How to apply for Open Call - Soil Carbon Field Tech (Contract - Central US based)

About Yard Stick PBC

Yard Stick is a seed-stage, remote-first company with founders in Boston and Oakland. It builds soil carbon measurement technology that cuts measurement costs by 90% or more. The goal is to enable gigaton-scale soil carbon sequestration by making measurement affordable and accurate.

About the role

You will deploy Yard Stick's soil carbon measurement technology and traditional soil testing methods on fields across the US. This is a 1099 contract, seasonal or part-time role with significant cross-country travel. Your work directly supports the field data that makes low-cost soil carbon measurement possible.

A typical day

A typical day might involve traveling to a farm, setting up and operating Yard Stick's soil measurement equipment, and collecting soil samples following traditional testing methods. You would record data accurately, coordinate with farmers or landowners on site, and then travel to the next field location. Days are likely long and variable depending on weather and travel distances.

Who Yard Stick PBC is looking for

• Comfortable with extensive travel across the US and working outdoors on farms in different conditions.
• Reliable and self-directed, able to follow field protocols without close supervision.
• Entrepreneurial in mindset, willing to adapt as a small seed-stage company refines its field operations.
• Interested in soil health, agriculture, or climate change and able to represent Yard Stick professionally to farmers and landowners.

Tips for this application

• State clearly that you understand this is a 1099 contract role, not full-time employment with benefits, and that you accept the seasonal or part-time schedule.
• List any experience with soil sampling, agricultural fieldwork, or operating scientific instruments in the field.
• Confirm your willingness and ability to travel cross-country for extended periods, since this is a core requirement.
• Mention any familiarity with regenerative agriculture or soil carbon topics, as it shows you understand the context of the work.
• Keep your application concise and direct, matching the practical, operations-focused nature of the role.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain why you want to work on soil carbon measurement specifically, not just climate change in general. Describe your field experience and ability to work independently outdoors. Confirm your availability for seasonal or part-time contract work and cross-country travel. Show that you can communicate professionally with farmers and follow technical protocols accurately.

Research before applying

• Read Yard Stick's website and any public materials about their measurement technology and how it differs from traditional soil testing.
• Look up the founders' backgrounds and any interviews or talks they have given about soil carbon and measurement costs.
• Understand the basics of soil carbon sequestration and regenerative agriculture practices so you can speak about them accurately.
• Check if Yard Stick has published any field results, pilots, or partnerships that show how their technology is used on farms.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Your experience with field data collection, soil sampling, or operating equipment outdoors.
• How you handle travel-heavy schedules and working alone in remote locations.
• Your understanding of soil carbon measurement and why accurate, low-cost measurement matters.
• How you stay reliable and detail-oriented when following technical protocols in the field.
• Your availability for seasonal or part-time work and any constraints on travel.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without acknowledging the 1099 contract, seasonal, and travel-heavy nature of the role.
• Treating this as a standard full-time job application and ignoring the field operations and travel requirements.
• Using generic climate passion language without showing any practical field or soil experience.