Director, Research & Technical Affairs - #8825S

• Set the research agenda, not just compete for funding


• Lead applied science at commercial and global scale


• Work at the intersection of research, regulation, and real-world adoption


• Influence outcomes across farms, processing facilities, and export markets


• Build a legacy of science measured by impact and uptake, not citations alone

Just as important, this role is for someone who enjoys working with many different personalities and perspectives—from growers and processors, to academic researchers, regulators, marketers, and highly technical specialists. Success here requires intellectual confidence, humility, and the ability to communicate complex science clearly to both deeply technical audiences and non-scientific stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage the full annual research cycle, including priority setting, RFPs, proposal review, project awards, progress reporting, and deliverables


• Develop and oversee an annual research portfolio, spanning production and post-harvest priorities


• Guide research in crop health, yield, food safety, quality, shelf life, regulatory compliance, and sustainability


• Maintain close relationships with funded researchers to ensure milestones are met, and outputs are industry-ready


• Organize and participate in research committee meetings, study sessions, and the annual Walnut Research Conference


• Identify and pursue state, federal, and external grant opportunities, lead proposal development, reporting, and compliance


• Develop and report KPIs related to timelines, outcomes, grant leverage, and ROI for leadership and committees


• Stay connected to emerging science through conferences, field events, and industry engagement

• Lead scientific peer-review processes, including reviewer selection, scoring criteria, and conflict-of-interest protocols


• Engage advisors such as farm advisors, commodity board peers, PCAs, and regulatory experts


• Translate research findings for diverse audiences including growers, handlers, staff, scientists, and consultants


• Partner with communications teams to share methodologies, results, and best practices


• Support the application of research outcomes in both field and processing environments

• Provide technical guidance on domestic and international regulatory and compliance matters


• Support monitoring of international MRLs, food standards, and phytosanitary requirements


• Assist with food safety, quality data analysis, and documentation


• Contribute to sustainability and compliance initiatives


• Support technical communications, including website and newsletter content


• Collaborate on government and non-government research and policy initiatives

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in agriculture, food science, or a related scientific discipline strongly preferred


• 8–10+ years of experience leading applied research or technical programs


• Demonstrated ability to manage complex research portfolios and external partners


• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences


• Experience managing budgets, timelines, and performance metrics


• Working knowledge of regulatory, food safety, and compliance frameworks


• Strong relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups


• Make this even more “capstone role” for senior USDA or land-grant candidates


• Create a short outreach version for direct recruitment


• Tune language further depending on whether you’re targeting extension leaders vs. research administrators