Agronomist, China
Position: Agronomist, China
Sun World International is a California-based agriculture and technology firm engaged in fruit variety development, technology, intellectual property, and licensing. Technology and IP pursuits include one of the world’s leading table grape and specialty fruit breeding/genetics programs, a broad-based portfolio of plant patents and trademarks and investments in agriculture technology start-ups benefiting its global licensees. Licensing consists of sharing new proprietary stone fruit and table grape varieties, and the IP they comprise, with like-minded fruit growers and marketers in more than 15 countries around the world. The Company prizes creativity, innovation, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Its people strive for excellence by demonstrating leadership, passion, kindness, authenticity, courage, initiative, and curiosity. Of note: This role would be working for Sun World’s China entity - Sun World Agricultural Technology (Hainan) Co., Ltd.
Location:
Yunnan or Shandong Province.
Position Overview:
The Agronomist’s job is to assist growers and marketers to improve the performance of our company’s proprietary varieties on their farms and maximize the profitability of these varieties, and also carry out applied research our commercial and new varieties. The Agronomist’s focus will be on driving yield, production & quality. The majority of time the work will be focused on table grapes, but also some other crops such as stone fruit, citrus, etc.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Perform regular visits to designated commercial farms where our company’s proprietary varieties are grown under license, evaluate the varieties’ performance, estimate yield, monitor fruit quality, identify technical challenges, provide growers with technical support, and follow up on its implementation and progress. Also, be able to generate technical reports, for both growers (after visits) and internal (after trips or summarizing the season).
- Conduct and execute field trials aimed at creating new knowledge needed to overcome technical challenges that limit yield and/or fruit quality of our company’s proprietary varieties. This includes trial design, data collection, data analysis and final report.
- Optimize Sun World’s success by assisting with new pipeline variety evaluation and test block trial managements, developing guidelines for best cultural practices for these varieties.
- Develop and implement various channels of communications with our company’s licensees in the region, such as Chat groups, webinars, broadcasting, newsletters, and
- field days and use these channels to deliver valuable technical information at relevant times during the season.
- Maintain consistent and productive relationships with entities and professionals who may contribute to our company’s success, such as government and private researchers, extension service, farm advisors, growers’ associations & committees.
- Optimize data intelligence and support building of a technology system, through constant search, and evaluation of technologies that may be beneficial to our company and/or to our licensees.
- Support Licensing Manager with information needed for best business management.
- Actively participate in GTS teamwork, events, duties and participation, contributing to team success.
- Travel: Field visits will be 70% - 80% of the time – within mainland China.
- International travel: Possibly 2-3 trips per year (each trip lasting 7 – 10 days) to regions with active Sun World plantings.
- Further trips might be necessary to attend trainings, meetings and relevant company needs.
- This position requires approximately 30% sitting, and 70% standing and walking. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Lifting up to 15 kg is sometimes required. Equipment used would be computer, copier, phone, laboratory equipment, and backpack sprayer.
- Work some weekends and long hours when needed.
Requirements:
- B.Sc. in Agronomy with 2 years of applicable experience (as a technical/applied researcher, agronomist, or farm advisor) -or- M.Sc. in Agronomy with a minimum of 1 year of applicable experience (as a technical/applied researcher, agronomist, or farm advisor).
- Deep knowledge of the Vitis world, anatomy of the grapevine, plant nutrition, soil characteristics, rootstocks, irrigation systems and other agronomic subjects.
- Fluency in Chinese, basic English language skills are required.
- A high level of proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Experience with and/or interest in Agricultural related technologies a plus.
- High flexibility and mobility, readiness to travel, willingness to work during non-standard hours and on weekends/holidays if necessary.
- An understanding of procedures, responsibilities, and systems.
- Exceptional time management skills and organizational ability, with the skill to multi-task and prioritize tasks. Ability to seek and suggest improvements.
- Organized, good at documenting and retrieving data, files, and reports.
- Curious, investigational in his/her DNA, always willing to try and learn something new.
- High level problem solving skills, a keen eye for detail.
- High level of confidentiality and ability not to disclose farm and company information.
- Valid driver’s license.
Work type:
100% remote. This person will work from a home office when not traveling.