Farm Manager

Job Description

This position provides direct support and managerial oversight for farm operations at Virginia Tech's Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center (Tidewater AREC) located in Suffolk, Virginia. The Tidewater AREC is one of eleven off campus units within Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

In this role the Research Farm and Operations Manager coordinates farm operations and maintenance on the 465-acre AREC with nine resident faculty members and a large technical support staff conducting research programs in production of economically important crops including soybean, cotton, peanut, corn, grain sorghum and small grains.

The individual in this position is responsible for conducting farming operations at the AREC in a coordinated manner with faculty and staff as required to achieve the research and Extension mission of the AREC. This includes oversight and maintenance of land, equipment and infrastructure, procurement of agricultural and related supplies, sale of excess agricultural commodities, record keeping and required reporting as necessary for research and regulatory requirements.

The Research Farm and Operations Manager reports administratively to the AREC Director and plays a key coordinating role with AREC faculty, the technical staff that they supervise, and other Virginia Tech researchers that may be conducting research at the AREC.

Virginia Tech is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this vacancy.

Required Qualifications

• A four-year degree in agricultural sciences or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working knowledge of agricultural production practices and ability to operate farm machinery safely and effectively including tractors, planters, cultivators, combines, sprayers, harvesters and related equipment.
• Managerial capability to prioritize daily, weekly and seasonal tasks and to coordinate these tasks with faculty and technical staff conducting applied research and Extension programs at the AREC.
• Computer skills of the level necessary to facilitate record keeping and data management as required for management of the research farm.
• Must have a valid driver's license, good driving record and must have or obtain within 6 months of hire date a Virginia Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License Category 10 (Demonstration and Research Pest Control).
• Requires a commercial driver's license with a Class A endorsement and a DOT medical certification to be obtained within 12 months of start date.

Preferred Qualifications

• College level training and work experience with agricultural research techniques.
• Demonstrated experience in agricultural research or production in a team environment.
• Working knowledge of soil and water conservation and protection practices.

Pay Band

4

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$60,000 - $75,000; commensurate with experience

Hours per week

40

Review Date

January 9, 2026

Additional Information

In addition to providing a resume and references, please provide responses to the (4) mandatory questions:
Please provide your experience with providing oversight and maintenance of agricultural land, equipment, and infrastructure.
Please expound upon any supervisory experience you may have.
Please provide your experience/working knowledge operating farm machinery safely and effectively including tractors, planters, cultivators, combines, sprayers, harvesters and related equipment.
Please provide any recordkeeping and reporting for research and regulatory requirements experience you may have.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College .The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes .A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance . These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Hunter Frameat whframe@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

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