Position Status:            Regular, Full-Time                   

Supervisor:                    Research and Development Director

Department:                   Sugarcane Operations

FLSA:                             Exempt

Company Overview:  U.S. Sugar produces approximately 6.5 million tons of sugarcane annually on more than 200,000 acres of land in the South Florida area. U.S. Sugar owns and operates the largest private agricultural short line railroad in the country and is the only sugar company in the continental United States that transports its harvested cane supply from its farms and other growers by railroad to its sugar factory.  The rail system includes the South Central Florida Express (SCFE), acquired by U.S. Sugar in 1994, which not only transports sugar cane to the factory, but also transports finished sugar products, citrus products, fertilizer, farm equipment, aggregates, and other freight interchanging with CSXT and FECR.

Position Summary

U.S. Sugar is seeking a Chief Soils Scientist to lead soil fertility and plant nutrition initiatives. The Chief Soils Scientist is responsible for developing and implementing soil fertility and plant nutrition strategies to enhance the productivity, efficiency, and profitability of the Company’s sugarcane operations. This position provides technical expertise, research-based recommendations, and strategic guidance to optimize fertilizer applications, improve soil management practices, and maximize economic returns.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, evaluate, and continuously improve fertilizer recommendations and soil fertility management practices to optimize sugarcane production and maximize economic returns.
• Lead efforts to improve and automate the fertilizer recommendation system to enhance accuracy, consistency, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate new fertilizer materials and technologies, including controlled-release fertilizers, enhanced coating technologies, and other emerging products, to determine their potential effectiveness and economic benefits.
• Evaluate opportunities to improve fertilizer application timing, nutrient utilization, and overall fertilization efficiency.
• Develop and maintain reliable soil and plant tissue nutrient requirement calibrations to support effective fertilizer recommendations.
• Collaborate with the Soils Laboratory Manager and laboratory personnel to interpret soil and leaf tissue analysis results, provide technical guidance, and support improvements in testing methods and analytical practices as needed.
• Provide area managers and growers with fertilizer, soil amendment, and nutrient management recommendations to maximize crop productivity and economic returns.
• Identify, investigate, and troubleshoot nutritional deficiencies and soil fertility concerns in sugarcane production areas, recommending appropriate corrective measures.
• Assess the nutritional status of the sugarcane crop annually, identify trends or potential concerns, and communicate findings and recommendations to management.
• Partner with area managers to identify field-specific nutritional challenges and develop practical, cost-effective solutions.
• Develop and maintain the annual fertilizer and soil amendment budget for the Company’s sugarcane acreage, considering operational requirements, financial objectives, and agronomic needs.
• Evaluate the financial and environmental implications of fertilizer and soil management decisions to promote responsible and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Collaborate with the Water Compliance and Permits Manager to support the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) related to fertilizer, soil amendments, and soil conditioners, ensuring alignment with applicable nutrient management plans.
• Analyze technical information, industry developments, and research findings to identify opportunities for continuous improvement in soil fertility and nutrient management practices.
• Prepare and present technical reports, research findings, and recommendations to management and other stakeholders in both written and verbal formats.
• As operational priorities and workload permit, following implementation of an automated fertilizer recommendation system, design and conduct small-plot and commercial field research trials to evaluate fertilizer materials, nutrient management practices, and opportunities to improve sugarcane productivity.
• Work independently with minimal supervision while collaborating effectively with agricultural operations, laboratory personnel, and other departments.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Soil Science, Plant Nutrition, Agronomy, or a closely related field.
• Five or more years of experience in soil science, agronomy, soil fertility, or plant nutrition research preferred.
• Strong knowledge of soil fertility management, fertilizer recommendations, nutrient requirements, and agricultural production practices.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate scientific research, interpret soil and plant tissue analysis results, and translate technical findings into practical agricultural recommendations.
• Experience in experimental design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of agricultural research data.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific publications, technical reports, and other relevant research materials.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify nutritional challenges and recommend effective, economically sound solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical and nontechnical information to management, operational personnel, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with laboratory personnel and provide technical guidance related to soil and plant tissue testing methods and results.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, develop budgets, and support long-term operational objectives.
• Working knowledge of agricultural operations and an understanding of the relationship between soil fertility, crop production, environmental compliance, and financial performance.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate across departments to achieve organizational goals.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

The work environment characteristics and physical requirements described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Working Conditions:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work in outside weather conditions on a regular basis.
• Field visits with travel between agricultural operations and field trial locations.

• Working conditions may be rainy, hot, humid, or dusty, depending on the weather.
• The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to loud during field visits.
• Duties of this job are also performed in an office environment.
• The employee may be required to drive a vehicle for extended periods.
• Extended hours may be required during periods of increased operational or research activity.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to handle objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, and communicate with others.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus for office work and field observations.
• Ability to access farm offices, laboratory facilities, and agricultural fields, including uneven terrain, as needed to perform the duties of the position.
• Ability to operate common office equipment and enter and exit vehicles used for field visits.

The above declarations are not intended to be an “all-inclusive” list of the duties and responsibilities of the job described, nor are they intended to be such a listing of the skills and abilities required to do the job.  Rather, they are intended only to describe the general nature of the job, and a reasonable representation of its activities.