Testing Research Associate

As a Testing Research Associate, you'll play a hands-on role in advancing the vegetable testing pipeline through high-quality field and protected culture research.

Working within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of breeders, horticultural scientists, data scientists, and growers, you'll plan and execute trials, manage crops, collect and analyse data, and generate insights that support product development and commercial decisions.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining practical field-based research with data analysis and problem-solving, while working with global teams to influence the future of vegetable crop development.

Role Responsibilities

• Plan and execute field and protected culture (greenhouse) trials across vegetable crops, primarily onions and spinach, with exposure to additional crops as required
• Collect, manage, validate, and analyse high-quality trial data using digital tools, internal systems, and mobile technologies
• Apply agronomic practices, crop management expertise, and trial data to support breeding decisions and pipeline advancement
• Contribute to the development, execution, and continuous improvement of testing plans and trial protocols aligned to business objectives
• Collaborate with breeding, R&D, commercial, and market development teams to deliver trial objectives and product advancement goals
• Operate, maintain, and support the calibration of research equipment while ensuring quality, stewardship, and compliance requirements are met
• Build and maintain strong relationships with growers, external partners, and other stakeholders to ensure successful trial execution and data integrity
• Translate trial results into meaningful insights, recommendations, and agronomic knowledge to support breeding and commercial decisions
• Collaborate with local and international stakeholders across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and North America
• Explore and adopt new technologies, tools, and processes to improve research efficiency, capacity, data quality, and compliance with quality, stewardship, and safety standards.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in Plant Science, Horticulture, Agronomy, Biology, or a related field
• Experience in crop management, field trials, agricultural research, or commercial crop production, ideally within a vegetable production environment
• Strong trial planning, data collection, data management, and analytical skills, with the ability to generate actionable insights from complex datasets
• Experience using digital technologies, mobile devices, and data systems to support research activities
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build relationships across teams, growers, external partners, and international stakeholders
• Strong project planning and organisational skills, with the ability to work autonomously, make informed decisions, and manage competing priorities
• Ability to work in a hands-on outdoor environment and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative team setting
• Flexibility to travel regularly throughout New Zealand and Australia (approximately 30–40%), and hold a current driver's licence