Soil Health Specialist (Fixed Term)

Soil Health Specialist - Full-time; Term ending March 31, 2028\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe Soil Health Specialist is responsible for providing scientific and technical leadership in the collection, management, analysis, interpretation, and communication of soil health data across OSCIA's applied research portfolio. The incumbent serves as OSCIA's technical lead for soil health monitoring and assessment activities within the On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring (ONFARM) Program and provides specialized expertise to Living Lab Ontario and other research initiatives involving soil health, agronomic performance, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe position supports the development and evaluation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that improve soil function, productivity, environmental outcomes, and long-term farm sustainability. Working collaboratively with researchers, government agencies, academic institutions, industry partners, producer organizations, and farmers, the Soil Health Specialist transforms complex datasets into meaningful scientific insights and practical recommendations that support farmer decision-making, program development, policy advancement, and knowledge transfer activities.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe incumbent is responsible for developing and maintaining soil health data governance frameworks, ensuring scientific rigor in data collection and analysis, supporting research publications, and advancing Ontario's capacity to monitor and evaluate soil health outcomes through applied agricultural research.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nKey Responsibilities & Duties:\r\n\r\nSoil Health Research and Technical Leadership\r\n\r\n\r\n\tProvide technical leadership for soil health monitoring, assessment, and interpretation activities within ONFARM and other OSCIA research initiatives.\r\n\tSupport the design, implementation, and evaluation of applied research projects focused on soil health improvement, regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship.\r\n\tContribute scientific expertise to research planning, proposal development, experimental design, and performance measurement frameworks.\r\n\tProvide technical guidance related to soil organic carbon, aggregate stability, soil biology, nutrient cycling, infiltration, compaction, soil structure, microbial activity, soil respiration, and other indicators of soil function.\r\n\tSupport development of standardized soil health assessment methodologies and monitoring protocols across OSCIA research programs.\r\n\tIdentify emerging soil health research priorities and opportunities that support Ontario agriculture and environmental sustainability goals.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nSoil Health Monitoring Framework Development\r\n\r\n\r\n\tLead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of soil health monitoring, assessment, and reporting frameworks across OSCIA research initiatives.\r\n\tEstablish and maintain standardized approaches for soil health data collection, quality assurance, governance, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.\r\n\tSupport the identification and validation of meaningful soil health indicators that support farmer decision-making, BMP evaluation, and program performance measurement.\r\n\tDevelop methodologies for interpreting soil health outcomes across varying soil types, production systems, climatic conditions, and geographic regions.\r\n\tCollaborate with government, academic, and industry partners to advance soil health monitoring capacity and consistency across Ontario.\r\n\tSupport the integration of soil health indicators into broader environmental and sustainability performance frameworks.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nData Management, Analysis and Interpretation\r\n\r\n\r\n\tLead the collection, organization, validation, quality control, and management of soil health datasets from ONFARM trial sites and other OSCIA research projects.\r\n\tDevelop and maintain analysis-ready datasets through implementation of rigorous data quality assurance and quality control procedures.\r\n\tIntegrate soil health, agronomic, management, environmental, weather, and economic datasets to support comprehensive research analyses.\r\n\tApply advanced statistical and data science approaches to evaluate soil health trends and quantify the impacts of BMP adoption on soil function, productivity, environmental outcomes, and system resilience.\r\n\tAnalyze relationships between management practices and soil health outcomes across diverse production systems and environmental conditions.\r\n\tDevelop predictive and comparative analyses to identify BMP effectiveness across regions, soil types, and agricultural production systems.\r\n\tCreate data visualizations, dashboards, technical summaries, and reporting tools that support interpretation and communication of research findings.\r\n\tSupport the development of long-term datasets that enable trend analysis and evaluation of soil health outcomes over time.\r\n\tCollaborate with OSCIA's Water Quality Specialist to explore the relationships between soil health and water quality and to provide BMP recommendations to improve crop productivity, soil health and water quality.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBest Management Practice Evaluation and Development\r\n\r\n\r\n\tConduct robust evaluation of soil health BMPs including cover crops, reduced tillage, strip tillage, diverse crop rotations, nutrient stewardship practices, manure and compost applications, erosion control practices, and other regenerative agriculture approaches.\r\n\tAssess relationships among BMP implementation, soil health indicators, agronomic performance, environmental outcomes, and economic considerations.\r\n\tInterpret research findings to develop science-based recommendations that support BMP adoption and implementation.\r\n\tIdentify opportunities to improve soil health outcomes through management changes and innovative production practices.\r\n\tSupport development of technical guidance documents, decision-support tools, BMP frameworks, and implementation resources for Ontario farmers and agricultural professionals.\r\n\tCollaborate with researchers and stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps and future BMP research priorities.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nScientific Reporting and Knowledge Development\r\n\r\n\r\n\tLead the conceptualization, preparation, and publication of peer-reviewed scientific papers, technical reports, white papers, conference proceedings, and research summaries.\r\n\tContribute scientific expertise to collaborative research publications involving academic institutions, government agencies, conservation organizations, and industry partners.\r\n\tPrepare technical analyses, performance reports, and scientific summaries required by funding agencies and project partners.\r\n\tSupport development of funding proposals, research applications, and strategic initiatives through technical input and scientific expertise.\r\n\tEnsure scientific integrity, methodological rigor, and technical accuracy across all research outputs and deliverables.\r\n\tPresent research findings at conferences, workshops, technical meetings, and industry events.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nKnowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT)\r\n\r\n\r\n\tSupport the translation of soil health research findings into practical and accessible resources for farmers, agronomists, industry partners, conservation professionals, and policymakers.\r\n\tCollaborate with OSCIA's Knowledge Translation and Transfer Specialist and Communications team to develop BMP guides, fact sheets, case studies, technical bulletins, presentations, webinars, videos, and extension materials.\r\n\tProvide technical expertise to support development of farmer-focused recommendations and educational resources.\r\n\tParticipate in field days, workshops, conferences, demonstrations, and outreach activities that promote soil health adoption.\r\n\tSupport the communication of research outcomes through multiple channels and audiences while maintaining scientific accuracy.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nPartnerships and Stakeholder Engagement\r\n\r\n\r\n\tBuild and maintain collaborative relationships with government agencies, academic institutions, conservation organizations, producer groups, industry partners, consultants, and farmers.\r\n\tParticipate in technical advisory committees, research working groups, steering committees, and stakeholder meetings.\r\n\tCollaborate with researchers and project partners to advance soil health monitoring, research, and knowledge transfer objectives.\r\n\tRepresent OSCIA at conferences, workshops, stakeholder events, and industry meetings.\r\n\tFacilitate knowledge exchange among researchers, policymakers, industry professionals, extension specialists, and producers.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nProgram Support and Reporting\r\n\r\n\r\n\tSupport performance measurement, reporting, evaluation, and continuous improvement activities associated with ONFARM and other OSCIA research programs.\r\n\tAssist with project planning, deliverable tracking, budget monitoring, and contribution agreement reporting.\r\n\tSupport development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to soil health data collection, management, governance, and analysis.\r\n\tContribute to audits, evaluations, compliance activities, and performance reviews associated with funded research programs.\r\n\tSupport the continuous improvement of research systems, data infrastructure, and analytical approaches.\r\n\tOther duties as assigned\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nQualifications & Skills:\r\n\r\nEducation:\r\n\r\nA Doctoral degree in Soil Science, Agronomy, Environmental Science, Agricultural Systems or a closely related discipline is required.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nCandidates with a research-based master’s degree with commensurate work experience relevant to the above responsibilities will be considered.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nProfessional Credentials:\r\n\r\nCertified Crop Advisor (CCA), Professional Agrologist (PAg), Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS), or equivalent professional designation is considered an asset.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nYears of Experience:\r\n\r\nMinimum five (5) years of progressive experience in soil health research, agronomy, environmental monitoring, applied agricultural research, or related disciplines.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nSpecific Experience:\r\n\r\n\r\n\tDemonstrated experience preparing analysis-ready soil health datasets, including quality control, data cleaning, normalization, and interpretation of laboratory and field-derived soil health indicators.\r\n\tExperience working with soil health metrics such as soil organic carbon, active carbon, aggregate stability, infiltration, bulk density, soil respiration, microbial activity, nutrient dynamics, and related indicators.\r\n\tExperience integrating soil health, agronomic, weather, environmental, management, and economic datasets for research purposes.\r\n\tDemonstrated experience applying statistical and data science methods to evaluate BMP effectiveness and environmental outcomes.\r\n\tExperience with statistical software such as R, Python, SAS, SPSS, or equivalent analytical platforms.\r\n\tExperience developing data visualizations, dashboards, and decision-support tools.\r\n\tDemonstrated technical writing skills, including authorship of scientific publications, technical reports, white papers, or industry resources.\r\n\tExperience working collaboratively with government agencies, academic institutions, conservation organizations, industry groups, and agricultural producers.\r\n\tUnderstanding of data governance, data security, privacy, and information-sharing principles.\r\n\tExperience supporting applied agricultural research programs and contribution-funded projects.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nKnowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):\r\n\r\nKnowledge:\r\n\r\n\r\n\tDeep understanding of soil health principles, soil processes, nutrient cycling, soil biology, and agricultural production systems.\r\n\tKnowledge of Ontario cropping systems and BMPs related to soil conservation and environmental stewardship.\r\n\tUnderstanding of applied research methodologies, experimental design, and environmental monitoring programs.\r\n\tFamiliarity with sustainability metrics, climate adaptation strategies, and regenerative agriculture systems.\r\n\tKnowledge of data governance, research integrity, quality assurance, and scientific best practices.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nSkills:\r\n\r\n\r\n\tStatistical analysis and interpretation.\r\n\tScientific writing and publication development.\r\n\tResearch design and evaluation.\r\n\tData management, visualization, and reporting.\r\n\tProject management and organization.\r\n\tStakeholder engagement and facilitation.\r\n\tTechnical presentation and communication.\r\n\tProficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, R, Python, GIS applications, and database systems.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nAbilities:\r\n\r\n\r\n\tAbility to synthesize complex scientific information into practical and actionable recommendations.\r\n\tAbility to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.\r\n\tAbility to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.\r\n\tAbility to communicate effectively with researchers, producers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.\r\n\tAbility to develop innovative solutions to emerging soil health and sustainability challenges.\r\n\tAbility to maintain scientific rigor, objectivity, accuracy, and attention to detail.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBehaviour Competencies:\r\n\r\n\r\n\tAdaptability: Demonstrate a willingness to be flexible, versatile, and dynamic in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.\r\n\tEthical Behaviour: Ensure personal behaviours align with the Association's core values and code of conduct.\r\n\tRelationship Development: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, internally and externally.\r\n\tEffective Communication: Speak, listen, and write in a precise, clear, and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools.\r\n\tClient Focus: Anticipate clients' needs and respond in an appropriate and timely manner, seeking to provide the highest quality service.\r\n\tTeamwork Development: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve challenges, and make decisions that enhance cross-functional cooperation.\r\n\tInitiative: Ability to assess and initiate tasks independently.\r\n\tDecision-Making: Assess role-based situations to determine importance, risks, and make clear decisions in a timely manner.\r\n\tTime Management and Organization: Set priorities, develop task schedules, and monitor progress towards deadlines.\r\n\tProblem-Solving: View problems as learning opportunities and focus on improving future results.\r\n\tFoster Sustainability: Ensure the work we do improves the viability and sustainability of rural Ontario and Ontario agriculture.\r\n\tContinuous Learning: Participate in an environment of professional development and personal growth.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWorking Conditions / Physical Demands:\r\n\r\n\r\n\tHybrid work model combining remote and in-office work with a minimum of two (2) days per week in-person, with the position based in Guelph, ON.\r\n\tFrequent travel throughout Ontario to research sites, ONFARM trial locations, stakeholder meetings, conferences, workshops, and field events.\r\n\tField work may require walking on uneven terrain and working in varying weather conditions.\r\n\tHome office settings require a dependable, high-speed internet connection to ensure effective participation in virtual meetings and online collaboration.\r\n\tMay require occasional work outside of standard business hours to support meetings, events, and project requirements.\r\n\tRequires regular use of a computer; prolonged sitting, typing, and screen time required.\r\n\tMust be adaptable to a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and time-sensitive deadlines.\r\n\tMust hold and maintain a valid driver's licence and have access to reliable transportation.\r\n\tMust maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality when handling sensitive research and organizational information.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nInterested in joining our team? Please click on APPLY TO THIS POSITION to submit your application.\r\n