Data Manager - Agronomy

Background:

Columbia Global Centers | Africa (CGC Africa) is part of Columbia University’s global network of centers, which together aim to create opportunities in research, scholarship and teaching around the world, and expand Columbia's mission as a global university. Established in Nairobi in 2011, CGC Africa links the continent to Columbia’s scientific rigor, technological innovation, and academic leadership. The Centre works closely with policy makers, governments, and regional and African institutions, providing them with objective, science-based advice.

The African Soil Information Service (AfSIS), is a large-scale, research project under CGC Africa providing practical, timely, and cost-effective soil health surveillance services to map soil conditions, establish baselines for monitoring changes, develop global standards and methodologies, and provide evidence-based options for improved soil and land management in Africa. The research and development activities are undertaken by a consortium of public and private institutions, including: the Earth Institute (EI) of Columbia University, the World Agroforestry Centre/ICRAF, the International Soil Reference and Information Service (ISRIC) and Quality Engineering Design (QED), a software development company.

CGC Africa is looking to fill the following position:

Position: Data Manager - Agronomy

Job Summary:

The Data Manager - Agronomy will be responsible for bringing together crop distribution information and yield information as collected by a large number of agencies to be able to develop statistical models for crop distribution, yield and harvest predictions and crop condition monitoring across Sub-saharan Africa (SSA).

Reporting to: Work Stream 3 Leader

Responsibilities:

1. Source, collect, compile, select, organise and enter crop distribution and yield information together with essential attributes such as fertilizer and other inputs, weed and pest management, area when relevant in an agreed database format allowing easy retrieval and combination with available covariates.
2. Using high resolution UAV imagery and their applications, analyse crop distribution, crop densities and biomass, crop field sizes and crop condition to be used for extrapolation to larger areas.
3. Build time series of dynamic covariates from remote sensing (a.g. NDVI, LSTD, fPAR) and other sources (such as weather stations) to optimise and automate the production of countrywide and regional crop distribution and crop yield models for Africa's main crops.
4. Work closely with the AfSIS subcontractors on database and application development who will develop the process for data entry, storage, retrieval and model development.
5. Liaise in cooperation with the Agronomy Workstream Leader of AfSIS with the various organisations to acquire data and to create awareness about the resulting products and provide backstopping regarding their use.
6. Work with the Agronomy Workstream Leader of AfSIS to assist developing near real-time crop condition monitoring tools using cropland, crop distribution, digital soil maps and statistical crop prediction models starting with maize.
7. Assist the Agronomy Workstream Leader of AfSIS with daily tasks as agreed during management meetings.
8. Assist the Agronomy Workstream Leader of AfSIS with developing training materials, presentations and manuals on the developed products.
9. Assist the Agronomy Workstream Leader of AfSIS in workshops, meetings on related subjects organised by AfSIS or its partners.

Education:

At least a Bachelor’s Degree in an Agricultural Science field, preferably a Master’s Degree related to research, data analysis, computer science, remote sensing, agriculture or related field

Skills:

1. Possess a strong knowledge of research methods, database management, programming, statistical.
2. Analysis, remote sensing, preferably in agriculture or other relevant natural resources. Strong skills in spatial analysis, GIS, preferably open source GIS and GIS programming is a distinct advantage.
3. Proven skills in report writing and scientific publications are an asset. Proven experience in training is an advantage. Must be fluent in spoken and written English.
4. Candidates will be expected to pass real-time programming interviews, and provide a full CV with all known programming languages enumerated along with the number of years of experience in each. Experience working with open source software and github is a plus.

Experience:

1. Minimum 2 years of relevant experience in natural resource management, preferably in the field of agriculture data management or a closely related experience.
2. Minimum 2 years of experience programming in R and/or Python is preferred, along with high fluency working with databases such as PostgreSQL and MySQL.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications for this position should be sent to recruitment@cgcafrica.org not later than 28th December, 2015. The CV should include contacts of three referees. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Columbia Global Centers Africa is an equal opportunity employer. To learn more about our organization visit: http://globalcenters.columbia.edu/nairobi/