Project Coordinator

The Seed Farm at Princeton University is accepting applications for a project coordinator. The Seed Farm is a research lab that grows rare, culturally-meaningful crops with university-based and community-based collaborators to preserve agro-biodiversity and conduct research into regenerative agriculture, seed stock, and germplasm.  Our field operations are based at the Stony Ford Research Station in Princeton, NJ where we manage 3 acres of crops including annual and perennial specimens. 

The project manager at The Seed Farm will be in charge of field operations, team management, and stakeholder engagement.  This will include managing planning, planting, field management, harvest, and communication with PIs and other collaborators.  The Seed Farm hosts teams of undergraduate research assistants, classes, and volunteer groups to accomplish the work of the project throughout the academic year.  We also liase with over a dozen community-based stakeholders and collaborators.  The project manager will interface with both undergraduates and stakeholders to accomplish the field operations of the project and collect field data from experiments.

This work is year-round, though tasks vary based on the season.     

This is a part-time, three-year term, benefits eligible position. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume with their application.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing field operations for The Seed Farm at Princeton. The project manager will ensure seasonal tasks are accomplished on time, including planning and executing the communicated research design and maintaining the designs throughout the growing season.  This will include evaluating and adjusting soil amendments per specifications, preparing and overseeing plantings, addressing issues that come up in real time including climate and pest fluctuations, and managing data collection and harvest of specimens at the proper time. 
• Overseeing the field work of undergraduate research assistants who intern over the summer and who volunteer throughout the academic year. This will include drafting weekly work plans and checklists, designating point people for specific tasks, and ensuring that those tasks are completed or adjusted as needed.   
• Working with various stakeholders--especially community-based partners and collaborators--to assess their needs and ensure that the field operations of The Seed Farm align with and contribute the goals of our collaborative projects. This will include planning meetings in the spring to develop crop plans and designs, developing a timeline that ensures proper temporal and spatial isolation distances are observed across plant specimens, sharing progress reports at the mid-point and end of the growing season, and seeking stakeholder consultation if unforeseen circumstances arise in the course of field operations.
• Participating in on-going training and workshops as needed to stay current on new approaches in regenerative agriculture and research.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent
• 5+ years work experience
• Knowledge of agroecology and regenerative field practices
• Familiarity with scientific research design
• Ability to effectively manage teams of students
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholder groups including campus colleagues and community-based collaborators
• Attention to detail, flexibility, and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA or MA in field related to environmental sustainability
• Experience with community-engaged research methods

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

The University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's qualifications, work experience, education/training, key skills, market, collective bargaining agreements as applicable, and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The posted salary range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate for a full-time position; salaries for part-time positions are pro-rated accordingly.

If the salary range on the posted position shows an hourly rate, this is the baseline; the actual hourly rate may be higher, depending on the position and factors listed above.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. Please see this link for more information.