Global Nursery Pest and Disease Prevention and Management Scientist

This role can be located in Watsonville, CA, Helenaveen, Netherlands, or Maidstone, United Kingdom. Full-time, onsite position.

About The Opportunity

The Nursery Pest & Disease Prevention & Management Scientist is a research-focused role responsible for advancing scientific understanding and developing innovative strategies to prevent, detect, and manage pests and diseases impacting nursery and early-stage plant materials. This position leads research, experimentation, innovation development, data analysis, and cross-functional collaborations with breeding, nursery, plant health, and clean stock teams. The role contributes directly to global plant health innovation by designing research trials, validating diagnostic tools, developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research protocols, and generating evidence-based recommendations for implementation by nursery and breeding teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and design scientific studies focused on pest and disease biology, epidemiology, and management within nursery and breeding systems.
• Develop new or improved Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies with emphasis on biologicals, cultural controls, novel chemistries, environmental manipulation, and predictive modeling.
• Evaluate emerging technologies (sensory tools, imaging systems, environmental controls, water treatments, biologicals, etc.) for use in nursery production.
• Conduct risk assessments for high-impact pests and pathogens; propose mitigation strategies based on experimental findings.
• Develop spray programs to optimize effectiveness and reduce the likelihood of resistance.
• Partner with operations teams to translate research outcomes into practical recommendations, SOPs, and best practices.
• Develop detection and monitoring capabilities and early-warning systems for nursery systems.
• Lead the strategic use of AI for discovering, developing, and deploying new Nursery Plant Health and Clean Stock technologies.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and scientific summaries to support global decision-making.

Requirements

• Minimum of an M.S. with 5+ years of experience or a PhD with 3 years of experience, with a degree in plant pathology, entomology, horticulture, crop science, or other relevant field of study.
• Experience in crop science, plant biology, and/or plant pathology is required.
• Ability to collaborate with nursery, pathology, entomology, molecular diagnostics, and clean-stock teams globally to develop detection and monitoring capabilities and early-warning systems.
• Knowledge of plant pathology, entomology, plants, and their cultivation in greenhouse and field settings.
• Ability to lead and design scientific trials in greenhouses and fields focused on pest and disease biology, epidemiology, prevention, and management with an emphasis on biologicals, cultural controls, novel chemistries, environmental manipulation, and predictive modeling.
• Extensive experience using statistical tools to analyze complex plant health datasets and derive actionable insights.
• Ability to work independently while being highly collaborative with others.
• Experience in the development of emerging technologies (sensory tools, imaging systems, environmental controls, water treatments, biologicals, etc.) for use in nursery production.
• Ability to conduct accurate risk assessments for high-impact pests and pathogens; propose mitigation strategies based on known information and experimental findings.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• High organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage data.
• California driver’s license and ability to be covered under company-sponsored vehicle insurance program (if based in Watsonville, CA).
• Hold a valid passport.
• Domestic or international travel up to 25%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with berry crops in agricultural settings.
• Experience working in nursery production.

Pay

Salary range for the Global Nursery Pest and Disease Prevention and Management Scientist role in the United States: $116,550.00/year to $151,520.00/year. Salary in other countries varies and is commensurate with cost of living and industry standards for that geographic location.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Profit-sharing participation.
• Paid sick time, paid vacation, and paid personal and family care leave.
• Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

About Driscoll's

Driscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll's is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful, and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion, and trustworthiness guide our mission to delight consumers around the world. Driscoll's exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods—no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high-quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners. Driscoll's is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.