Soil Health Specialist

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Key Responsibilities & Duties:

Soil Health Research and Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership for soil health monitoring, assessment, and interpretation activities within ONFARM and other OSCIA research initiatives.
• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of applied research projects focused on soil health improvement, regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship.
• Contribute scientific expertise to research planning, proposal development, experimental design, and performance measurement frameworks.
• Provide 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.
• Support development of standardized soil health assessment methodologies and monitoring protocols across OSCIA research programs.
• Identify emerging soil health research priorities and opportunities that support Ontario agriculture and environmental sustainability goals.

Soil Health Monitoring Framework Development

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of soil health monitoring, assessment, and reporting frameworks across OSCIA research initiatives.
• Establish and maintain standardized approaches for soil health data collection, quality assurance, governance, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Support the identification and validation of meaningful soil health indicators that support farmer decision-making, BMP evaluation, and program performance measurement.
• Develop methodologies for interpreting soil health outcomes across varying soil types, production systems, climatic conditions, and geographic regions.
• Collaborate with government, academic, and industry partners to advance soil health monitoring capacity and consistency across Ontario.
• Support the integration of soil health indicators into broader environmental and sustainability performance frameworks.

Data Management, Analysis and Interpretation

• Lead the collection, organization, validation, quality control, and management of soil health datasets from ONFARM trial sites and other OSCIA research projects.
• Develop and maintain analysis-ready datasets through implementation of rigorous data quality assurance and quality control procedures.
• Integrate soil health, agronomic, management, environmental, weather, and economic datasets to support comprehensive research analyses.
• Apply 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.
• Analyze relationships between management practices and soil health outcomes across diverse production systems and environmental conditions.
• Develop predictive and comparative analyses to identify BMP effectiveness across regions, soil types, and agricultural production systems.
• Create data visualizations, dashboards, technical summaries, and reporting tools that support interpretation and communication of research findings.
• Support the development of long-term datasets that enable trend analysis and evaluation of soil health outcomes over time.
• Collaborate 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.

Best Management Practice Evaluation and Development

• Conduct 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.
• Assess relationships among BMP implementation, soil health indicators, agronomic performance, environmental outcomes, and economic considerations.
• Interpret research findings to develop science-based recommendations that support BMP adoption and implementation.
• Identify opportunities to improve soil health outcomes through management changes and innovative production practices.
• Support development of technical guidance documents, decision-support tools, BMP frameworks, and implementation resources for Ontario farmers and agricultural professionals.
• Collaborate with researchers and stakeholders to identify knowledge gaps and future BMP research priorities.

Scientific Reporting and Knowledge Development

• Lead the conceptualization, preparation, and publication of peer-reviewed scientific papers, technical reports, white papers, conference proceedings, and research summaries.
• Contribute scientific expertise to collaborative research publications involving academic institutions, government agencies, conservation organizations, and industry partners.
• Prepare technical analyses, performance reports, and scientific summaries required by funding agencies and project partners.
• Support development of funding proposals, research applications, and strategic initiatives through technical input and scientific expertise.
• Ensure scientific integrity, methodological rigor, and technical accuracy across all research outputs and deliverables.
• Present research findings at conferences, workshops, technical meetings, and industry events.

Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT)

• Support the translation of soil health research findings into practical and accessible resources for farmers, agronomists, industry partners, conservation professionals, and policymakers.
• Collaborate 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.
• Provide technical expertise to support development of farmer-focused recommendations and educational resources.
• Participate in field days, workshops, conferences, demonstrations, and outreach activities that promote soil health adoption.
• Support the communication of research outcomes through multiple channels and audiences while maintaining scientific accuracy.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with government agencies, academic institutions, conservation organizations, producer groups, industry partners, consultants, and farmers.
• Participate in technical advisory committees, research working groups, steering committees, and stakeholder meetings.
• Collaborate with researchers and project partners to advance soil health monitoring, research, and knowledge transfer objectives.
• Represent OSCIA at conferences, workshops, stakeholder events, and industry meetings.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange among researchers, policymakers, industry professionals, extension specialists, and producers.

Program Support and Reporting

• Support performance measurement, reporting, evaluation, and continuous improvement activities associated with ONFARM and other OSCIA research programs.
• Assist with project planning, deliverable tracking, budget monitoring, and contribution agreement reporting.
• Support development and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to soil health data collection, management, governance, and analysis.
• Contribute to audits, evaluations, compliance activities, and performance reviews associated with funded research programs.
• Support the continuous improvement of research systems, data infrastructure, and analytical approaches.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Skills:

Education:

A Doctoral degree in Soil Science, Agronomy, Environmental Science, Agricultural Systems or a closely related discipline is required.

Candidates with a research-based master’s degree with commensurate work experience relevant to the above responsibilities will be considered.

Professional Credentials:

Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), Professional Agrologist (PAg), Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS), or equivalent professional designation is considered an asset.

Years of Experience:

Minimum five (5) years of progressive experience in soil health research, agronomy, environmental monitoring, applied agricultural research, or related disciplines.

Specific Experience:

• Demonstrated experience preparing analysis-ready soil health datasets, including quality control, data cleaning, normalization, and interpretation of laboratory and field-derived soil health indicators.
• Experience 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.
• Experience integrating soil health, agronomic, weather, environmental, management, and economic datasets for research purposes.
• Demonstrated experience applying statistical and data science methods to evaluate BMP effectiveness and environmental outcomes.
• Experience with statistical software such as R, Python, SAS, SPSS, or equivalent analytical platforms.
• Experience developing data visualizations, dashboards, and decision-support tools.
• Demonstrated technical writing skills, including authorship of scientific publications, technical reports, white papers, or industry resources.
• Experience working collaboratively with government agencies, academic institutions, conservation organizations, industry groups, and agricultural producers.
• Understanding of data governance, data security, privacy, and information-sharing principles.
• Experience supporting applied agricultural research programs and contribution-funded projects.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of soil health principles, soil processes, nutrient cycling, soil biology, and agricultural production systems.
• Knowledge of Ontario cropping systems and BMPs related to soil conservation and environmental stewardship.
• Understanding of applied research methodologies, experimental design, and environmental monitoring programs.
• Familiarity with sustainability metrics, climate adaptation strategies, and regenerative agriculture systems.
• Knowledge of data governance, research integrity, quality assurance, and scientific best practices.

Skills:

• Statistical analysis and interpretation.
• Scientific writing and publication development.
• Research design and evaluation.
• Data management, visualization, and reporting.
• Project management and organization.
• Stakeholder engagement and facilitation.
• Technical presentation and communication.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, R, Python, GIS applications, and database systems.

Abilities:

• Ability to synthesize complex scientific information into practical and actionable recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to communicate effectively with researchers, producers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
• Ability to develop innovative solutions to emerging soil health and sustainability challenges.
• Ability to maintain scientific rigor, objectivity, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Behaviour Competencies:

• Adaptability: Demonstrate a willingness to be flexible, versatile, and dynamic in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ethical Behaviour: Ensure personal behaviours align with the Association's core values and code of conduct.
• Relationship Development: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, internally and externally.
• Effective Communication: Speak, listen, and write in a precise, clear, and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools.
• Client Focus: Anticipate clients' needs and respond in an appropriate and timely manner, seeking to provide the highest quality service.
• Teamwork Development: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve challenges, and make decisions that enhance cross-functional cooperation.
• Initiative: Ability to assess and initiate tasks independently.
• Decision-Making: Assess role-based situations to determine importance, risks, and make clear decisions in a timely manner.
• Time Management and Organization: Set priorities, develop task schedules, and monitor progress towards deadlines.
• Problem-Solving: View problems as learning opportunities and focus on improving future results.
• Foster Sustainability: Ensure the work we do improves the viability and sustainability of rural Ontario and Ontario agriculture.
• Continuous Learning: Participate in an environment of professional development and personal growth.

Working Conditions / Physical Demands:

• Hybrid 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.
• Frequent travel throughout Ontario to research sites, ONFARM trial locations, stakeholder meetings, conferences, workshops, and field events.
• Field work may require walking on uneven terrain and working in varying weather conditions.
• Home office settings require a dependable, high-speed internet connection to ensure effective participation in virtual meetings and online collaboration.
• May require occasional work outside of standard business hours to support meetings, events, and project requirements.
• Requires regular use of a computer; prolonged sitting, typing, and screen time required.
• Must be adaptable to a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Must hold and maintain a valid driver's licence and have access to reliable transportation.
• Must maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality when handling sensitive research and organizational information.