Senior Research Associate – Director Soil Health Laboratory

Position Description

Soil and Crop Sciences Section
School of Integrative Plant Science
Senior Research Associate – Director
Soil Health Laboratory

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of
purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work
across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned
research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we
seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving
next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the
world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious
food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that
ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local
people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific
areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance,
here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Position Function
The Director
of the Cornell Soil Health Laboratory provides strategic leadership and
operational oversight for a nationally recognized laboratory dedicated to
advancing comprehensive soil health assessment, research, and outreach.
Building on the Laboratory’s mission to deliver integrated measurements of soil
physical, chemical, and biological properties to support sustainable land
management, the Director guides the development and implementation of
innovative laboratory protocols and analytical services, manages
high-throughput soil testing operations, and guides the continued development
and expansion of the Cornell Assessment of Soil Health framework. The role
integrates administration, applied research, and extension by supervising
staff, coordinating multi-site laboratory activities, fostering collaborations with
Cornell faculty and external partners, and communicating actionable soil health
insights through workshops, publications, and field engagement. The Director
will integrate with the broader soil health ecosystem at Cornell, including
research, teaching, and extension programs. The Director also drives continuous
improvement of analytical offerings, oversees program finances and client
services, and contributes to education and training that translates soil health
science into practice for agricultural and environmental stakeholders.

This is an in-person position. The successful
candidate will be expected to relocate within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY.

Anticipated Division of Time
Program
Leadership & Laboratory Operations (60%): Provide overall direction and management of the Soil
Health Laboratory, including oversight of daily operations, supervision of
technical staff, coordination of sample processing workflows, and ensuring
efficient high-throughput delivery of soil health assessments.

Strategic
Program Development & Administration (20%): Oversee program growth, including
budgeting, pricing structures, client services, and long-term planning to
sustain and expand the laboratory’s impact and service capacity.

Analytical
Development & Research Integration (10%): Guide development and refinement of soil health
metrics, methodologies, and new analytical offerings within the Cornell Soil
Health Assessment framework, while collaborating with faculty and researchers
to advance soil health science.

Education
& Training (10%):
Contribute to formal and informal education through teaching, training, and
outreach in soil health methods. Audiences include Cornell staff, students, and
stakeholders. Topics of instruction and outreach will include experiential
learning related to soil health measurement, soil management, and soil health testing.

Requirements
The
successful applicant will have a Ph.D. in Soil Science, Agronomy, Environmental
Science or a related discipline, with strong experience related to the
measurement of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and
processes. The candidate will have experience with laboratory methodologies, analytical
protocols, and quality assurance systems. The successful candidate will have strong
project management and organizational skills. Other desirable competencies
include:

• Expertise in soil health assessment methods and

interpretation

• Experience managing laboratory operations and/or high-throughput

testing systems

• Demonstrated ability to supervise technical

personnel

• Experience

managing program finances, budget development, fiscal planning, and
resource allocation

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with

faculty, researchers, and external partners

• Familiarity with laboratory information systems

and operational workflows

Supervision Exercised
The Director
will supervise a team of technicians and research support specialists.

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To apply:
Please apply via Academic Jobs Online (https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/33233" style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 100, 117); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/33233)

Qualified candidates should submit
a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three
references via the website.

Applications will be reviewed as
received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified. For full consideration submit before December 7, 2026.

Consistent with Cornell’s practice,
appointments to academic positions require candidates to disclose relevant information
about their prior employment including whether they have been found to have
violated institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful
discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial
misconduct.

CALS hiring range for this title is
$102,000 - $110,000.

College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Life.
Changing.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League
and Land-grant
university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars,
students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute
creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and
engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence
includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all
counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities
engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses
on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech
campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

With a founding
principle of “any person, any study,” Cornell is an equal
opportunity employer.

Employment Assistance:

For specific questions about the position or application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or for general questions email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor.

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary unless otherwise noted)
• Unique applicable skills.