Geospatial Applications Specialist
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Job Description
Job Posting Organization:
The Agrifood Economics and Policy Division (ESA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is dedicated to conducting economic research and policy analysis aimed at transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Established to support better production, nutrition, environment, and quality of life, the division plays a crucial role in providing evidence-based support for national, regional, and global policy processes. ESA is recognized for its flagship publications, including The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and The State of security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI), which inform international policy debates on agricultural development and food security. The division collaborates with various partners, including the European Space Agency and UNECA, to implement programs like ESTELLA, which utilizes Earth Observation (EO) data for agricultural monitoring and resource management across multiple countries, including Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Senegal.
Job Overview:
The Geospatial Applications Specialist will provide specialized technical expertise in EO-based agricultural monitoring, focusing on satellite image processing, machine learning, and geospatial AI. The role emphasizes the delivery of scalable products such as crop type maps and yield forecasts, integrating EO-derived outputs with national farmer registries to enhance operational service delivery to smallholder farmers. The incumbent will work closely with national agencies to strengthen their capacity in producing and utilizing EO-derived agricultural statistics, ensuring that the outputs are institutionally embedded and contribute to evidence-based policy targeting. This position requires a strong understanding of EO data applications in agricultural contexts, particularly in developing countries, and the ability to translate complex geospatial findings into actionable policy recommendations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Geospatial Applications Specialist include preprocessing and analyzing multi-temporal satellite image time series for crop monitoring and land cover mapping, operating and customizing the Sen4Stat processing chain for agricultural monitoring products, and adapting Sen4CAP workflows for compliance monitoring in smallholder farming systems. The specialist will develop EO-derived biomass and yield forecasting models, calibrate these models against national crop survey data, and integrate productivity indicators into the ESTELLA regional platform. Additionally, the role involves applying geospatial foundation models for crop classification, developing drought monitoring algorithms, and supporting the integration of EO-derived products with national farmer registries. The specialist will also be responsible for designing field data collection protocols, conducting validation and accuracy assessments of EO-derived products, and collaborating with national technical counterparts to integrate EO-derived products into official statistical production cycles.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Environmental Science, Data Science, Geography, Agronomy, Statistics, or related fields. For those applying as consultants, a bachelor's degree is acceptable with two additional years of relevant professional experience. A minimum of one year of relevant experience is required for category C, five years for category B, and ten years for category A positions. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in applying EO data to agricultural monitoring and policy analysis, particularly in developing country contexts. A working knowledge of English is mandatory, while proficiency in French and Spanish is considered an asset.
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, Geography, Agronomy, or Statistics. For those applying as consultants, a bachelor's degree is acceptable with additional years of relevant experience. The educational qualifications should reflect a strong foundation in the technical aspects of EO data applications and agricultural monitoring.
Experience:
The level of experience needed for this position varies by category: a minimum of one year for category C, five years for category B, and ten years for category A. Candidates should have relevant experience in applying EO data to agricultural monitoring, food security, or policy analysis, with a focus on developing country contexts. Proven expertise in satellite image processing, machine learning, and geospatial analysis is essential, along with experience in integrating EO-derived products into national statistical systems and operational frameworks.
Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, proficiency in French and Spanish is considered advantageous, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate and collaborate in diverse international settings.
Additional Notes:
The position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work location. Candidates will be assessed against specific criteria, including hands-on experience with Sen4Stat and Sen4CAP processing chains, expertise in EO-based yield forecasting and biomass estimation, and proficiency in cloud-based EO platforms such as Google Earth Engine. The role may involve collaboration with national counterparts and requires a commitment to capacity development through training and technical support. The position is expected to contribute significantly to the integration of EO-derived products into operational policy frameworks, enhancing agricultural service delivery and resilience in target countries.
The Agrifood Economics and Policy Division (ESA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is dedicated to conducting economic research and policy analysis aimed at transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Established to support better production, nutrition, environment, and quality of life, the division plays a crucial role in providing evidence-based support for national, regional, and global policy processes. ESA is recognized for its flagship publications, including The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and The State of security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI), which inform international policy debates on agricultural development and food security. The division collaborates with various partners, including the European Space Agency and UNECA, to implement programs like ESTELLA, which utilizes Earth Observation (EO) data for agricultural monitoring and resource management across multiple countries, including Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Senegal.
Job Overview:
The Geospatial Applications Specialist will provide specialized technical expertise in EO-based agricultural monitoring, focusing on satellite image processing, machine learning, and geospatial AI. The role emphasizes the delivery of scalable products such as crop type maps and yield forecasts, integrating EO-derived outputs with national farmer registries to enhance operational service delivery to smallholder farmers. The incumbent will work closely with national agencies to strengthen their capacity in producing and utilizing EO-derived agricultural statistics, ensuring that the outputs are institutionally embedded and contribute to evidence-based policy targeting. This position requires a strong understanding of EO data applications in agricultural contexts, particularly in developing countries, and the ability to translate complex geospatial findings into actionable policy recommendations.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Geospatial Applications Specialist include preprocessing and analyzing multi-temporal satellite image time series for crop monitoring and land cover mapping, operating and customizing the Sen4Stat processing chain for agricultural monitoring products, and adapting Sen4CAP workflows for compliance monitoring in smallholder farming systems. The specialist will develop EO-derived biomass and yield forecasting models, calibrate these models against national crop survey data, and integrate productivity indicators into the ESTELLA regional platform. Additionally, the role involves applying geospatial foundation models for crop classification, developing drought monitoring algorithms, and supporting the integration of EO-derived products with national farmer registries. The specialist will also be responsible for designing field data collection protocols, conducting validation and accuracy assessments of EO-derived products, and collaborating with national technical counterparts to integrate EO-derived products into official statistical production cycles.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Environmental Science, Data Science, Geography, Agronomy, Statistics, or related fields. For those applying as consultants, a bachelor's degree is acceptable with two additional years of relevant professional experience. A minimum of one year of relevant experience is required for category C, five years for category B, and ten years for category A positions. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in applying EO data to agricultural monitoring and policy analysis, particularly in developing country contexts. A working knowledge of English is mandatory, while proficiency in French and Spanish is considered an asset.
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, Geography, Agronomy, or Statistics. For those applying as consultants, a bachelor's degree is acceptable with additional years of relevant experience. The educational qualifications should reflect a strong foundation in the technical aspects of EO data applications and agricultural monitoring.
Experience:
The level of experience needed for this position varies by category: a minimum of one year for category C, five years for category B, and ten years for category A. Candidates should have relevant experience in applying EO data to agricultural monitoring, food security, or policy analysis, with a focus on developing country contexts. Proven expertise in satellite image processing, machine learning, and geospatial analysis is essential, along with experience in integrating EO-derived products into national statistical systems and operational frameworks.
Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, proficiency in French and Spanish is considered advantageous, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate and collaborate in diverse international settings.
Additional Notes:
The position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work location. Candidates will be assessed against specific criteria, including hands-on experience with Sen4Stat and Sen4CAP processing chains, expertise in EO-based yield forecasting and biomass estimation, and proficiency in cloud-based EO platforms such as Google Earth Engine. The role may involve collaboration with national counterparts and requires a commitment to capacity development through training and technical support. The position is expected to contribute significantly to the integration of EO-derived products into operational policy frameworks, enhancing agricultural service delivery and resilience in target countries.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.