Soil Spatial Information Analyst Job Vacancy at CABI in Nairobi Kenya 2013
Soil Spatial Information Analyst – The Optimizing Fertilizer
Recommendations in Africa (OFRA) project
CABI – Nairobi, Kenya
The Soil Spatial Information Analyst will work in the intersection of key leading R&D initiatives on digital soil mapping and the development of fertilizer recommendations for key crops in Africa within the OFRA project and CABI.
The position is co-funded by AfSIS – the African Soil Information Service and OFRA.
The incumbent will work with some of the leading practitioners in the most innovative agencies working in soil science in Africa as part of a setup that includes the CABI led Africa Soil Health Consortium (ASHC).
Established over 100 years ago, CABI is an intergovernmental not-for-profit science-based development and information organization.
CABI improves people’s lives by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment.
Our mission and direction is influenced by our member countries who help guide the activities undertaken. These include scientific publishing, development projects and research, and microbial services.
Our activities are based principally in 2 major sites in the UK and 5 scientific centres globally.
Please see our website www.cabi.org for further details about our organisation.
OFRA is funded by AGRA and coordinated by CABI, through the Africa Soil Health Consortium (ASHC) in collaboration with the project partner, the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL).
The project aims to develop and fine-tune fertiliser recommendations within an integrated soil fertility management framework to help improve the productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers in Africa.
It is run in 13 sub-Saharan countries in Africa – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
National agriculture research and extension systems will be working with CABI and UNL to conduct field research to obtain information needed to optimize on-farm profitability of fertilizer use and enabling advisors to assist farmers in applying this information.
The fertilizer optimization recommendations will cover the main cereal-legume cropping systems.
The cereal crops will include maize, sorghum, pearl and finger millet, teff and rice.
The legumes covered will include beans, groundnuts, soybean, pigeonpea, chickpea, and cowpea.
Working closely with other OFRA staff, the successful candidate will:
- use spatial data to inform planning of agronomic trials and allow more efficient use of data;
- develop tools to contribute to improved fertilizer recommendations;
- Link with AfSIS on all technical aspects of the project to ensure compatibility between systems, effective data sharing and collaboration in development of tools and models;
- facilitate interactions between NARES partners and other international organizations;
- backstop sub-grantees in technical statistical analysis areas;
- oversee data management working with the database manager and AfSIS.
He/she will have:
- a BSc in agronomy or related areas;
- post-graduate degree (MSc or above) where advanced techniques in data management and analysis were applied;
- computing skills primarily in managing dBases;
- statistical analyses advanced skills in GIS and spatial analysis;
- relevant demonstrated experience in application of advanced data management and analysis techniques for large amounts of complex data;
- quantitative/analytical mindset with good understanding of databases and analysis;
- detailed knowledge of fertilizer use and Integrated Soil Fertility Management in the context of agricultural research and development in Africa;
- ability to write for and present to a variety of audiences in English.
It is desirable to have:
- strong awareness and understanding of gender issues in agriculture;
- understand how to communicate with non-scientific audiences;
- excellent written and verbal communications skills including facilitation of meetings;
- knowledge of French and/ or Portuguese and
- ability to use multiple ICT systems and software.
The candidate shall have ability to prioritise and manage diverse workloads, use initiative and proactive thinking and pay attention to details.
A good level of project management skills is essential with high level of confidentiality and ability to cope well with changing environment.
Salary: Negotiable but commensurate with skills, abilities and experience.
Position Type: 24 months initial appointment with a possibility of renewal.
The successful applicant will be based in our CABI office in Nairobi – Kenya.
Applications in writing by cover letter stating how you meet the requirements above together with the names and contact details of three referees and a full current CV should be sent to recruitment@cabi.org.
Closing date for receipt of applications is midnight GMT 30th September 2013.