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# Cropping Systems Research Coordinator

- **Company:** Practical Farmers Of Iowa
- **Location:** Ames, IA, United States (Remote available)
- **Salary:** $46,000 - $53,000
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Geographic Information Systems, ArcGIS (Software), Systems Theories, Python (Programming Language), Open Source Technology
- **Published:** October 14, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=7fa6a32ef416abf0

## About the Role

* Master's degree in agronomy, plant science, soil science, horticulture or related field and three years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
 * Knowledge of current trends in Midwestern agricultural systems
 * Knowledge of cover crop management, soil health principles, nutrient management and conservation practice adoption
 * Knowledge of soil health assessment methods including soil organic carbon, carbon mineralization potential and aggregate stability
 * Strong experimental design skills in field plot settings
 * Strong statistical analysis, interpretation and visualization skills
 * Experience with open-source statistical software (R, Python, etc.)
 * Strong research report writing skills
 * Experience publishing peer-reviewed scientific journal articles
 * Ability to perform analyses of ongoing multisite-year research results
 * Ability to communicate scientific principles to non-scientists and farmers
 * Clear interest in applying their research skills to serve the learning outcomes desired by farmers
 * Ability to coordinate concurrently active projects
 * Ability to work well independently and with others
 * Ability to organize work, set goals and adhere to deadlines, * Doctorate in agronomy, plant science, soil science, horticulture or related field
 * Knowledge of GIS platforms and geospatial data management (ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth Engine, spatial datasets)
 * Understanding of the social and community dimensions of agriculture
 * Knowledge of farmer adoption behavior, agricultural sociology and barriers to adopting conservation practice
 * Effective at handling farmer communication, customer service and data collection across multiple channels (text, email, phone, etc.)
 * Experience with grant writing and reporting
 * Experience with crop, environmental or greenhouse gas modeling
 * Experience writing public-facing articles
 * Oral communication and storytelling skills
 * Event facilitation skills

## Description

We're seeking a cropping systems research coordinator to lead some of our ongoing multisite on-farm research projects across the Midwest. One project explores the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates informed by soil tests on corn yield, nitrogen use efficiency and financial returns in production systems using soil health practices. Another project is looking at how cover crops influence the number of days suitable for fieldwork in corn-soybean production systems.

In addition to managing research projects, this position will develop innovative on-farm research opportunities driven by farmer interests, helping farmers identify meaningful research questions and practical experimental designs. This position will be responsible for analyzing, interpreting and visualizing research data and translating findings into accessible reports, articles, blog posts and other educational resources for farmer audiences.

We expect research results to be interpreted and visualized with farmers as the target audience in accessibly written research reports and through user-friendly online interfaces. Success in this role requires combining scientific rigor with strong communication and relationship-building skills to support farmer learning and advance practical, farmer-led agricultural research.

If you are interested in practicing science with and constantly learning from a community of curious and creative farmers who are transforming their farms for the better through intentional investigation, this role is for you.

Duties

 * Coordinate two large-scale, multisite on-farm research projects
 * Design and implement data collection and management tools with farmers for on-farm research projects
 * Analyze, interpret and visualize research data
 * Write reports and articles for PFI publications on research projects
 * Plan and facilitate events with research objectives.
 * Other duties as assigned or volunteered to support department or team projects