The J.R. Simplot Company — one of America’s largest and most respected privately held global food and agriculture companies, headquartered in Boise, Idaho — is seeking a highly motivated Assistant Agronomist to join its world-class Simplot Plant Sciences R&D team. This is a rare and genuinely exciting opportunity to support cutting-edge biotechnology and breeding research focused on the genetic improvement of potatoes and other crops — working across greenhouse operations, tissue culture labs, and field trial programs in one of the USA’s premier agricultural science environments.
About J.R. Simplot Company — America’s Farm-to-Table Agricultural Giant
Company Type: Diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho — one of the largest in the USA
Philosophy: A true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio spanning food processing, food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching, and cattle production
R&D Division: Simplot Plant Sciences — dedicated to advancing crop improvement through biotechnology, breeding, and applied agricultural science
Focus Crop: Potato genetic improvement and other crop biotechnology programs using leading-edge science and field trial methodologies
Culture: Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and a multi-disciplinary team environment that values every contributor
Why Simplot Plant Sciences — A Career at the Forefront of Agricultural Biotechnology
Innovation Mission: Simplot Plant Sciences is actively working to genetically improve potato and other crops through biotechnology and breeding — your work contributes to real, measurable advances in food security
Boise, Idaho: Home to one of America’s most vibrant agricultural research ecosystems, positioned in the heart of the USA’s most important potato-producing region
Multi-Disciplinary Team: Work alongside biotechnology scientists, plant breeders, pathologists, and agronomists in a collaborative R&D environment that values diverse expertise
Career Foundation: Build a strong applied agricultural science career within a Fortune-500-scale private company that values professional growth and scientific excellence
Position Overview
The Assistant Agronomist at Simplot Plant Sciences will support the Agronomic Sciences Team in carrying out greenhouse, tissue culture lab, seed production, and field trial programs focused on potato and other crop biotechnology. You will assist in data collection, phenotyping, and agronomic data management, perform seed preparation, planting, harvest, and post-harvest activities, support field and storage trial logistics, and become proficient with Biotechnology Quality Management Systems (BQMS) to ensure regulatory compliance and the tracking and containment of regulated plant materials. This is an ideal role for a motivated agriculture or plant science graduate ready to contribute to real-world crop improvement science.
Why This Assistant Agronomist Role at Simplot Stands Out: You will work at the very frontier of agricultural biotechnology — supporting potato and crop improvement programs that have global food security implications, gain hands-on experience across tissue culture, greenhouse management, field trials, and post-harvest research in a world-class R&D environment, build your BQMS, ISDA Pesticide Applicator License, and data management skills within a structured, globally recognized agricultural science organization, contribute to a true farm-to-table company whose integrated agricultural portfolio spans from potato genetics through to consumer food products on tables worldwide, and grow your agronomy career within one of America’s most respected and innovative privately held agricultural companies — the J.R. Simplot Company.
Key Responsibilities
Biotechnology Quality Management & Regulatory Compliance
- Become fully proficient with Biotechnology Quality Management Systems (BQMS) and all other in-house quality management platforms to ensure complete regulatory compliance across all research activities
- Ensure accurate tracking, containment, and management of all regulated plant materials in strict accordance with BQMS protocols and applicable biotechnology regulatory requirements
- Support documentation, reporting, and data management processes within the BQMS platform to maintain a complete and audit-ready regulatory compliance record for all research programs
Field & Storage Trials
- Assist with the establishment, maintenance, harvest, and grading of field and plot trials — supporting every stage of the agricultural trial lifecycle from site preparation through to post-harvest evaluation
- Carry out R&D field and storage trials in coordination with the Agronomic Sciences Team, following established protocols and quality plans for all trial activities
- Participate actively in all facets of project work including logistics planning, coordination, and inventory management to support efficient and accurate trial execution
- Perform seed preparation, planting, harvest, and post-harvest activities across assigned field trials and research programs with precision and attention to experimental protocols
Greenhouse & Tissue Culture Support
- Optimize existing methods and rapidly adapt new methods in tissue culture, greenhouse management, and field operations as directed by the Agronomic Sciences Team leadership
- Support greenhouse trial operations — managing plant material, monitoring growing conditions, and maintaining accurate records of all greenhouse research activities
- Assist with tissue culture laboratory procedures, plant propagation, and material management in support of Simplot Plant Sciences’ crop biotechnology research programs
Data Collection, Phenotyping & Management
- Ensure the accuracy and completeness of all agronomic data through rigorous phenotyping protocols and careful data collection throughout field, greenhouse, and laboratory trials
- Manage and organize trial data using designated data management systems, ensuring all records are complete, accurate, and available for analysis by the R&D science team
- Perform familiarity with field testing methodologies, data analysis procedures, and agronomic data reporting to support evidence-based research decision-making
- Troubleshoot, optimize, and validate agronomic and greenhouse assay procedures to ensure experimental quality and reproducibility across all research programs
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree (B.A. or B.S.) from a 4-year college or university in Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Science, Plant Pathology, Soil Fertility, or a closely related agricultural or biological science discipline
- A demonstrated competency in agronomy, horticulture, plant pathology, or soil fertility is highly desirable and will strengthen any candidate’s application for this role significantly
- Certifications Required
- Required & Preferred Certifications:
- Driver’s License — Required
- ISDA Pesticide Applicator License — Preferred or Willing to Acquire
- Experience & Competencies
- Preferably, experience in applied agricultural science — field research, greenhouse management, tissue culture, or crop trial operations in an academic or industry R&D environment
- Familiarity with field testing, agronomic data analysis, and data reporting using standard research tools and management platforms
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot, optimize, and validate agronomic and greenhouse assays and experimental procedures with scientific rigor
- Physical ability and willingness to perform all field and greenhouse tasks including the ability to lift up to 50 lbs during harvest, planting, and field operations
About J.R. Simplot Company — Feeding the World Through Agricultural Science
The J.R. Simplot Company is one of the most iconic and respected privately held agricultural companies in the United States — with roots going back to a single Idaho farm and a vision that has grown into a truly integrated global food and agriculture enterprise. Today, Simplot’s integrated portfolio spans food processing and consumer food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, commercial farming and ranching, cattle production, and the groundbreaking Simplot Plant Sciences division — where agricultural biotechnology and crop breeding science are actively working to improve the crops that feed the world.
As a proud Equal Opportunity Employer, J.R. Simplot Company considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status — building diverse, inclusive teams that reflect the full spectrum of American agricultural talent.
Career Excellence: Start your agricultural biotechnology career with one of America’s greatest farm-to-table companies — where Idaho’s potato fields and Boise’s R&D labs are both part of your daily working world.
Who Should Apply?
- Agronomy & Plant Science Graduates: With BSc in Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Science, or related fields — field trial, greenhouse, or tissue culture experience is a strong advantage
- Applied Agricultural Science Professionals: With hands-on experience in crop research, seed preparation, field trial management, and agricultural data collection in the USA
- Biotechnology R&D Assistants: With familiarity of quality management systems, regulated material tracking, and laboratory or greenhouse protocols in a plant science setting
- Data-Driven Agronomy Researchers: With phenotyping experience, data management skills, and the ability to work effectively within multi-disciplinary agricultural science teams
- ISDA Pesticide Applicator License Holders: Or candidates willing to acquire the certification — combined with a valid driver’s license and physical ability for field operations
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