Senior Level Agriculture Jobs
Senior level agriculture jobs put experienced professionals in charge of operations, research direction, and the teams or projects that drive outcomes across the full production or science cycle. Hiring concentrates in Education and Hospitality & Tourism, with employers like Trucordia, Banjo Corporation, and Smithsonian Institution hiring at this level now.
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DUTY LOCATION: Edgewater, Maryland
Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-sensitive (NS)/High Risk
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
- Complete a Probationary Period.
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
OVERVIEW
SERC’s 2,650-acre campus serves as a living laboratory for long-term ecosystem research across forests, farmland, wetlands, shorelines, and estuaries. Located within a rural landscape yet adjacent to the Baltimore–Washington–Annapolis urban corridor on the Chesapeake Bay, SERC occupies a central position within the Bay’s watershed. Our community of approximately 150 staff—including principal investigators, educators, technicians, postdocs, and student researchers—collaborates annually with interns, more than 500 volunteers, and 25,000 public visitors.
This position reports to the Associate Director for Research, serves as a Principal Investigator, and leads an independent research program at SERC. The ideal candidate will collaborate effectively with a diverse community of staff, students, volunteers, visitors, and partners to develop a high-impact research program.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Our goal is to establish a research program that addresses key agricultural sustainability challenges—spanning agrivoltaics, regenerative practices, forestry, soil and nutrient management, and water systems—through an integrated, systems-level framework across ecological, technological, economic, and social domains. We also anticipate that the research program will use SERC as a model landscape and conduct comparative studies across other local, regional, and global sites as appropriate. The research is highly innovative, encompassing multiple distinct and complex thematic areas.
- Expertise in physical science disciplines (e.g., soil chemistry, soil physics, geochemistry, biogeochemistry, or hydrology) and experience conducting research in both field and laboratory settings related to agroecology, sustainable agriculture, forestry, and allied areas (see qualification requirements).
- Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with research institutions, organizations, and the public to support and advance program goals.
- Examines the physical and chemical properties of environmental media (e.g., air, water, soil, and sediments), including nutrient fate and transport, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and chemical transformations. These processes underpin understanding of environmental system function, pollutant behavior, and the measurement, modeling, and assessment of environmental conditions. Although the work supports environmental outcomes, it primarily emphasizes the quantitative analysis and modeling of physical and chemical processes rather than biological or ecological systems.
- Knowledge of research design, planning, and implementation for investigating ecological processes in field and laboratory settings.
- This research program addresses critical challenges through the integrated use of field and laboratory studies, instrumentation, sensors, and computational tools to produce ecological and environmental data aligned with SERC themes. The work requires significant independence and judgment in determining research priorities and approaches.
- Develops innovative and competitive research proposals that support program goals and advance research priorities. Identifies and pursues promising research opportunities aligned with agency needs and the current state of the science.
- Responds to funding opportunities from both internal SI sources and diverse external sponsors, including federal agencies (e.g., U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA, U.S. Geological Survey, National Science Foundation), state natural resource agencies, non-governmental organizations, private foundations, and international entities.
- Coordinates proposal development with the Smithsonian Office of Sponsored Projects and SERC leadership. Prepares and manages budgets covering research travel, supplies, equipment, and personnel.
- Develops position descriptions and secures funding to support staffing needs associated with funded projects. May serve as principal investigator and/or co-investigator on multiple proposals and projects.
- Prepares reports and delivers presentations summarizing research findings, network accomplishments, and program outcomes.
- Disseminates methods, results, and impacts through digital and virtual platforms.
- Publishes and communicates original and applied research on ecological and physical processes, drawing on disciplines such as chemistry, physics, geochemistry, hydrology, and atmospheric science to evaluate environmental conditions in field and laboratory settings.
- Communications are informed by the analysis and interpretation of complex experimental, long-term, and large-scale datasets and align with the program’s overall research goals and objectives. Authors and disseminates findings to advance understanding of research techniques and ecological processes.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements
A Ph.D. in a physical science, engineering, or mathematics field that included at least 24 semester hours (at the bachelor’s level or higher) in physical science and/or related engineering sciences (e.g., mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, electronics);
OR
A combination of education and specialized experience that includes coursework equivalent to a major in one of the fields listed above, with at least 24 semester hours in physical science or related disciplines (e.g., physics, chemistry, geology, earth science, soil science, atmospheric or environmental science, or applied mathematics), along with appropriate experience and/or additional education.
Applicants must demonstrate experience in the following areas:
- Physical science disciplines such as soil chemistry, soil physics, soil geochemistry, biogeochemistry, or hydrology
- Ecovoltaics, agrivoltaics, agroecology, sustainable agriculture, or the impacts of agriculture on terrestrial and aquatic systems
- Securing research funding through competitive internal and/or external sources
- Publishing data-rich research with regional and/or national significance
- Presenting research findings to scientific and broader audiences
The application package must include both; Resume and Cover letter. A personal summary is optional.
Resumes must include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact SERC_HR@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
About Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
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Application Deadline
July 31, 2026
Department
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Employment Type
Full Time
Location
Edgewater, MD
Workplace type
Onsite
Compensation
$121,785 / year
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Who's Hiring


Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Hospitality & Tourism
Senior Level Agriculture Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level agriculture job?
Employers hiring at the senior level look for candidates who have owned outcomes, not just contributed to them. Highlight projects where you set the technical direction, managed cross-functional teams, or solved complex problems with measurable results. Deep expertise in a specific discipline, whether agronomy, supply chain, or agricultural science, combined with a record of mentoring others, consistently sets senior candidates apart.
Which companies hire senior level agricultures?
Companies hiring senior level agricultures right now include Trucordia, Banjo Corporation, and Smithsonian Institution, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from large agribusiness corporations, food and beverage producers, agricultural technology firms, and research-driven organizations that need experienced professionals to lead programs and manage teams.
Are there remote senior level agriculture jobs?
Yes, though many senior agriculture roles are tied to specific sites, facilities, or field operations. About 67% of senior level agriculture openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with remote opportunities more common in roles focused on data, policy, research, or program management than in hands-on production or field-based positions.
What makes a agriculture role senior level?
A senior agriculture role is defined by the scope of ownership and the complexity of problems you are expected to solve independently. Senior professionals set technical or operational direction, mentor junior and mid-level colleagues, and are accountable for outcomes rather than tasks. The expectation shifts from executing work to designing how that work gets done and ensuring others can carry it forward.
Which industries hire the most senior level agricultures?
Senior Level agriculture roles concentrate in Education and Hospitality & Tourism, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. These sectors drive demand because they require experienced leaders who can manage large-scale production systems, navigate regulatory complexity, or lead research programs that have direct commercial or environmental impact.