Geospatial Data Scientist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide, employing approximately 12,000 staff members. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's Statistics Division (ESS) is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating agrifood systems data from member countries, generating statistics and accompanying briefs in various platforms such as FAOSTAT and RuLIS. The division collaborates with technical FAO divisions and decentralized offices to develop Earth observation-based solutions for agricultural statistics and evidence-based decision-making, thereby supporting food security and food system transformation.

Job Overview:
The Geospatial scientist" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Data Scientist will play a crucial role in the FAO Statistics Division (ESS) by providing technical support related to Earth Observation (EO) data for agricultural statistics. This position requires expertise in applying EO data to address practical challenges in agricultural monitoring and statistical production, particularly in developing countries. The incumbent will work closely with various FAO divisions, regional offices, and national counterparts to develop methodologies and indicators that enhance national agricultural statistical frameworks. The role involves designing and implementing EO-based methodologies for crop area and yield assessments, climate resilience, and disaster impact evaluations. The Geospatial Data Scientist will also be responsible for integrating EO data with other data sources to improve statistical processes and fill data gaps, thereby contributing to evidence-based policy analysis and decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will have a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Designing, implementing, and validating EO-based methodologies and indicators for agricultural statistics, focusing on crop area and yield, climate resilience, and disaster assessments.
• Supporting the preprocessing and utilization of EO satellite images and time series data for various FAO initiatives such as EOSTAT and the 50x2030 Initiative.
• Applying geospatial data science and machine learning techniques to enhance statistical indicators derived from diverse data sources.
• Developing integrated data collection strategies that combine EO data with census and survey data, including the design of digital data collection systems.
• Establishing data quality assurance protocols for EO-derived products and ensuring compliance with national and global data frameworks.
• Collaborating with national technical counterparts to integrate EO-derived evidence into official statistical production cycles.
• Contributing to capacity development activities by preparing training materials and providing technical assistance to national agencies.
• Supporting outreach efforts to promote the use of EO data access services in developing countries.
• Translating geospatial analysis into actionable technical notes and policy briefs. 1
• Maintaining relevant metadata for geospatial products in FAO platforms.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Environmental Science, Data Science, Informatics, Geography, Statistics, or related fields. Those with a bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience. A minimum of five years of experience in applying EO data to agricultural monitoring and food statistics is required, with a focus on developing country contexts. Candidates should also have a working knowledge of English and demonstrate core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, and knowledge sharing.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in relevant fields such as Environmental Science, Data Science, Informatics, Geography, or Statistics. For consultants with a bachelor's degree, two additional years of relevant professional experience are necessary to qualify for the position.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in applying Earth Observation data to agricultural monitoring, food and agriculture statistics, or evidence-based policy analysis. Candidates should have a demonstrable focus on developing country contexts and experience in managing complex agricultural data collection processes, including the integration of EO data with other datasets.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional languages such as Spanish and French is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in diverse environments and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The job does not specify a deadline for applications, and it is important to note that the position may involve international collaboration. The role is likely to be full-time, and candidates should be prepared for potential travel to developing countries as part of their responsibilities. Compensation and benefits details are not provided in the job description.