Research Operations Lead

At Corteva Agriscience, you will help us grow what’s next. No matter what your role, you will be part of a team that is building the future of agriculture – solving the world’s food problems through innovation, technology, and putting people first.

What You'll Do

Operational:

• Manage and accountable for the daily center operations, ensuring on-time completions to meet research and business needs.
• Plan, organize, and direct research operations to ensure the most effective use of assets while meeting research/business objectives; may include, but not limited to the management of: personnel, equipment, facility and land use.
• Manage research operations through subordinate staff that have full accountabilities for their respective area(s).
• Coordinate the research center leadership team meetings by developing agendas, schedules, and ensuring appropriate follow-ups.
• Effective management of land cooperators and off –site storage.
• Ensure Regulatory compliance (safety, DOT, wage/hour laws, USDA, EPA, etc).
• Hold regular team meetings to provide short term and long term task direction, along with timely business updates.
• Meet with employees individually to stay abreast of business issues, workload levels, and employee concerns.
• May participate in field activities as determined by specific location needs.
  
  

Tactical Planning

• Work with research center leadership team to proactively plan and address future needs.
• Participate in the labor planning for all regular, temporary, and seasonal research staff.
• Review of operations and fixed projections and implement corrective actions to stay within budget.
• Provide feedback to Finance regarding the center’s operating and capital budgets.
• Implement best productivity practices at center and ensure these practices are sustained.
• Monitor and manage capacity constraints, equipment problems, labor scheduling, etc. to ensure research goals are met.
• Identify and resolve problems with help as needed from the local center leadership team and upper management (Research Directors, EZ Leads, etc.).
  
  

Teamwork And Employee Development

• Coach, support and develop employees on their team in a manner that fosters effective collaboration and teamwork, demonstrating and modeling the Core Values.
• Establish and support individual and team performance goals that are attainable and aligned with business strategy.
• Hold employees accountable for achieving performance results and demonstrating work behaviors that promote collaboration and teamwork in an effective manner while demonstrating and modeling the Core Values.
• Recognize and value employees through ongoing recognition of individual and team results.
• Strongly encourage employee feedback and ideas for process improvements.
  
  

Promote a Culture that Demonstrates Core Values While Generating High Quality Results:

• Promote health, safety, and environmentally- friendly practices
• Ensure SHE programs are implemented and fully executed
• Ensure all employees at the center are engaged in Safety
• Model and enforce the Life Saving Rules
• Foster a positive Safety Culture on and off the job
• Ensure RMS and Management Review is in place and effective.
• Provide oversight of and monitor quality levels through all stages of research processes and testing.
• Organize and facilitate the management review meetings and ensure continual improvement of the RMS is occurring
  
  

Scientific

• Work in conjunction with Research Scientist(s) and EZ Lead(s) to establish project goals consistent with business unit goals which reflect internal and external customer needs.
• Provide management, scientific leadership and creativity when initiating, designing, and executing research within/across projects.
• Remain current on new technology by participating in professional meetings, career development activities and by encouraging others to bring information into research activities.
• May be involved with scientific studies to support breeding program or department per the employees interest and skill set (molecular breeding involvement, product advancement, regulated testing, disease related work, etc.)
• May monitor research progress and meet with participating researchers to identify problems and opportunities impacting the business unit.
• May communicate with research leadership (i.e. Sr. Scientists, Research Fellows, EZ Leads, and/or Research Directors), business unit contacts, and/or external collaborators on progress of product opportunities and makes recommendations regarding product testing and evaluation process.
• May participate in product selection, advancements, assignment of rankings, etc. This may include preparing and analyzing data, keeping records or otherwise facilitating advancement meetings.
• May serve on teams appropriate to cross project research initiatives.
• May contribute to scientific publications, conferences and patent applications.
• May plan and conduct comprehensive research programs which further the development of value-added products or support associated research projects.
  
  

What Skills You Need

• Masters Degree or Bachelor’s Degree with equivalent experience in Agriculture related field
• 5 -7 years experience in Research operations
• Supervisory or leadership experience critical
• Physical ability to lift 30lbs, ability to work outside in all kinds of weather, ability to stand/sit for extended periods, ability to travel overnight, sometimes for an extended period.
• Primarily in a Research Center setting with regular interaction taking place in a high traffic & activity plant/warehouse areas, plus frequent visits to field locations. High workload with long hours and weekend work during seasonal peaks. Occasional travel within region.
• Requires ability to look several months forward to anticipate labor needs, resource needs, space requirements, etc.
• Research operations knowledge combined with prior management skills and the ability to supervise/handle multiple tasks at one time is critical.
• Leadership capabilities to motivate others, initiate projects, make decisions, and effectively solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal/communication skills are required for fostering teamwork, enhancing a good working environment, and effectively developing strong working relationships with a diverse group of people
  
  

Please note: There is no visa sponsorship provided for this role.

Benefits – How We’ll Support You

• Numerous development opportunities offered to build your skills
• Be part of a company with a higher purpose and contribute to making the world a better place
• Health benefits for you and your family on your first day of employment
• Four weeks of paid time off and two weeks of well-being pay per year, plus paid holidays
• Excellent parental leave which includes a minimum of 16 weeks for mother and father
• Future planning with our competitive retirement savings plan and tuition reimbursement program
• Learn more about our total rewards package here - Corteva Benefits
• Check out life at Corteva! www.linkedin.com/company/corteva/life
  
  

Are you a good match? Apply today! We seek applicants from all backgrounds to ensure we get the best, most creative talent on our team.

Corteva Agriscience is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to embracing our differences to enrich lives, advance innovation, and boost company performance. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, military or veteran status, pregnancy related conditions (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), disability or any other protected status in accordance with federal, state, or local laws.