agronomist

 Requisition ID: 43793 Job DescriptionIn every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy. About the role.The Agronomy Manager – East is responsible for leading and executing agronomy strategies across McCain’s eastern North America potato production regions to improve yield, quality, supply security, sustainability, and grower profitability. Reporting to the Director of Agronomy and based in New Brunswick, this role provides leadership to two regional Agronomists and one Research Farm Lead while serving as the North American Subject Matter Expert for Precision Agriculture. The position combines regional agronomy leadership, precision agriculture strategy, research farm accountability, and agronomic support for Corporate Farm and Farm of the Future initiatives. Success in this role requires strong technical expertise in potato production, people leadership, applied research, and the ability to influence across multiple stakeholders. What you’ll be doing.Lead, coach, and develop a team of regional Agronomists and a Research Farm Lead, establishing priorities and accountability for key agronomic objectives.Develop and execute regional agronomy plans focused on crop production, regenerative agriculture, storage readiness, and new variety performance.Drive grower engagement and extension programs that improve production stability, profitability, yield, quality, and adoption of best practices.Guide the development and execution of Crop Improvement Plans (CIPs) with growers to deliver measurable performance improvements.Serve as the North American Subject Matter Expert for Precision Agriculture, identifying and implementing technologies that enhance agronomic decision-making and business outcomes.Evaluate and support adoption of precision agriculture tools including remote sensing, satellite imagery, sensors, data analytics, automation, decision support systems, and variable-rate management technologies.Establish standards, best practices, and training programs to drive consistent adoption of precision agriculture solutions across North America.Provide strategic leadership and accountability for the McCain Research Farm, ensuring research priorities align with business needs, grower challenges, and agronomy strategy.Support Farm of the Future and Corporate Farm operations through agronomic leadership, crop planning, risk assessment, and field-scale research initiatives.Build strong relationships with growers, universities, industry partners, technology providers, and internal stakeholders while championing safe ways of working. What you’ll need to be successful.Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science or a related field required.Master’s degree in a related agricultural science discipline strongly preferred.Strong practical experience in full-cycle potato production, including crop agronomy, storage management, research execution, and grower extension.Demonstrated people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and development of technical teams.Experience influencing and delivering results through both direct and dotted-line leadership relationships.Strong knowledge of precision agriculture technologies, digital agronomy tools, data analytics, and decision-support platforms.Working knowledge of experimental design, applied field research, statistical interpretation, data quality management, and research reporting.Strong analytical, communication, interpersonal, and computer skills.Proven ability to build relationships with growers, industry organizations, academic partners, and cross-functional teams.Strong planning, prioritization, organizational, and project management skills.Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety and continuous improvement.Valid driv