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Usda Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Tamus

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Temple, TX · On-site +1

Enhancing APEX for simulating environmental and economic impacts of CAFO operations using the APEX model, funded by USDA-NRCS. Texas A&M AgriLife Research is seeking a highly motivated and innovative ...

Johnsonville

3rd Shift R&D Technician

Denmark, WI

Position Overview Assists the R&D Director with product development and testing, documentation ... Previous experience with the USDA-FSIS label approval process is desirable. Understanding of meat ...

Ceva Santé Animale

Research Data Scientist

Lenexa, KS · On-site

Serves as an R&D representative during USDA audits, responsible for retrieving and providing requested records and SOPs. All other duties as assigned Competencies: Experience working with databases ...

Johnsonville

3rd Shift R&D Technician

Denmark, WI

Position Overview Assists the R&D Director with product development and testing, documentation ... Previous experience with the USDA-FSIS label approval process is desirable. Understanding of meat ...

Johnsonville

3rd Shift R&D Technician

Denmark, WI · On-site

Position Overview Assists the R&D Director with product development and testing, documentation ... Previous experience with the USDA-FSIS label approval process is desirable. Understanding of meat ...

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How much do usda research jobs pay per hour?

As of May 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for usda research in the United States is $22.22, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $23.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a USDA Research Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a USDA Research Scientist, you need a strong background in agricultural science, biology, or a related field, typically supported by at least a master's or doctoral degree. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, statistical analysis software (like SAS or R), and scientific publishing platforms is essential. Strong analytical thinking, collaboration, and written communication skills help you design experiments, work in multidisciplinary teams, and share findings effectively. These skills are crucial for advancing agricultural research, securing grant funding, and contributing to evidence-based policy and innovation.

What types of collaborative projects do USDA research scientists typically work on, and how do these collaborations impact daily responsibilities?

USDA research scientists frequently collaborate with academic institutions, industry partners, and other government agencies on projects addressing agricultural challenges such as crop improvement, food safety, and environmental sustainability. These collaborations often involve multidisciplinary teams, requiring regular communication, joint data analysis, and co-authorship of reports and publications. As a result, a typical workweek may include team meetings, lab work, field studies, and coordination with external partners, offering a dynamic and engaging work environment.

What is a USDA Researcher?

A USDA Researcher is a scientist or specialist who works for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducting studies related to agriculture, food safety, natural resources, and rural development. Their work helps improve farming practices, ensure food quality, and address environmental challenges. USDA Researchers may specialize in areas such as plant science, animal health, soil conservation, or biotechnology. Their research supports the mission of the USDA to promote sustainable agriculture and ensure a safe, plentiful food supply for the nation.

What is the difference between Usda Research vs USDA Agricultural Technician?

AspectUsda ResearchUSDA Agricultural Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in agriculture, biology, or related fields; research experienceHigh school diploma or equivalent; technical training often preferred
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research farms, field sitesFieldwork, farm settings, laboratories
Employer & Industry UsageResearch agencies, government labs, universitiesUSDA field offices, agricultural agencies
Common Search & ComparisonResearch roles, scientific work, lab positionsFieldwork, farm support, technical assistance

USDA Research positions focus on scientific research, data analysis, and experimental work often requiring higher education and research experience. In contrast, USDA Agricultural Technicians typically perform field and technical support tasks with less emphasis on advanced degrees. Both roles serve the agricultural sector but differ in responsibilities, credentials, and work environments.

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Usda Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various Usda Research job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 33% Physical, and 67% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $46,222 per year, or $22.2 per hour.

Sr. Director of Quality & Research & Development

Branding Iron Holdings

Sauget, IL • On-site

$125K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
About the Company
For over 60 years, Branding Iron Holdings ("BIH") has been producing high quality beef and pork products while delivering customized solutions to the food service and retail trade industries. With an eye to the future, BIH has put a strong focus on building internal talent and on leveraging unique product lines and national distribution to drive continued growth. Guided by a strong set of core values (Respect, Integrity and Stewardship), reflecting a culture of servant leadership at every level, BIH's team works hard to foster a culture that embraces and builds meaningful, long-term relationships with both employees and its customer base.
Position Summary:
The Sr. Director of Quality & Research & Development is an executive-level leadership role responsible for company-wide quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, and product innovation across all USDA-inspected manufacturing facilities. This role provides strategic direction, governance, and technical leadership to ensure consistent execution of food safety and quality systems while driving product development and continuous improvement initiatives across the enterprise.
The Sr. Director leads and develops a team of plant-based Quality Assurance Managers and Research & Development Managers, ensuring alignment to corporate standards, customer requirements, and business objectives.
Scope of Responsibilities:
  • Enterprise oversight of all manufacturing plants
  • Direct leadership of QA Managers and R&D Managers
  • Strategic ownership of food safety, quality systems, USDA/FSIS compliance, and product development

Responsibilities:
Enterprise Quality & Food Safety Leadership
  • Establish, own, and continually improve the corporate Quality and Food Safety strategy across all facilities.
  • Ensure consistent implementation and governance of HACCP, SSOPs, GMPs, and USDA/FSIS regulatory requirements across all plants.
  • Serve as the corporate escalation point for regulatory matters, including USDA/FSIS enforcement actions, recalls, customer complaints, and food safety events.
  • Ensure all facilities always remain audit-ready, including USDA/FSIS, third-party, and customer audits.
  • Standardize key quality systems such as:
  • Non-conformance and CAPA management
  • Consumer complaint investigations
  • Hold / release and disposition processes
  • Document control and record retention
  • Define and track enterprise KPIs related to food safety, quality, customer complaints, audit performance, and cost of poor quality.

Research & Development / Product Innovation
  • Provide strategic leadership for company-wide R&D activities, including product development, reformulation, cost optimization, and process improvement.
  • Oversee development and commercialization of beef patty products, including formulation, yield optimization, sensory performance, and shelf life.
  • Ensure effective execution of plant trials, scaleups, and commercialization, aligned with Operations and Quality.
  • Partner with Sales and Marketing to deliver customer-driven innovation, private-label programs, and differentiation strategies.
  • Monitor industry and technical trends related to meat science, ingredients, processing technologies, and regulatory changes.

Multi-Plant Operations Partnership
  • Partner with Operations leadership to drive improvements in:
  • Process control and consistency
  • Yield, labor efficiency, and waste reduction
  • Root cause analysis and corrective actions
  • Ensure quality and R&D initiatives support operational excellence and financial performance.
  • Provide executive-level technical input for capital projects, process changes, and new equipment investments.

People Leadership & Organizational Development
  • Directly lead and develop QA Managers and R&D Manager across all facilities.
  • Build a strong pipeline of talent with clear succession planning across Quality and R&D functions.
  • Establish standardized expectations, competencies, and performance metrics for Quality and R&D teams.
  • Foster a strong food safety and quality culture throughout the organization.
  • Drive collaboration and alignment across plants to eliminate silos and promote best-practice sharing.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in food science, Meat Science, Animal Science, Microbiology, or related discipline required
  • 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Quality, Food Safety, and/or R&D within USDA-regulated meat manufacturing
  • Proven multi-plant leadership experience
  • Demonstrated success leading QA and R&D teams in a corporate or enterprise structure
  • Extensive hands-on experience with USDA/FSIS regulatory oversight and audits
  • Strong background in meat product development and commercialization, preferably beef
  • Expert knowledge of USDA/FSIS regulations, HACCP systems, and food safety management
  • Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline
  • Ability to lead in high-risk, high-visibility situations with regulators and customers
  • Excellent communicator capable of influencing at executive, plant, and regulatory levels

Work Environment:
  • Regular travel to manufacturing facilities and customer sites
  • Combination of corporate office, laboratory, and USDA plant floor environments

Benefits Overview
Competitive base salary ($125,000 to 200,000 annually). Base salary is one component of a competitive compensation package for employees. Full benefits package, including medical/ vision/ dental/life insurance, 401(k) with company match, and paid time off. We take into consideration a variety of factors including, but not limited to, skills, abilities, experience, education, credentials, and internal equity when determining the base salary offered. Roles are eligible for additional rewards, including an annual incentive program based on individual and company performance.
Branding Iron Holdings is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.
Salary Description
$125,000- $200,000

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