Director of Agronomy

Director of Agronomy - Black Gold Farms is seeking a strategic agronomy leader to shape the future of crop performance, regenerative agriculture, sustainability, variety strategy, and production innovation across a national farming footprint.

Position Summary

The Director of Agronomy is a senior leadership role responsible for setting and advancing Black Gold Farms’ enterprise agronomy strategy. This leader will develop the people, systems, partnerships, and technical direction needed to improve crop performance, quality, storability, sustainability, and long-term production resilience across a diverse, multi-state farming footprint. The role carries strategic accountability for agronomic R&D, regenerative agriculture, progress toward company 2030 goals, variety and genetics strategy, seed-related agronomic priorities, and the translation of science-based insight into consistent commercial execution.

Reports To: Chief Production Officer

Base Location: Grand Forks, ND preferred; other Black Gold Farms locations may be considered for the right candidate (locations include Winamac, IN; Sturgis, MI; Arbyrd, MO; Charleston, MO; Harrellsville, NC).

Compensation: Base wage rate will depend on an individuals experience. The wage rate will start at $150,000 and will be adjusted relative to each individual's qualifications and experience. An incentive bonus of potentially 35% of a person's base wage rate is also offered.

Travel: Approximately 30–40% travel to production locations, industry events, internal meetings, and partner visits.

What You’ll Do

As Director of Agronomy, you will serve as the enterprise leader for agronomic performance and innovation. You will shape production priorities, guide technical standards, develop high-impact research and sustainability programs, lead variety, genetics, and seed-related strategy, and influence decisions that affect crop quality, customer value, environmental stewardship, and business performance.

• Set and lead enterprise agronomy strategy to improve yield, quality, storability, sustainability, crop resilience, and profitability across Black Gold Farms’ production regions.
• Lead regenerative agriculture strategy and execution, including measurable progress toward Black Gold Farms’ 2030 sustainability goals.
• Provide leadership and direction for the R&D and Sustainability Manager, ensuring research, innovation, sustainability, and regenerative agriculture priorities are aligned with business strategy and operational execution.
• Lead variety, genetics, and seed-related agronomic strategy, including evaluation, selection, commercialization, seed quality considerations, and long-term improvement of varieties that support customer expectations, storability, quality, and production performance.
• Translate science, data, and field experience into practical standards, recommendations, and best practices that can be executed consistently across regions.
• Define research priorities, guide field trials, evaluate performance data, and ensure high-value learnings are converted into commercial impact.
• Partner with operations leadership, farm managers, regional agronomists, and farm teams to solve production challenges, build alignment, and accelerate continuous improvement.
• Build agronomic capability across the organization by coaching, developing, and aligning agronomy team members around clear priorities, expectations, and outcomes.
• Represent Black Gold Farms with customers, universities, suppliers, seed partners, industry organizations, and external technical experts.
• Keep Black Gold Farms positioned at the forefront of agronomic innovation, including variety development, seed quality, crop protection, fertility, irrigation, storage quality, regenerative agriculture, sustainability, and production technology.
• Communicate complex agronomic insights clearly and credibly to executive leadership, operations teams, customers, and external partners.

What We’re Looking For

• M.S. degree or higher in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Science, Soil Science, or a related field preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressive production agronomy experience preferred, including meaningful experience with potato production.
• Experience with potato seed production, seed quality, seed certification, or seed supply systems is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to set agronomic strategy across multiple geographies, crops, production systems, and operating teams.
• Strong technical foundation in crop physiology, soil and water management, soil health, crop inputs, pest and disease management, production economics, regenerative agriculture, sustainability programs, and crop quality expectations.
• Demonstrated success leading research programs, variety evaluation, genetics strategy, field trials, data-driven decision-making, and commercial adoption of best practices.
• Executive-level communication and influence skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into clear direction for farm teams, leadership, customers, vendors, and industry partners.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop talented teams in a collaborative, employee- and customer-focused culture.
• Comfortable leading in a fast-paced agricultural environment where priorities can shift based on weather, crop conditions, customer needs, market expectations, and operational demands.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a strategic agronomy leader who combines deep technical credibility with the ability to influence commercial execution across a complex, multi-region farming organization. They are energized by building systems, developing people, and turning research, data, and field experience into practical decisions that improve crop performance and business results. This leader will bring strong potato production knowledge, an understanding of variety, genetics, and seed systems, and the executive presence to represent Black Gold Farms with customers, industry partners, universities, and internal leadership.

Why Join Black Gold Farms?

• Step into a highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to shape the future of agronomy, regenerative agriculture, sustainability, variety strategy, and crop performance for a respected family-owned agricultural company.
• Influence strategic decisions across a broad production footprint while working with experienced farm teams, operations leaders, customers, seed partners, and industry partners.
• Advance research, innovation, genetics, seed quality focus, and best management practices that directly impact crop performance, customer value, and long-term business results.
• Build agronomic capability, develop people, and help position Black Gold Farms for long-term resilience and continued growth.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Black Gold Farms is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Pay: From $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) 5% Match
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid jury duty
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Safety equipment provided
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you now, or will you in the future, require sponsorship to work in the US?

Education:

• Master's (Preferred)

Experience:

• agronomic: 10 years (Preferred)
• production agriculture: 10 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $160,000