Job Description

Job Title: Research Associate, Post-Harvest Physiology & Product Development Reporting to: Lead, Product Development Location: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA Expected Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 USD annually
About Pairwise: Pairwise is a mission-driven food+tech company dedicated to building a healthier world through better fruits and vegetables. Founded in 2017 by eminent scientists in the gene editing and biotechnology fields, Pairwise holds licenses from Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital to base editing and high-fidelity enzymes. We also are tuned in to consumer food trends, and we believe that consumers deserve more variety and innovation in their fresh food choices. Our team is primed to deliver that innovation through one of the best gene-editing platforms in food and agriculture. Pairwise has an exclusive 5-year research collaboration with Bayer to develop products in corn, soybean, wheat, canola, and cotton. Plus, Pairwise is developing new types of leafy greens, berries, and stone fruit, with the first product expected in 2023. Pairwise is based in the start-up friendly Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina.
About This Role: Pairwise is looking to hire a capable Research Associate (RA) to execute our leafy greens post-harvest trials and other product development activities. The role would be part of the broader Product Development Team but will mostly support the Post-Harvest Physiology group (which falls under Product Development) at roughly 50-75% of the time. Post-Harvest Physiology plays a critical and time-sensitive role in the Pairwise product development process, specifically towards the optimization of shelf-life and packaging. Additionally, this role will support product development testing, master pack development for leafy greens, and execute various tasks and tests that enable product innovation in both greens and in the future, berries.
Responsibilities:

• Follows standard operating procedures for collecting and documenting data for shelf-life trials (measuring defects and decay, respiration rates, chlorophyll, packaging checks, etc) and provides accurate and timely data collection and reporting.
• Accurately coding and uploading data into database.
• Timely reporting of trial results \xe2\x80\x93 helps analyze data, prepare and share reports to enable data-based decision making for product development and optimization.
• Makes recommendations that improve product quality, shelf life, and/or internal processes.
• Ensures product development and post-harvest lab are always stocked with proper supplies and is kept-up in optimal clean and food safe conditions.
• Understands and helps optimize the logistics required for successful execution of post-harvest processes in support of shelf-life optimization or other business needs.
• Promotes alignment of internal Pairwise stakeholders contributing to or dependent upon the post-harvest processing work and its outcomes.
• Execute tasks and activities that enable product development, ranging from support formulation to packaging development with clear guidance on what is needed.
• Executes day-to-day logistics and data collection to ensure on-time and on-spec delivery of data.
• Coordinates data reports on shelf life trials, enters data in databases, and supports the Post Harvest team with analysis, as needed, for effective and timely decision-making throughout the Pairwise organization.

Key Skills

• High level of attention to detail to all projects
• Effective communicator and collaborator
• Strong ability to execute, prioritize, organize, and make daily operational decisions in a fast-moving environment.
• Preference will be given to candidates with a demonstrated track record of success in these areas and/or relevant experience in fresh produce or agriculture with leafy greens or berries experience being a great advantage.
• The ideal candidate needs to be comfortable working autonomously, as well as collaborating in a team environment.

Required Education & Experience:

• 1-3 years of experience in coordinating and executing post-harvest testing, product development, or other relevant agricultural R&D functions.
• Bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree required in biology, plant science, botany, agronomy, horticulture, evolution, ecology, or other relevant agricultural or biological discipline. Masters would be preferred. Willing to consider candidates without these degrees if they have relevant leafy green or berry experience.
• Previous experience and an understanding of the technical requirements of leafy green production or processing is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience executing data collection and adherence to SOPs with minimal/no supervision.
• Track record of clear communication to stakeholders.

Physical Demands 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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel, and techniques that require fine motor skills and repetitive motions. The employee is occasionally required to walk and function in uneven farm fields, outdoors in the sun, and in processing plant environments. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to qualify and quantify produce defects.
Offerings:

• Comprehensive Benefits Plan, including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA/FSA, 401k, Life Insurance, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, and more!
• Flexible PTO (use what you need, when you need it), in addition to company holidays
• Casual work environment
• Mission-driven organization focused on creating healthier fruits and veggies.
• A cutting-edge, driven community, looking to lead the industry in innovation and nutrition.

EEO Statement:
We\'re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Don\xe2\x80\x99t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Pairwise we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you\xe2\x80\x99re excited about this role but your past experience doesn\xe2\x80\x99t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
No Recruiters please.