Geospatial Data Scientist at Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD)

In an effort to support crop yield estimation in eastern Africa, RCMRD is working with a number of models such as RHEAS (Regional Hydrologic Extremes Assessment System) and a recently developed machine learning model termed as Global Earth Observation based Crop Yield and Condition Forecasting (GEOCIIF). For the GEOCIIF model, the Centre anticipates to operate the model to cover three crops in a number of target countries in 2023. Reporting to the Crop Modeller and the Science, Data and Technology Lead, the Geospatial Data Scientist will undertake the responsibilities outlined below.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the institution’s crop modelling work, including implementation of three crop models and their anticipated scaling.
• Support big data mining using intelligent algorithms, advanced coding and statistical analysis for complex data synthesis and analytics for several countries in 2022 and 11 countries in 2023.
• Develop required mechanisms for automation and data analytics.
• Assist in establishing capabilities around growing data science needs and propel the region’s capacity in the use of AI, deep learning/machine learning, and crop models.
• Work with stakeholders, governments, and agricultural scientists in the region.

Qualifications and Experience

• MSc. Degree in GIS, Environmental science, Agronomy, Geo-spatial information science.
• Have a strong background in use of Python specifically for spatial data science and modelling, experience in basic crop science, and a passion for building solutions to difficult social problems in agriculture sector.
• Have a minimum of Three (3) years’ experience in industry or applied research and be eager to apply those skills to emerging challenges in agriculture.
• Three or more years working in geo-spatial data science industry or applied research in academia.
• Profound experience with supervised machine learning algorithms (both deep learning and non-deep learning approaches) and with both structured and unstructured data (e.g., tabular administrative data, satellite imagery, text, hard-copy data etc).
• Knowledge and ability to use Linux servers, deploy/run applications on Linux environments.
• Experience in mentoring other staff and training stakeholders, including the ability and interest in sharing knowledge, mentoring others, presenting work and reviewing the work of peers.
• Experience with the design and delivery of a geo-spatial tool or product from start to finish.
• Experience in use of cloud computation platforms.
• Experience working with satellite imagery / remote sensing data for agriculture.
• Ability to analyse statistical data using SPSS, Stata or R. In principle, ability to mine and discover knowledge using intelligent algorithms.
• Experience in conducting fieldworks to collect or validate spatial predictions. In addition, the ability to develop customized field collection applications using opensource solutions.
• Ability to use computer vision algorithms for agriculture applications.
• Ability to apply state-of-the-art data science skills to enable integration and processing of large datasets from multiple sources.
• Experience with programming in teams, and methods to maintain code integrity, documentation and standards.
• Ability to develop and/or refine existing scripts and tools for statistical analysis that can be used to curate, analyse and visualize their data.

Contract Duration: The position is for an initial fixed-term of two (2) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. The expected renumeration package for this position shall be Ksh. 170,000 per month with other benefits such as Medical Insurance.