Employment Opportunities

Overview

The Field Operations Specialist position provides critical services to the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund team. This position works with staff and farmers on Soil and Water Outcomes Fund enrollment, provides quality control of incoming farmer data and conducts field compliance checks during peak seasons. Additionally, this position provides conservation and agronomic advice to enrolled farmers and maintains excellent customer relationships with farmers.

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Essential Functions

• Collect and process agricultural management practice data and field boundaries from farmers seeking to enroll in the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund.
• Perform verification and validation of climate-smart practice adoption used to determine farmer compliance with contract and payment terms.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the Soil & Water Outcomes Fund.
• Help farmers interpret and understand the outcomes-based payment structure and estimate payments based on models.
• Provide technical assistance for agronomy and conservation practice implementation, either directly or through intermediaries such as certified crop advisors or agronomy advisors.
• Perform QA/QC on all data provided by farmers.
• Analyze and interpret outcomes data received from third parties.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and a proactive approach to farmer engagement.

Competencies

• Deep working knowledge of agricultural cropping systems and conservation practices
• Demonstrated initiative, assertiveness, and ability to drive results
• Establishing and building relationships
• Communicating effectively
• Strong time management skills
• Task management and organization

Travel/Location

• This position will be ideally based in our Ankeny office, but remote may be an option. Requires travel during peak field season (November and March-May), typically within the Midwest and may have overnight travel..

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Required Education and Experience

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in agronomy, environmental sciences, agricultural engineering, biological sciences, or other agricultural related fields.
• Strong understanding of Midwest cropping systems and conservation practices.
• Capable of working in a team environment while working independently to achieve specific project deliverables.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account available
• Onsite Fitness Center and golf simulator
• Cellphone and Wellness reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Tuition reimbursement program

Overview

The Field Operations Specialist position provides critical services to the AgOutcomes team. This position works with staff and farmers on low-carbon intensity feedstock programs and biofuels services.

The position also maintains quality control of incoming farmer data and conducts field compliance checks during peak seasons. Additionally, this position provides conservation and agronomic advice to enrolled farmers and maintains excellent customer relationships with farmers.

Apply Here

Essential Functions

• Collect and process agricultural management practice data and field boundaries from farmers seeking to enroll in a biofuel producer program.
• Perform verification and validation of climate-smart practice adoption used to determine farmer compliance with contract and attestation terms.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of 45Z, low-carbon feedstock programs and applicable agricultural practices.
• Help farmers interpret and understand the Carbon Intensity (CI)-based payment structure and estimate payments based on specific approved practices.
• Provide technical assistance for agronomy and conservation practice implementation, either directly or through intermediaries such as certified crop advisors or agronomy advisors.
• Perform QA/QC on all data provided by farmers.
• Analyze and interpret CI data received from third parties.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and a proactive approach to farmer engagement.

Competencies

• Deep working knowledge of agricultural cropping systems and conservation practices
• Demonstrated initiative, assertiveness, and ability to drive results
• Establishing and building relationships
• Communicating effectively
• Strong time management skills
• Task management and organization

Travel/Location

This position will be remote but must be located in northern Iowa.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Required Education and Experience

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in agronomy, environmental sciences, agricultural engineering, biological sciences or other agricultural related fields.
• Strong understanding of Midwest cropping systems and conservation practices.
• Capable of working in a team environment while working independently to achieve specific project deliverables.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

This job operates in a professional office environment. A significant portion of the time may be in the field meeting with farmers.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• FSA and HSA available
• Onsite Wellness center and golf simulator
• Cellphone and Wellness reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Tuition reimbursement program

Overview

Build consumer trust, expand markets and drive demand for soy by strengthening Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) engagement with consumers, food professionals, educators and industry stakeholders through compelling visual storytelling via photography and videography.

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Essential Functions

Competencies

• Accepting Direction
• Acting Decisively
• Communicating Effectively
• Coordinating Project Activities
• Demonstrating Initiative

Travel/Location

• Regular travel throughout Iowa, including rural and farm settings, with occasional overnight travel
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and to lift/transport photography and video equipment (up to 40 lbs.)
• Some early morning, evening, or weekend work required to accommodate shoot schedules and seasonal farm activities

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in photography, videography, visual communications, journalism, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Demonstrated portfolio of professional photography and video work, with specific experience in food and culinary photography
• Proficiency with DSLR/mirrorless cameras, lighting equipment, and video production gear
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud applications (Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro; After Effects a plus)
• Experience with drone photography/videography preferred; FAA Part 107 certification a plus
• Familiarity with agriculture, farming or rural Iowa communities preferred
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel across Iowa, including to farms and outdoor field locations

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• FSA and HSA available
• Cellphone and Wellness reimbursement
• Fitness center and Golf simulator
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Dress for your Day Dress Code

Overview

To assist the ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation with cropping system research. The employee will be expected to collect water quality, soil, and plant samples; conduct crop scouting and imagery analysis; process and organize data; and assist with data analysis. The research will be used to help ISA improve the productivity and sustainability of crop production in Iowa.

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Essential Functions

• Assist Research Agronomists in execution of on-farm research
• Assist staff on water sample collection throughout the state at stream and tile outlet locations
• Interact with farmers in a professional manner to execute experiments and data collection
• Collect soil and plant samples from farm fields
• Ability to take direction and work independently
• Ability to enter and work with data collected using commonly used tools (Excel, Word, etc.)
• Participate in research discussions and planning meetings
• Assist in other ISA Research program areas as needed

Competencies

• Basic understanding and application of crop production
• Prioritizing and organizing work
• Demonstrates initiative and attention to detail
• Communicating effectively

Travel/Location

• This position requires frequent travel.
• Travel will be within Iowa using company vehicles and will normally be completed within normal business hours. 

Required Education and Experience

• Ability to work efficiently on individual and team projects
• Strong writing and oral communication skills
• High level familiarity with farming practices and agricultural conservation
• Undergraduate degree (AA/S or BA/S), in progress or completed, with a focus in agriculture or environmental science

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience in agronomy or environmental science and field data collection and analysis preferred or comparable experience within agriculture
• Experience conducting or assisting in research trials
• Understanding of production agriculture and agricultural conservation practices preferred

Work Enviornment

This job operates in a professional office and outdoor environments. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and software platforms such as Office 365. Field work is required and sampling equipment such as on-farm research and/or replicated strip trial layout and execution, water, soil and tissue sampling equipment, and GPS equipment are also used.  This role routinely involves working around heavy equipment and farming implements.  Proper use of safety equipment and safety procedures is required.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; drive long distances; walk in fields and uneven terrain; collect water samples from streams, tile outlets, and other water sources; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment will vary.

Overview

To support and assist the ISA Research Center for Farming Innovation with water quality and crop production research. Work will include running water samples in a laboratory environment, collecting soil and water samples, managing sample submission to external labs, and processing agronomic data.

Following written protocols for proper data processing and organization is an essential function of this role. The employee will be expected to provide support in processing data for both water quality and on-farm strip trials. The research will be used to inform and assist farmers to improve the productivity and sustainability of crop production in Iowa.

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Essential Functions

• Perform analyses on water samples from various sources in accordance with established Quality Assurance (QA) protocols
• Operates, calibrates, maintains, and properly documents the use of automated sampling equipment; helps with maintenance and calibration records
• Assist with field-based water sampling
• Maintain quality control requirements, data management, sample tracking and reporting in accordance with SOPs and QAPPs
• Perform analyses on crop yield data based on established processing protocols
• Manage and catalog data related to research trials and water quality analyses
• Performs related duties as needed or assigned

Competencies

• Use of laboratory equipment and technology
• Demonstrates initiative and attention to detail
• Prioritizing and organizing work
• Self-starter and ability to work unsupervised
• Practical understanding and application of agronomy and environmental science
• Customer focused
• Communicating effectively

Travel

This position does require travel throughout the state.

Supervisory Responsiblity

This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Required Education and Experience

• Associate’s degree or higher in biological sciences, chemistry, environmental sciences, agronomy or related field.
• Ability to learn procedures for the analysis of samples; demonstrate good laboratory and field monitoring techniques; follow detailed oral and written instruction.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in biological sciences, chemistry, environmental sciences, agronomy, or related field.
• Experience in laboratory analyses, including: ion chromatography, coliform bacteria, turbidity, pH, or titrations.
• Experience with GIS, agricultural research, or precision agriculture

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account available
• Cellphone and Wellness reimbursement
• Fitness center and Golf simulator
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Dress for your Day Dress Code

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; drive long distances; walk in fields and uneven terrain; collect water samples from streams, tile outlets, and other water sources; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment will vary.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office and outdoor environments. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and software platforms such as Office 365. Field work is required and sampling equipment such as on-farm research and/or replicated strip trial layout and execution, water, soil and tissue sampling equipment, and GPS equipment are also used. This role routinely involves working around heavy equipment and farming implements. Proper use of safety equipment and safety procedures is required.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

A valid driver’s license is required.