Research Agronomist, Agriculture Research - Oats Job

The incumbent in this position will be responsible for applying solid technical expertise to independently plan, implement and manage oat based research and project activity related to crop and ingredient technology. Successful completion of project assignments will be measured by the extent to which they support Quaker Foods & Snacks initiatives with specific emphasis on oat agronomy / production, milling yield improvement, product quality which translates into consumer preferred products.

The incumbent will be expected to provide technical innovation through demonstrating an understanding of small grains breeding, agronomic practices, physical and chemical characteristics of the grain, the application of milling technology and understanding of consumer needs as relates to the inherent quality of the based grain that will drive business value. The incumbent will have responsibility for the following:

Working with a cross-functional business team to develop a robust oat research strategy. This will include:
Design, coordination and execution of various agronomic trials such as genetic by environment trials, regional variety trials and variety registration trials.
Utilizing physical, analytical and consumer data to develop next logical steps.
Provide leadership and actively manage external oat research with universities and governmental agencies.
Facilitating
the development of near and long-term strategies to create and support a PepsiCo Agricultural Research Team.
Acting as a key agronomic expert on multi-functional project teams assembled to execute Quaker Foods & Snacks related initiatives.
Independently planning and executing small grain variety project milestones with a thorough analysis of test results and recommendation of next steps to resolve technical issues.
Establishing a cooperative and supportive relationship with plant breeders, research personnel, university leaders and internal business unit members by seeking and placing value on their input.
Developing a web based technology strategy to drive the enhancement of research efficiency and crop production which will provide competitive advantage for Quaker in product quality, milling yield and consumer preference.
Assessment of cutting edge technology that is specific to small grains breeding, environmental prediction modeling, data collection and providing recommendations to improve program timing and deliverables.
Assessment of small grains quality parameters and utilizing the Quaker Quality Oat Definition (QQOD) to determine improved variety performance to meet processing and consumer needs.
Initiative to explore business models, make recommendations and execute agreed to business deliverables that will result in procurement, processing and consumer quality improvements.
Thorough understanding of processing and finished product quality parameters for PepsiCo grain based products (Oatmeal, white and yellow corn products and other applicable small grains).

Requirements: Minimum of M.S. degree in a Science or Agriculture related field or PhD is preferred. Minimum 3 to 5 years experience in a grain based related field required. Self-starter with excellent oral and written communication skills, the ability to work with various personalities and work styles, and good influence management skills. Positive learner - highly creative individual with desire to gain and apply knowledge to new processes and products. Working knowledge of the methods used to assess financial performance, project tracking and deliverables. Ability to seek out, engage and work with resources, both internal and external to Quaker in order to drive projects to a successful conclusion. Willingness to travel domestically and international to research locations.

Nearest Major Market: Ironwood
Job Segments: Healthcare, Medical, Research