Description

Brief Overview

The Cropping Systems Agronomist will lead a field-oriented research program to diversify and intensify crop rotations in northcentral Montana. This role involves applied field research to enhance sustainable production and economic viability for producers, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders. Key responsibilities include conducting producer relevant, field-oriented research, communicating research findings, securing extramural grant funding, and participating in outreach activities. This is a twelve-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position focused on research, outreach, and service, with no formal teaching duties.

General Statement

This tenure-track position is located at Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC), a diversified crop and livestock research facility located seven miles southwest of Havre, MT (pop. 9,400). The average farm size in northcentral MT is over 4,000 acres and major crop production includes winter and spring wheat, barley, peas, lentils, chickpeas, canola, mustard, flax, safflower, alfalfa, and annual and perennial forages.

Havre offers year-round outdoor recreational opportunities along the Milk River, in the Bear Paw Mountains and at multiple large reservoirs. Hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, golfing, skiing, ice skating, civic organizations, and community events, along with cultural attractions including museums, galleries, concerts, and live theater keep locals busy and draw visitors from across the state. Historical attractions nearby include the Montana Dinosaur Trail, Bear Paw Battlefield, Fort Assinniboine, and the Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump. Havre is a small town with a low crime rate and is the regional commercial hub for the Hi-Line. Also located in Havre, but not part of the research center, is Montana State University-Northern, north central Montana’s comprehensive university offering degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, and master’s levels.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Cropping Systems Agronomist will lead an applied, field-oriented research program to diversify or intensify current rotation practices in north-central Montana, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, forages, and other alternative crops. This role requires direct engagement in field activities, including data collection, operation of agricultural machinery, and implementation of research methodologies. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to personally design, conduct, and analyze field studies and are expected to remain actively involved in these core responsibilities. This research should enhance the sustained production and economic viability of the region’s farmers. The Department seeks an individual to identify and address research needs in cropping systems through discussions with stakeholders. The incumbent is expected to cooperate with multi-discipline MSU and public-sector scientists, extension personnel, farmers, private industry, advisory groups, and commodity organizations to develop research priorities and assist in developing management recommendations. 

As a faculty member of NARC, the successful candidate will have access to on-site dryland and irrigated research fields, a new greenhouse/headhouse facility, laboratory space, farm- and plot-scale equipment, precision irrigation systems, and the opportunity to utilize 300 head of range beef cattle to expand into crop-livestock systems research. There will also be an opportunity to collaborate with our precision agriculture and extension specialist, the crop variety development and testing program, as well as animal scientists. The research center has a very involved Advisory Council made up of producers and industry stakeholders from the surrounding seven-county area to help guide research center activities. 

This is a twelve-month tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level with research (80%), outreach (10%), and service (10%) responsibilities funded by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and the College of Agriculture. This position has no formal teaching responsibilities; however, opportunities to mentor undergraduate and graduate students exist within the College.

The Program

This field-based research program will evolve through utilizing the expertise of the successful candidate and input from stakeholders and collaborating researchers. The program could include examining economically sustainable production systems by evaluating adaptation and management strategies for potential alternative crops and rotations, investigating the impacts of biotic and abiotic factors within cropping systems practiced, examining the effects of unique rotations to enhance sustained crop quality and production, or applying technology to crop management and decision-making within new, intensified, and alternative cropping systems in Montana.

The Department

The Department of Research Centers represents a unique department with faculty and staff that conduct applied research and outreach programs at seven off-campus research centers throughout Montana. The MAES Research Centers are located strategically throughout the state to address regional needs for agricultural producers. Graduate students in the department work within on-campus departments (e.g., Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology or Land Resources and Environmental Science) to obtain their degrees.

The College

The College founded in 1893 as a Land Grant University, Montana State University (MSU) is composed of nine academic colleges and a graduate school and boasts a friendly, supportive faculty and campus environment. Montana State University set a record for expenditures on research in FY25 at more than $288 million, and has more than doubled its total expenditures since 2019. Among MSU’s academic colleges, the College of Agriculture reported the largest research expenditure at $54.1 million. Currently, the University hosts an enrollment of over 17,000 students, including nearly 2,100 graduate students. MSU is classified as R1 in the Carnegie Classification for “very high research activity,” making it one of only 131 universities nationwide in that category.

Number of Vacancies: 1

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on August 1st, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established. Only applications submitted to the MSU jobs portal will be screened: "https://jobs.montana.edu/postings/52000"

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for new sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Agronomy, Crop Science, Plant Physiology, or a closely related field, at the time of hire.
• Documented experience of research involving field crop production and cropping systems research with crops common to Montana.
• Demonstrated experience in planning, designing, and implementing innovative and economically relevant field research, and interpreting research results using accepted, innovative, and strategic scientific methodology.
• Documented record of peer-reviewed journal articles and outreach materials commensurate with training and experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Documented successful grant writing experience
• Postdoctoral research experience.
• Experience with semi-arid small grain and alternative crop production systems prevalent in the Northern Great Plains region of North America.
• Interest in integrating greenhouse trials to supplement field research.
• Experience with producer outreach activities.
• Personal experience operating field research equipment including tractors, seeders, and combines.
• Demonstrated ability to interact/collaborate in a collegial manner across academic disciplines and cultural diversity, both within the university and with external constituents.

The Successful Candidate Will

Be an engaging scientist who will:

• Help MSU continue to provide innovative and impactful agricultural research
• Develop a successful and interdisciplinary agronomic research and education program addressing the needs in Montana agricultural sectors
• Utilize excellent written and oral communication skills in all forms of interactions

Work cooperatively with people of all backgrounds

• Currently possess a valid US driver’s license or equivalent and obtain a valid Montana driver’s license within six months of hire
• Possesses or will obtain a Montana Government Pesticide Applicator License within six months of hire
• In accordance with MSU policy, hiring will be conditional upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

Access the Departmental Role and Scope, Incentive Program for Researchers, and Faculty Handbook, for additional details relevant to this position.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

This position will involve extensive work in the field. The successful candidate must be able to navigate uneven terrain on foot, work around dust, seeds, and pollen, work in inclement weather, and occasionally move up to 60 pounds.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.