Ag Soil, Water and New Ag Tech Best Practices Manager

Join our PepsiCo Foods North America (PFNA) Potato Team as the Ag Soil, Water & New Ag Tech Best Practices Manager. In this role you be our Soil Health and Water Use Efficiency technical specialist – driving improvements across several dimensions of pep+ for the PFNA Potato Team.  You’ll also lead evaluation and commercialization of new technologies to drive on-farm productivity and sustainability.

Key accountabilities of the role include:

Soil Health:

• Be the technical soil health specialist on PFNA’s Potato Team - keeping current on best-in-class practices and approaches to improve soil health across a wide range of geographies.
• Lead the establishment of PFNA Potatoes’ soil health baseline.
• Develop strategies to make measurable improvements YOY and before target deadlines.
• Generate internal and external reports, communicating key findings and refining roadmaps for Soil Health project delivery.

Watershed Health:

• Be the technical lead supporting PepsiCo’s commitment to improve WUE 15% by 2025 in water risk growing regions.
• Utilize data driven insights to develop strategies and execute plans across PFNA’s Potatoes’ growing locations.
• Accelerate the adoption and commercialization of highly efficient systems through the demonstration of on-farm applicability.

Ag Technology Evaluation:

• Lead the evaluation of scalable technologies (or products) that can drive productivity, sustainability and/or profitability on commercial potato farms in PFNA.
• Coordinate collaboratively with internal teams and growers on approach and findings.

Ad-hoc Support:

• Support of broader Positive Agriculture dimensions may be in-scope for this role given sustainable crop production knowledge and expertise.
  • Building soil health and fertility
  • Sequestering carbon and reducing emissions
  • Enriching watershed health
  • Protecting and enhancing biodiversity
  • Improving farmer livelihoods

Compensation & Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $72,500 - $121,300 based on a full-time schedule.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills and experience will be considered in setting actual starting salary.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility; target payout is 8% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Key Education and Experience Required:

• Masters or PhD in Soil Science, Sustainable Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, Ag Science, Food/Crop Systems or related fields of study.
• Minimum 3-5 years of practical field agronomic experience in soil science, multi-crop systems, field extension, sustainable agriculture practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively with farmers regarding sustainability and whole-farm agricultural practices and management.
• In-depth knowledge of soil health, preferably in potato production systems.
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Suite products – preference, additional experience with data visualization products, Minitab, and other spreadsheet analytic tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with internal and external cross-functional partners.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Competencies:

• Effective technical communication skills at grower, commercial and industry levels.
• Proficient analytical, interpretation and presentation skills with commercial, research and survey data.
• Ability to identify trends and correlations quickly and accurately in internal and external data sources.
• A strong background in agricultural research, testing, and lab procedures are required for success.
• Applicable experience developing/testing new digital tools driving improved on-farm or productivity targets.
• Facilitation and Project Management experience.
• Self-starter with strong drive for results and cross functional team leadership skills in a flexible work environment.
• Ability to keep current on emerging research, trends and topics within Regenerative Agriculture and chipping potato production.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

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