Director, Research & Technical Affairs

Bring your science to the table—lead research that powers California walnuts from orchard to world markets!

Based in Folsom, California, the California Walnut Board (CWB) and California Walnut Commission (CWC) represent 3,700+ growers and 71 processors, partnering with leading domestic and international trade agencies to elevate walnuts across food applications while safeguarding production, market access, and risk. California’s walnut industry supplies 99% of U.S. walnuts and is the second largest producer of walnuts globally and the leader in global trade.  

As Director of Research & Technical Affairs, you’ll steer a high-impact scientific research portfolio that turns discovery into industry advantage. Reporting to the Vice President of Industry & Government Affairs, you’ll translate science into solutions for growers, handlers, and food manufacturers—owning strategy, guiding trials, and serving as the technical voice across the value chain.

You’ll join a collaborative, mission-driven team in our Folsom office—passionate professionals who value curiosity, rigor, and real-world impact. We operate with integrity and a firm commitment to equity, inclusion, and respect. We offer competitive compensation, strong benefits, and meaningful opportunities to grow your career while advancing research that farmers, consumers, and global markets can feel.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
PRODUCTION AND POST-HARVEST RESEARCH PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (70%)
Research Program Management - The position will assume the ownership of the annual research cycle, i.e., priority setting, RFP, LOI, committee proposal review, project awards and progress reporting, researcher stewardship, field operation outreach, and deliverability.

• Develop, oversee, and maintain annual research programs up to  $2.5 million that prioritizes both production and post-harvest, and which will advance the future of the walnut industry. Areas of research include but are not limited to crop health, yield, food safety, quality & condition, shelf-life, compliance and sustainable practices.

• Plan, organize, and coordinate research projects that ensure quality research, and adhere to standards of objectivity, responsiveness, and timely completion and high-quality outcomes.

• Organize, attend, and participate in all research related meetings and study sessions, ensuring the reviewers’ work remains aligned with research goals and relevant policy or guidelines.
• Maintain continuous contact with funded researchers to ensure milestones are met and grower-ready outputs are achieved.
• Identify local, state and federal grant opportunities. Initiate grant applications and reporting efforts to obtain funds for existing and future projects. Build multi-researcher proposals, manage timelines, coordinate reports, and maintain compliance files. Prepare grant reports as required by the funding agency.
• Develop reportable KPIs e.g., project milestone, on-time index, grant dollars, ROI and be ready to present to Production Research Committee, working groups and senior leadership at any given time. 
• Coordinate, assist, and plan annual Walnut Research Conference with event committee to identify clear objective & purpose while delivering intended outputs to the interest parties, e.g., Production Research Committee.
• Attend work related conferences and field events to identify research opportunities.      

Scientific Peer Review, Communication & Governance - Develop and maintain an efficient and communicative scientific review model that maximizes growers’ interests and benefits. 

• Lead in defining research protocol such as conflict-of-interest policy, reviewer selection criteria, and a standard scoring rubric to select winning proposal(s).  
• Identify advisors (e.g., specialty crop commodity board technical principals, farm advisors, PCAs, environmental attorneys) that can give input on the development of processes, programs, plans, or outcomes.
• Assist in interpreting and disseminating information on industry research projects and status reports to varied audiences, including internal staff, scientists, consultants, growers, and handlers.
• Coordinate with the Director of Integrated Communications to share research methodologies, results and best practices.
• Help growers and handlers by applying results to their farms and processing operations. 

TECHNICAL SERVICES (30%)
The position will work closely with CWB staff, contractors, technical trade associations and other commodity boards to assist the walnut industry with navigating technical and compliance challenges, inquiries and communications.

• International MRL monitoring and compliance for pesticides and contaminants. 
• International food standards and specification review.
• Sanitary/phytosanitary requirements for export.
• Food product and facility registration support. 
• Food safety and quality data analysis and documentation support.  
• Sustainability practices and compliance project support. 
• Industry communication tools such as website and newsletter content development. 
• Support government & non-government agriculture and environmental research projects, e.g., endorsement/sign-on letter.   

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Applicants should ideally have a completed Ph.D. (or equivalent) in a relevant or related discipline such as agriculture and food science.  
• A minimum of 8-10 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrate experience managing impactful research projects while supporting staff in a fast-paced work environment.
• Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey scientific information to non-technical audiences.
• Strong business acumen and data-driven decision-making skills. 
• Experience in developing, managing, and forecasting research budgets & timelines.
• Strong skills in relationship building in both internal/external stakeholders.
• Strong in computer skills with knowledge of collaborative platforms for content management such as Microsoft SharePoint or similar repository program/software. 
• Working knowledge of regulatory & food safety compliance.
• This position requires sitting and looking at a PC monitor in the office. It also requires domestic travel to meet with growers/handlers, researchers, contractors, field events and off-site meetings and activities. International travel may be required on an as- needed basis.   
• Must maintain a valid CA driver’s license and clean DMV record to travel on a flexible schedule, proof of liability and property damage insurance on vehicles used is required.

The CWB offers a competitive compensation package.  This is an exempt, on-site position based in our Folsom, CA headquarters.

CWB is an equal employment employer AA/EEO