The Research Associate will serve as an integral team member of a comprehensive corn breeding and characterization program. The Research Associate leads and supports day-to-day research centre operations including following protocols to ensure the highest quality data are generated from multiple experiments. The position helps complete many tasks needed to develop superior products and knowledge that optimize value for our customers and our company.

Duties/Responsibilities: 
Organize and Conduct Field Research Efforts at the Carman Research Centre: Conducts experiments, to completion, according to specific procedures, exercising independent judgment and discretion as appropriate. This includes, but not limited to, the knowledge of general agronomic practices, herbicide application and evaluation procedures, crop scouting, implementation of new technologies, computer skills and experimental design and analysis. Use Pioneer proprietary software for initiation, mapping, tracking and analysis of experiments. Supervision and accountability for assigned projects and coordination of experiments with other research centres across North America. Implement experiment protocols as designed by experiment managers, providing oversight of all cultural practices, spraying, irrigation treatments and other specific treatment and/or observational requirements in those protocols.

Maintains, organizes and summarizes results of experiments, noting problem areas while recommending actions to be taken within standard procedures. Provides development, analysis and maintenance support to Research Equipment Support Team. Inspects and performs routine maintenance on sophisticated research equipment used to conduct experiments. Effectively manage the temporary work force at the research centre: Provide leadership for part-time seasonal employees in various activities including stand counting, plot maintenance and stalk and root characterization. Ensure temporary employees have a clear understanding of procedures and expectations for assigned tasks and monitor progress while providing appropriate feedback to both employees and managers Ensure members of the research staff are up to date on safety awareness: Assess and improve safety practices to meet research centre safety goals for reportable incidents, zero lost workdays, and environmental standards. Active member of research centre safety team. 

Other duties: 
May be requested to assist in conducting experiments at other research sites, laboratory areas, or groups. Support or lead special projects as deemed necessary.

Educational Qualifications Desired: 
Bachelor’s degree in an agriculture, preferably in plant breeding or scientific related field and minimum of 2 to 4 years of industry related experience, or equivalent level of relevant education and experience.

Competencies and Experience Desired: 
Strong work ethic with the ability to work outside for extended periods of time during the growing season. Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as math and computer skills. Self-motivation and ability to initiate projects, improvements, decisions and problem solving. Interpersonal communication and teamwork skills, conflict management, work accuracy, timeliness, and adaptability to change are essential. Supervisory and leadership skills to effectively coordinate complex research centre operations. Operation and maintenance of research equipment (tractor, planter, combine). Strong computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Access and MS Outlook).

Agronomic expertise to include herbicide knowledge and application, tillage practices, crop scouting and problem identification and solving. May be required to do physical lifting and work in varying ergonomic environments. Must have a valid class 5 license with the ability to obtain a Class 1A.

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A TWO STEP APPLICATION PROCESS. PLEASE FILL OUT YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, CLICK ON SUBMIT AND YOU WILL BE RE-DIRECTED TO THE PIONEER CAREER PAGE TO APPLY TO THIS POSITION. PLEASE FILL OUT ALL THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AND SEND YOUR RESUME THROUGH THE PIONEER WEBSITE. Apply online by clicking on "APPLY TO THIS POSITION". Please refer to job requisition #9580BR under the International Job Openings section.