If interested in applying for this position, please contact Ernest Taylor at Beech Hill Group, etaylor@beechhillgroup.com, (404) 307-8441.

Job Summary

Directly responsible for successfully creating, leading, and implementing an integrated, regenerative grazing lands research strategy to advance Noble’s mission and purpose. With existing and new relationships, build the organization's visibility, impact, and diversify its research influence. Mentor and develop Noble researchers and research staff. Manage external collaborations to support Noble’s tax-exempt status, expand the scope of Noble’s research, and/or access complementary expertise to benefit Noble’s research. Work closely with Development to pursue and secure external resources to support research operations. Work closely with Marketing Communications to share and disseminate research activities and outcomes for the benefit of farmers and ranchers and livestock production.

As a member of the Noble Leadership Team, work with fellow Leadership Team members to advance the Noble mission and strategy, including establish and execute strategy, manage resources and budgets, and foster collaboration across teams and departments for a professional, creative, and enjoyable work environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provide leadership, direction, and oversight, including:

• Establish specific research and scientific priorities for regenerative grazing lands and pecan production for alignment with a strategic approach for meeting Noble’s mission and purpose.
• Develop, coordinate, and manage Noble’s long-term science program, providing a science-based foundation for our producer-focused educational programming.
• Represent the scientific goals and interests of Noble at relevant external meetings and events and internal events, including board meetings, employee events, advisor meetings, customer or donor meetings, and the like.
• Work directly with producers to gain insight into needed research questions, what answers are relevant to producers, and/or coordinate on-ranch research involving producer properties.
• Collaborate with university and private sector scientists in the development of appropriate research deliverables, timelines, and budgets. As needed, collaborate with Outreach and Partnerships to identify and prioritize partners needed to enable or advance such collaborations.
• Supervise the development and administration of research agreements with responsibility for deliverables and budget performance.
• Facilitate new collaborative research opportunities, and cultivate, maintain, and support research activities with appropriate partners and contract research providers.
• Develop and manage the budget for research.
• Establish procedures and guidelines for Noble research programs and ensure that they are followed.
• Ensure that appropriate internal assessments and external evaluation of Noble research activities are conducted on a regular basis to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the program.
• Oversee research activities with the intention of publishing research findings in peer-reviewed publications. Drive the production of research-based peer-reviewed articles, presentations, and other communications media for a wide range of audiences for scientific and organizational credibility, professional development, and/or disseminating the work of Noble in fulfillment of its purpose and mission.
• Design staff positions to meet the needs of research and the organization. Participate in the recruitment, development, and retention of first-class research staff members committed to Noble’s mission and to fulfill its research objectives.
• Work closely with Development to pursue and secure public and private external resources, to support research operations and assist in the development of research staff in successfully seeking and securing external funding.
• In close collaboration with Noble Ranches, coordinate any use of Noble land, livestock, or equipment in a manner to mitigate or limit interference with ranch operations to further the overall objective that ranch operations and research work together to co-exist for the mutual benefit of producer-related outcomes.
• Foster collaborative relationships within Noble across departments and Ranches to ensure the quality of research deliverables, effective working relationships, and exceptional products for producers.
• Be accessible to other staff, visitors, funders, and industry stakeholders about current research and relevant scientific discoveries at Noble.
• Work with Marketing Communications and Producer Guidance to make Noble research and its outcomes accessible and comprehensible to farmers, ranchers, and the general public.
• Coordinate with Information Technology and Data teams to ensure the ability to capture, enable access to, and appropriate integrity of scientific data.
• Review scientific literature and publications to note current research and review non-scientific literature and publications relevant to grazing lands and livestock production to be aware of trends that affect Noble’s research.
• Assist the President with Noble’s participation in local, state, national, and international organizations and conferences.
• Assist the President in building Noble’s reputation as a quality science and producer-focused educational institution with a reputation for integrity, excellent scientific and practical outcomes and quality research and researchers.
• Contribute as a member of the Leadership Team and Strategic Product Team to all work related to Noble strategy execution, product and initiative prioritization, policy development, budget cycles and collaborative negotiation for resources.
• Provide communication to the governing body of Noble when requested by the President.

Non-essential Duties

Responsible for routinely checking email correspondence and associated attachments. Other duties as assigned.

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Passion for Noble’s purpose to save our nation’s grazing lands by promoting land stewardship through management, building soil health, and keeping farmers and ranchers on the land.
• A proven program leader in landscape-scale, soil health-related research with a compelling vision for the future of Noble’s research.
• Proven experience in managing and directing a scientific research program.
• A proven research leader with a reputation for intellect, excellence, and credibility, who can effectively interact with leaders of universities, research institutions and industry as well as private landowners and managers.
• A deep appreciation for key issues related to the interplay of wildlife, livestock, and healthy grazing lands, with a working knowledge of the ranching industry within the U.S.
• Strong strategic planning, project management and budget management skills.
• An ability to listen and discern the needs of partners and balance the needs of Noble to make solution-based recommendations.
• Exceptional tact and interpersonal engagement and networking skills.
• Strong executive presence, able to effectively articulate complex organizational messages at the most senior levels including with executive and board-level teams.
• Strong market and customer orientation, able to translate customer, donor, audience and market insights into effective brand and marketing messages.
• Proven ability to foster a professional, creative, and enjoyable work environment.
• Demonstrated effective stakeholder management; adept at influencing without authority. Ability to manage communications with stakeholders, managing expectations for deliverables, and implementing an effective project governance system. Excellent written and verbal communications skills. Ability to frame issues in ways that are relevant to internal and external audiences.
• Ability to seek and integrate feedback from others on an ongoing basis.

Specific Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Strongly Preferred

• Supporting team-based operations in an Agile environment.
• Defining a project’s schedule and scope while balancing this with timely and regular value deliveries and organizing and leading project status meetings.
• Helping teams achieve a high level of performance and quality, holding teams accountable for their work, removing obstacles and mentoring less experienced team members.
• Building stronger teams through team-building techniques, ensuring each team member is making a meaningful contribution and fully engaged in the team’s work.

Pre-employment/Post-offer Requirements

Criminal background check

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements below refer to regular, daily activities.

Stationary position Move, Traverse - over 2/3 of the time

Activate, Use, Prepare, Inspect, Place, Detect, Position - 1/3 to 2/3 of the time over 2/3 of the time

Communicate, Converse, Discern, Convey, Express oneself, Exchange information - over 2/3 of the time

Weight Requirements

Vision Requirements

Vision Requirements Close vision - Clear vision at 20 inches or less

Experience

• A graduate degree (PhD preferred) in appropriate field of study (ecology, animal science, wildlife science, rangeland ecology and management, agroecology, or a closely related field). At least 10 years of post-graduate professional experience, with at least 5 years of supervisory experience, including project development, management, and implementation. The ideal candidate will have also engaged with outreach and extension programs and have a record of bringing research results into application.

Education

• Masters or better

• PHD or better

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)