On-Farm Research & Agronomy Coordinator (Fixed Term)

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

The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is a unique not-for-profit farm organization whose diverse membership has a significant presence across Ontario agriculture and all major commodity sectors. OSCIA’s mission is to facilitate responsible economic management of soil, water, air, and crops through the development and communication of innovative farming practices. The Department of Research and Knowledge Transfer supports this mission through the delivery of applied, on-farm research initiatives that evaluate practical 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 situated within the Department of Research and Knowledge Transfer and works primarily on the Living Lab – Ontario program delivered by OSCIA . This role serves as a critical bridge between farmers, researchers, agronomists, and project partners, supporting the successful implementation of on-farm research trials across Ontario. The successful candidate will combine practical agricultural knowledge with strong applied research skills to coordinate field-scale trials, support data quality and sampling activities, and build trusted working relationships with farmer cooperators and research partners.

The On-Farm Research & Agronomy Coordinator is a full-time position at 36.25 hours per week, with an end date of March 31, 2028, and is a hybrid role requiring two days per week based out of OSCIA’s Guelph office. This position may require occasional work outside of normal working hours and frequent travel to support events or sampling activities and to occasionally connect with farmer cooperators in the evening based on their scheduling needs.

What We’re Looking For:

We are seeking a candidate with both practical farming credibility and applied research experience. The ideal candidate understands Ontario field crop production systems and farm management practices well enough to confidently engage in conversations with farmers while also 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 effectively operate in both farm and research environments, communicating comfortably with producers, agronomists, researchers, and project partners. The successful candidate will be equally 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 point of contact between the Organization, its farmer cooperators and its researcher partners, with a primary focus on the Living Lab – Ontario project, and for other projects as may be required.

Coordinate field-scale agronomic trial activities including monitoring, drone seeding, satellite and NDVI imaging, soil sampling, profit mapping, and other potential research trial needs.

Coordinate and conduct field sampling activities aligned with agronomic management practices and seasonal crop time

Manage the quality control of farm operation data and soil health data from farmer cooperators, project service providers, and publicly available sources.

Provide oversight and assistance to farmer cooperators in field crop research trial design, set-up, execution and data collection.

Contribute to the setup of farm-specific models for carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation in HOLOS, Agrisuite, and commercial software for cooperator sites.

Administration & Reporting:

Support data management, tracking, and reporting performance measures and program deliverables for applied research programs in field crops.

Support the knowledge translation and transfer of research outcomes to project stakeholders, farmer cooperators, and Ontario farmers.

Assist farmers and collaborators with the invoice submission process.

Attend program meetings and capture discussions and action items through compilation of notes.

Maintain accurate documentation and records to support internal reporting and compliance requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Knowledge Transfer:

Collaborate with Research and Knowledge Transfer staff, other OSCIA departments, government staff and researchers (such as AAFC and OMAFA), academic researchers, and other ag-industry partners to support research trial development and ongoing trial implementation.

Support interactions and relationships with stakeholders and project funders.

Promote research results and research programs through speaking and representing the organization at events and meetings, as well as planning of research meetings.

Promote a positive farmer and researcher experience through proactive communication and consistent support.

Other duties as assigned.

Performance Metrics/Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Deliverables Achievement: Achievement of assigned research program deliverables and reporting milestones as outlined in funding agreements.

Timeliness: Timeliness of achieving research project objectives and milestones managed by OSCIA.

Customer Service: Responsiveness to farmer inquiries and stakeholder requests, including professionalism and customer service quality.

Continuous Improvement: Contribution to continuous improvement initiatives, including identification of efficiencies and process enhancements.

Communications Support: Effectiveness in supporting communications and knowledge translation and transfer material development.

Foster Sustainability: Ensuring the work we do improves the viability and sustainability of rural Ontario and Ontario agriculture.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Education: Post-secondary degree in soil science, agronomy, crop science or a related field. A research-based master’s degree with an on-farm component and a focus on field crops would be considered an asset.

Years of Experience: Strong understanding of Ontario field crop production systems, seasonal farm operations, and agronomic management practices is required., obtained through 2-5 years of relevant industry experience.

Specific Experience:

Practical agricultural experience and comfort working directly with Ontario farmers are essential for success in this role.

Experience with Ontario field crop production systems, seasonal agronomic decision-making, and agricultural operational timing is required.

Familiarity with planting, nutrient management, harvest timing, cover crops, tillage systems, and