – $28 per hour.

• Culture of belonging and collaboration with flexible work options.
• Full benefit package (medical, dental, and vision) starting the first day.
• 401(k) plan with company match, profit‑sharing, and retirement savings contribution.
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, maternity and paternity leave, education assistance, wellness programs, corporate discounts, and more.

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.