Irrigation Innovation Consortium TAPS Project Manager

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: 3 months ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 28 Jan 2024

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Irrigation Innovation Consortium TAPS Project Manager
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202400061AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Research Associate II
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $55,000-65,000. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
  • For detailed benefit plan information for eligible employees, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ and https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
  • For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/ .
  • For more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in, visit https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/ .
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 01/28/2024
Description of Work Unit
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is focused on education, research, and outreach to solve the world’s most pressing food production issues and crucial matters about Earth, its ecosystems, and their services. Our faculty and staff apply research-based solutions to benefit Colorado and the world. We offer academic programs to prepare students to address national and global crop production, sustainability, and environmental quality challenges such as waste management, water quality, and reclamation of drastically disturbed lands. There are numerous opportunities for students to be involved in cutting edge research related to global food production and ecosystem function and protection.
The Irrigation Innovation Consortium (IIC), Colorado State University, advances development and adoption of water and energy efficient tools, technologies, and practices in agricultural irrigation. IIC supports research, training, and demonstration projects at CSU, other land grant universities and locations. Since its founding in 2018, IIC has supported over 45 research projects in the western U.S involving private companies and public entities as collaborative partners. CSU-TAPS is completing its first competition in 2023 and is now planning for the 2024 growing season and subsequent years. CSU-TAPS is implemented in partnership with CSU’s Agricultural Research, Development, and Education Center (ARDEC). The CSU Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) project was designed in collaboration with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). CSU-TAPS is an interactive, real-life farm management competition that helps producers, researchers, tech providers, and others identify how to boost agricultural profitability, and increase input use efficiency. The program gives producers and others a hands-on, no-risk, and competitive means to use water management technologies to support in-season decisions to increase farm profitably and improve efficiency of labor, water use, and energy use.
Position Summary
The Research Associate will manage the CSU-TAPS program, support coordination of TAPS components of the multistate Climate Smart Advances in Ag Performance technical agreement, and support administration of the CWCB-funded grant.
  • Supporting irrigation system infrastructure upgrades at ARDEC
  • Managing the CSU-TAPS program including: preparations for 2024 competition; in-person events and communications with participants, sponsors, and partners; coordination with ARDEC staff and CSU-TAPS field technician(s) on field operations
  • Acquiring, organizing, analyzing and presenting irrigation, agronomic, economic, and other data from the CSU-TAPS competition; supporting data management for TAPS competitions in other states
  • Supporting the design of irrigation and water management research to be conducted in parallel with the CSU-TAPS program
  • Collaborating with technology and industry representatives to assess and demonstrate precision irrigation tools and practices in the TAPS competitions
  • Contributing to TAPS portal and website design, function, and maintenance
  • Contributing to reports and publications on the CSU-TAPS program and associated research
  • Reporting on grant and technical agreement activities including project administration, results, and impacts
  • Communicating about TAPS through field day presentations, conferences, website content, newsletters, and social media.
Required Job Qualifications
  • Research Associate I + 3 years experience or B.S. degree + 3 years professional experience or Master’s degree. Completed BS in agronomy, engineering, or a closely related field.
  • Two years of experience with data collection and analysis, managing grant funds and reporting, communications, and outreach
  • Experience working with agriculture producers, irrigators, partners, and researchers
  • Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
  • The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by start date of employment; the department will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Experience designing agriculture research projects, agriculture field experience.
Diversity Statement
Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Manage CSU TAPS project
Duty/Responsibility
The primary research and training activities will finalize the design, develop, and launch of the CSU TAPS 2024 program, at the ARDEC site. Acquire and analyze irrigation, agronomic, economic, and other data from the TAPS competition; prepare and present metrics on irrigation and crop efficiency, profitability and other factors; lead and/or support faculty researchers in designing irrigation and water management research to be conducted in parallel with the TAPS program using VRI and other advanced technologies. The Research Associate will be responsible for:
  • Managing the CSU-TAPS program including preparations for 2024 competition; in-person events and communications with participants, sponsors, and partners; coordination with ARDEC staff and CSU-TAPS field technician(s) on field operations
  • Acquiring, organizing, analyzing and presenting irrigation, agronomic, economic, and other data from the CSU-TAPS competition; supporting data management for TAPS competitions in other states
  • Supporting the design of irrigation and water management research to be conducted in parallel with the CSU-TAPS program
  • Collaborating with technology and industry representatives to assess and demonstrate precision irrigation tools and practices in the TAPS competitions
  • Contributing to reports and publications on the CSU-TAPS program and associated research
  • Communicating about TAPS through field day presentations, conferences, website content, newsletters, and social media.
Percentage Of Time 70
Job Duty Category Coordinate with TAPS project managers in other states (NE, KS, OK)
Duty/Responsibility
  • Coordinate with team members on data management, analyses, and presentations to ensure a common approach across multiple states
  • Write and contribute to publications on the multistate TAPS program and associated research with other land grant university scientists and engineers
  • Communicate via presentations, conferences, website and social media
  • Contribute to TAPS portal and website design, function, and maintenance
Percentage Of Time 20
Job Duty Category Administration of the CWCB grant at CSU for ARDEC upgrades
Duty/Responsibility
  • Coordinate the final steps needed for completing ARDEC infrastructure investments including upgrade of a linear sprinkler to a fully automated variable rate irrigation (VRI) system, establishing a reference ET station, and other hydraulic infrastructure upgrades.
  • Regularly review scope of work, ensure the project is on-track per grant agreement; manage budget, invoices, and expenditures; oversee procurement of materials and services working with contracts and procurement specialists and adhering to established policy and procedures; prepare interim and annual reports to funding agency; prepare and present project success and outreach materials.
  • Reporting on grant and technical agreement activities including project administration, results, and impacts
Percentage Of Time 10

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
Apply online by 01/21/24 for full consideration. Complete application includes:
  • Cover letter addressing required and preferred qualifications;
  • Resume, and
  • Contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.


    • CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
    Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License
    Search Contact [email protected]
    EEO Statement
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    The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
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    Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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