Join a collaborative turf Research & Development team at the Vero Beach Research Center (VBRC) and be an active participant in the Crop Protection Field Development Professional Solutions Region (SPS).
Design, execute, and manage the expansion and renovation of a 4-acre fine turf research area. Implement a comprehensive maintenance program including fertilization, irrigation, sprigging/overseeding, and mowing, etc., and carryout all aspects of the program that will deliver premium turfgrass research and development trialing.
Collaborate with R&D Scientists to implement field and greenhouse experiments to evaluate products in development.
Accountabilities:
Maintain excellent quality turfgrass plots for trialing purposes.
Incorporate new sensing technologies to enhance the turfgrass research plots at VBRC.
Coordinate with R&D scientists to promote conducive test conditions for target pathogens, nematodes, and insects, and to allow for rotation of field trials with key agronomic maintenance practices.
Operates equipment used for maintaining turf grasses including but not limited to mowers, sprayers, tractors, top dressers, aerators, spreaders, and back pack sprayers.
Manage preventative maintenance of turf equipment, including mower reel settings, calibration of spray equipment and irrigation heads system.
Assist scientists during critical periods (applications, data collection, etc.).
Adhere to Syngenta and VBRC Health, Safety, and Environmental policies and procedures and complete all required training.
Qualifications
B.S/B.A or MS degree in Agronomy or related field, or commensurate experience
2-5 years of leading and/or assisting in leading a turfgrass facility and/or landscape company
Expertise in culturing and maintaining resilient stands of warm season turfgrass including: bermudagrass & zoysiagrass at both greens & fairway height of cut (HOC) and St. Augustine lawn HOC
Experience in culturing and maintaining cool season turfgrass systems such as creeping bentgrass & perennial ryegrass in Florida weather conditions
Strong working knowledge of turf pesticide use and application methods, growth potential & fertility programs and irrigation systems
Experience communicating maintenance programs and benefits of healthy turf to key stakeholders
Physically able lift up to 50lbs and wear required PPE to safely apply pesticides under various climatic conditions
Ability to work weekends and after normal working hours during time-critical trial periods
Valid Driver’s license
Florida pesticide applicator license and drone license or ability to obtain one upon hiring
As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all – while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs.
Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting. From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold.
Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland.
