CIAT GIS Analyst Job

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) - a member of the CGIAR Consortium - develops technologies, innovative methods, and new knowledge that better enable farmers, especially smallholders, to make agriculture competitive and profitable as well as sustainable and resilient.CIAT conducts research for development in tropical regions of Latin America, Africa, and Asia
The Position:
CIAT is seeking for a GIS Analyst to support the Soils and Tropical Forages Research Areas; the position will be responsible for GIS mapping and spatial analysis in different projects under the guidance of a senior scientist.
The GIS Analyst will also work independently, depending on the specific project(s).
Main duties and responsibilities include:

Using GIS data and remote sensing imagery to map and model ecosystem services;

Design and implement data models on open source and/or commercial RDBMS;

Programing in Python, R, JavaScript, PHP, HTML, etc. as desired;

Analyzing land use change over time;

Modeling agricultural suitability and productivity;

Modeling climate change impacts to ecosystem services and agriculture;

GIS database management;

Cartography and creating of well-designed map layouts;

Automation of spatial analysis processes;

Participate in fieldwork data collection activities.

The candidate shall have the following competencies, skills and experience:

BSc. Degree in a geo-information related field with a minimum of 2 years relevant experience;

Proven ability of operating open source (e.g. QGIS, GDAL) and commercial GIS (e.g ArcGIS) application software and its advanced analysis and modeling packages/functions;

Spatial data collection with the use of a GPS receiver;

Good cartographic and graphic design skills using various software applications e.g. Adobe Illustrator;

Basic knowledge of statistics and ability to use statistical programs;

Ability to design and implement data models on open source and/or commercial RDBMS;

Programming in Python, R, JavaScript, PHP, HTML, etc. desired;

Ability to work with map servers will be an added advantage;

Organizational skills in order to assure quality data and traceable workflow;

Capacity/willingness to work in the field;

Excellent English writing skills with the ability to write clearly and concisely for a range of audiences;

Experience of working with the agricultural/conservation scientific research community.Terms of employment:
The position is nationally recruited and based at the CIAT Offices in Nairobi, Kenya.
The contract will be for a one-year period, subject to probation period of three (3) months, renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.
How to Apply:
Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications, competencies, skills together with a detailed curriculum vitae, names and addresses of three professional referees.
All correspondence should be sent to: ciatkenyainfo@cgiar.org and should clearly indicate “GIS Analyst” on the subject line.
Applications and CV’s should be saved as one file using the applicant’s last name and first name for ease of sorting.
Closing date for applications: 9th January, 2014.
All applications will be acknowledged; only short listed candidates will be contacted.