Job Details

Seed Production Specialist- Root Vegetables

Illinois Foundation Seeds Inc. (IFSI) is an independent company delivering the leading research, product development, licensing, and production for the seed industry's sweet corn and field crops.

Our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Dedication, Collaboration, and Drive are the foundation of our success. We seek a Root Vegetable Seed Production Specialist that embodies and upholds these values in their daily work.

General Purpose:

The Seed Production Specialist- Root Vegetables is expected to be a self-starter with a strong sense of determination, taking a leadership role in this crucial part of our business. In this capacity, you will be responsible for overseeing the planning, organization, and execution of diverse tasks associated with supporting the root vegetable production program. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, possess a background in seed production, and demonstrate the ability to efficiently manage tasks.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Assist Seed Production Manager- Root Vegetables with monitoring production fields ensuring adherence to protocols are completed accurately and timely, this includes producer communication and documentation of activities
• Aid in activities related to root vegetable seed production in the field, cages, and greenhouses globally. Activities include purity grow-out design, seed preparation, planting, crop maintenance, pollination management, steckling harvests, culling and rogueing, and seed harvests
• Support Seed Production Manager- Root Vegetables with parent line evaluation and developing production data reports
• Assist with the production of carrot roots in the steckling nursery production
  • Aid in planning by ensuring adequate stock seed is available and quality information is up to date
  • Ensure that all parental seed sources are treated and shipped, along with any necessary planting supplies and equipment
  • Aid in calibrating research and commercial planters for desired plant population and with the planting of all seed sources for commercial, parental, and research root production
  • Conduct population counts at different times in the steckling nursery, requiring a minimum of two separate visits to the steckling nursery after planting and before harvest. Use population counts to determine and inform the production team of the root yield estimates so that seed production acres can be updated and shared with the producer accordingly
  • Prepare for steckling nursery harvest by printing bin ID tags
  • Support the root vegetable production program throughout the entirety of the steckling nursery harvest by overseeing labor crews, maintaining notes of descriptions of each parent line, capturing photos of each line, counting harvested roots, and assisting in the organization of the transport of the roots to their final production destinations
• Support Root Vegetable Research and Product Development Trials in the Western US
  • Coordinate planting timing with growers and/or trialing partners in key Western US production regions (California, Washington, Colorado, and potentially others)
  • Ensure necessary planting supplies and equipment are prepared and shipped to trial sites
  • Assist Research and Product Development teams with planting trials
  • Supervise trial progress by traveling to trial site locations at least two separate times between planting and evaluation to take stand counts and evaluate plant health, and update Research and Product Development teams accordingly
  • Assist Research and Product Development teams with trial evaluation by taking pictures and providing detailed descriptions of each trial plot
• Quality Control
  • Communicate instructions on seed sizing and quality sampling requirements to seed producers and conditioners
  • Maintain sample submission form templates for each laboratory
  • Identify the sampling requirements and communicate sampling instructions to the seed producers, conditioners, and warehouses
  • Submit samples received at IFSI Meridian office for required testing or projects
• Lead Purity Grow-Out Trials
  • Identify trial locations in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and trial type (greenhouse, cage, or open field)
  • Communicate sample requests with production partners and laboratories
  • Coordinate planning and planting trials with internal and external parties
  • Calibrate planting equipment for desired seed placement and plant population
  • Evaluate trials based on variety descriptions and provide detailed reports, on-type and off-type root counts, and pictures of each plot to the root vegetable production and product development teams
• Data Management and Entry
  • Populate and gather data for all IFSI standard root vegetable seed reports
  • Review and update quality testing results in necessary files and systems
  • Review and update field records based on field reports received from seed producers or accessed through the seed producer's software systems/web applications
  • Review and update processing records based on the processing information received from seed producers or accessed through the seed producer's software systems/web applications
  • Provide input and support in building and improving the Production System software platform
• Other General Tasks
  • Conduct seed quality or production improvement studies
  • Maintain professional relationship with third party seed production partners
  • Support seed quality, production improvement, or research studies

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Seed Science, or related field experience
• Previous experience in seed production or related field
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy in task execution
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Travel to off-site production locations and contra-season nurseries
• Valid driver's license and passport will also be required
• Capable of working long hours/weekends during critical periods of the growing season
• Capable of working in fields during periods of high heat, humidity, and rain
• Ability to lift 75 lbs

• Employees can expect to be paid between $55,700 to $83,600
• Additional compensation may include a bonus (if relevant)
• This salary range is merely an estimate and may vary based on market data/ranges, an applicant's skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors
• Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, life, STD, LTD, retirement, PTO etc
• Company provided vehicle

• Reports to the Seed Production Manager- Root Vegetables and will have supervisory responsibilities for Seasonal Labor