Remote Sensing Senior Scientist -- CIMMYT, India, South Africa

Job Category:	Global Conservation Agriculture Program
Position Title:	Remote Sensing Senior Scientist
Type of Contract:	Internationally Recruited Staff
Location:	India South Africa

Desired Skills:    
Description:    
We are seeking a dynamic, innovative and self-motivated scientist for the position of Remote Sensing Senior Scientist. The selected candidate will work as a member of CIMMYT’s Global Conservation Agriculture Program, and will contribute to a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team, leading the remote sensing components of our research.

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

The position will be based in one of our CIMMYT offices in India, South Asia or Africa.

Specific duties of this position include:

• Contribute to on-going remote-sensing and precision agriculture research in LAC, South Asia, and Africa within our sustainable intensification R4D framework.
• Develop further CIMMYT internal technical capacities in remote sensing.
• Develop, in coordination with CIMMYT’s GIS and knowledge management units, a robust geospatial information system on maize and wheat agro-ecologies aiming at better identifying recommendation domains/targeting for our technological innovations.
• Further improve image based decision support systems for nutrient and water management.
• Collaborate with CIMMYT maize and wheat breeding programs on strengthening phenotyping platforms.
• Communicate research results to various audiences and in various forms, prepare technical reports, papers for publication and presentations of results of this research.
• Provide practical training to researchers from national research programs and extension agents in the use of remote sensing in agriculture.
• Develop collaborations with advanced research institutions and link with global initiatives related to crop monitoring.
• Strengthen collaborations with public and private sector and develop business cases for wide adoption of geoaspatial tools in various environments.
• Lead or contribute to the development of research proposals.

We are seeking candidates with the following academic qualifications, skills and attitudes:

• PhD in remote sensing, environmental science, or agriculture.
• Minimum 10 years' work experience in remote sensing for agriculture.
• Good understanding of the role of geospatial sciences in development at various scales.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing practical remote sensing applications and decision support tools in agriculture.
• Good track record in resource mobilization and research proposal development.
• Ability to lead and mentor group of junior scientists.
• Experience developing training materials and organizing and conducting trainings.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experience working and interacting effectively with a variety of stakeholders, and demonstrated ability to collaborate well across disciplines and with key collaborative institutions and agencies.
• Strong publication record in peer reviewed journals.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge of main remote sensing and GIS tools software.
• Knowledge of R-Cran is a plus.
• Given the global nature of the position, substantial international travel will be required.

We will offer an initial contract for three years, which may be renewable subject to continued need and funding for the position and performance of the staff member. Our internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment

CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.

To apply for this position, please email cover letter and CV no later than Monday, 1 September, 2014 to Human Resources, CIMMYT (Email: irsrecruitment@cgiar.org / Please indicate Position Reference number: 12355 in the header of your email). For further information on the selection process, please contact Guillermo Flores, at g.flores@cgiar.org

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