Senior Technical Officer-Geospatial Specialist

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, known by its Spanish acronym, CIMMYT®, is a not-for-profit agricultural research and training organization with partners in over 100 countries. Please refer to our website for more information: www.cimmyt.org.

The CIMMYT is seeking an experienced professional to support Nepal Seed and Fertilizer (NSAF) project funded by USAID. The project promotes the use of improved seeds and Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies approved and registered by the Government of Nepal. The Project will specifically increase availability of technologies to improve productivity in maize, rice, lentils, and high value vegetable farming. The project also works to improve capacity of both the public and private sectors in their respective roles for technology development and its in-country dissemination.

The Senior Technical Officer – Geo Spatial Specialist will be responsible for developing and managing databases, preparing socio-economic and agronomic profiles, upgrading and maintaining the digital soil map of Nepal and leading the digital agriculture initiative of the Nepal Seed and Fertilizer project.

Duty station: Kathmandu

Major duties and responsibilities:

Digital Soil Mapping (DSM)

• Work closely with Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) to upgrade Digital Soil Map (DSM) based on new soil test data generated from the project and other public and private actors.
• Provide training on DSM to the Palikas and other public and private stakeholders at local and provincial level for soil fertility management using the DSM.
• Support the project team and Local Governments to prepare soil health cards.

Data collection & supporting digital tools

• Review, design and implement innovative digital agriculture tools, apps and platforms with public and private stakeholders for precision nutrient management, marketing information and agriculture advisory services.
• Use open-source data collection platforms such as ODK/KOBO to conduct survey and other related activities.
• Train field team and extension workers about data collection techniques and procedures using ODK/KOBO.
• Maintain effective coordination with field staff and partner cooperatives, GoN agencies, agrovets, development partners, digital service providers, and provincial soil labs to collect the soil fertility information and other project related agronomic and value chain data.

Data analysis

• Conduct mapping of socioeconomic and agronomic profile (cropping system, soil fertility etc.,) of project locations.
• Undertake both spatial and non-spatial data analysis using statistical software such as R, python, SAS etc.
• Prepare and manage database of the project activities.

Writing & communication

• Participate in the publication of research results through annual reports, presentations, and publications.
• Perform any other activity as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications and Skills: 

• MSc degree in Geoinformation science (GIS), Remote sensing (RS), Information technology (IT) or other closely related discipline.
• At least five years of working experience in the spatial and non-spatial database management and analytics. Database management and analytics in agriculture discipline is preferred.
• Able to program in R, Python or similar languages
• Demonstrated analytical skills on image analysis, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
• Domain expertise in agroecological mapping
• Excellent work ethics and demonstrated potential to work independently with minimal supervision and to work in inter-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to undertake multiple tasks and work under strict deadlines.
• Valid motorcycle driving license, preferred.

Candidates must go through the link below and submit the application with detailed information no later than January 4th, 2023.

https://cimmytrecruitment.wufoo.com/forms/n22235-senior-technical-officer-geospatial/

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.