Research Technician - Farm Operations

The Land Institute is seeking a Research Technician for Farm Operations in Salina, KS. The role involves supporting daily field operations, including plot maintenance, equipment management, and assisting research assistants. Responsibilities include field and lab work, data recording, and maintaining communication among staff. The ideal candidate is flexible, organized, and able to manage multiple tasks while working both independently and collaboratively with the research team.
Research Technician - Farm Operations





Who We Are + What We Do


The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, regenerative grain agriculture at a scale that matches the enormity of the intertwined climate, water, and food security crises. An independent 501c3 non-profit founded in 1976, the organization seeks to reconcile the human economy with nature's economy, starting with food. The transdisciplinary team of scientists, together with global partners, is developing new perennial grain crops, like Kernza©, and diverse cropping systems that function within nature's limits while researching the social transformation required for a just, perennial human future.





How You’d Fit In + Stand Out


As a Research Technician, you will support and enact the daily field operations of the research programs. You are flexible, as there is a wide variety of tasks and seasonal changes in workflows. Your daily tasks will include plot maintenance, maintaining and installing equipment, and assisting with the training and direction of research assistants. You are a team player and motivated to see more perennial grains on the landscape. You thrive when managing multiple tasks, projects, and timelines simultaneously under the direction of the Natural Science Research Director/ Farm Manager, sometimes working independently and at other times working collaboratively with research scientists and technicians.




Primary Responsibilities + Expectations


Field and Lab Work


Initiate, oversee, and maintain research plots through a variety of tasks that include sowing and transplanting, weeding, mowing, irrigating, applying fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide.
Sample and harvest field plots in accordance with research timelines
Process and clean post-harvest samples, including de-hulling, threshing, removing chaff, and collecting sample data such as biomass, seed size, thousand kernel seed weight, etc.
Carefully record the time and location of field operations in notebooks, spreadsheets, and online databases; maintain a system of organization consistent with research goals
Ensure that equipment and supplies are available, clean, and in good working order before, during, and after use
Assist with natural area management as requested, including burning, brush control, trail maintenance, and revegetation
Help install or remove high tunnels, tunnel covers, weed fabric, plot markers or fences, and temporary irrigation systems.
Assist with special events, including tent setup and teardown, signage, etc.
Assist with snow removal and spring campus clean-up.


Communication & Outreach


Maintain relationships, communication, and coordination between farm, operations, and research staff;




Organization & Management


Direct & oversee the work of research assistants in the field and seed cleaning tasks, as well as assisting with any necessary training
Help with post-harvest sample cleaning and help coordinate the use of cleaning equipment with research programs
Manage the Land Institute’s shared seed threshing/cleaning facilities, including space organization & scheduling, equipment maintenance & storage, and user training. This role could be expanded to include other specialized equipment or facilities that are designated for research.
Research and make recommendations about equipment features and integrations between equipment, and about new equipment purchase options.
Help to refine field and sample processing protocols


Diversity + Inclusion:


Participate in The Land Institute’s diversity initiatives
Develop, maintain, and honor relationships with diverse groups and people
Build relationships with diverse partners with a mind toward further collaboration


Organizational Competencies


Mission Driven: You are passionate about the mission of The Land Institute and are interested in aligning your skills and personal genius to benefit this work.
Courageous: You do not retreat or shy away from hard things. You face challenges and conflict with professionalism, grace, and resolve.
A Boundary Spanner: You bring an interdisciplinary skill set, and you model self-awareness in your own preferences. You are motivated to always be learning, and you adapt to span boundaries with people across a range of different perspectives.
Inspiring and Inspired: You are inspired by the people around you, finding and harnessing the genius in your colleagues to meet the organizational objectives, and you are inspiring to others through example and by working to realize your own genius.
Growth Mindset: You have the vulnerability to know what you don’t know, admit your flaws, and learn from others to grow and develop yourself and the organization.
A Creative Collaborator: You believe in the power of a diverse collective to generate ideas and solutions. You excel at strategic thinking, being open to new perspectives, and managing innovation. You bring a playful, positive approach to the work and like meeting new people and deepening connections with those you already know.
Excited by change: You embrace nascent and evolving situations and enjoy engaging new people, ideas, and possibilities. You think about change holistically: internal, external, organizational, and cultural. You like iterating systems, building efficiency, and operationalizing design. You are willing to jump in and contribute to new projects as needed.


Who you are


You hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field (e.g., Agronomy/management, weed science, crop protection, or agricultural science-related field)
You have experience working outdoors in extreme conditions
Background in agriculture, farming, agronomy, or a related field
Interested in a career related to agriculture, agronomy, and sustainable food systems
Good communication skills, both written and oral
Basic math skills and numerical literacy
Computer literacy: able to use word processing and spreadsheet applications
Observe safety and security procedures; use equipment and materials properly
Demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness; look for ways to improve and promote quality
Ability to work well with others throughout the organization to build positive teamwork


Qualifications that could help you succeed:


Experience with farm and threshing equipment operation, repair, and transport (particularly with trailers, tractors, zero-turn mowers, etc.)


Combined field research and farm operation experience




Hours


Generally available to work forty hours per week, primarily during 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Central Time on weekdays when most staff and collaborators are working. We are flexible for caregivers who might need to provide rides or support, attend appointments, or be available for caregiving.




Location + Travel


This in-person role is grounded in the Central Great Plains at our Salina, KS, campus, but may occasionally require travel for fieldwork, sourcing equipment, etc. Primary travel will happen in the United States.




Environmental + Working Conditions


Ability to work outdoors, sometimes in inclement weather.
Work primarily in the field in the summer, often in extreme heat
Work in a farm office or research setting in the off-season
Physical fitness is required for manual weeding, harvesting, and other fieldwork
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs


Compensation + Benefits


This is a permanent position, starting as soon as possible, ideally in May 2026. The salary range for this position is $45,968-$55,000 annually, depending on experience.





The Land Institute offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary commensurate with experience.


Remote-friendly work environment
Paid parental leave
Competitive, equitable compensation
403(b) Retirement
403(b) Employer contributions
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Employer-Provided Life Insurance
Flexible Spending Account
Dependent Care
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Voluntary Life Insurance
Accidental Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid holidays
Generous paid time off
Complete laptop workstation and set up for remote work


The Land Institute is an equal opportunity employer and embraces the opportunity to provide employment to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. We are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.