Senior Specialist - Data-Driven Agronomy

Senior Specialist - Data-Driven Agronomy

Job ID:

HQ01929

Location

Cambodia

Closing Date

22-Nov-2026

About IRRI

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.

Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.

Job Purpose

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is working in Cambodia and across Southeast Asia to strengthen advanced agronomy analytics and development programs. As part of this effort, IRRI is developing and implementing the Landscape Crop Assessment Survey (LCAS), a comprehensive spatial agronomy analysis system designed to generate high-quality farm, household, environmental, and landscape-level data to support evidence based agricultural research, policy development, and investment planning.

Under the supervision of the Senior Scientist, the Senior Specialist for Data-Driven Agronomy will support IRRI with analytics and leadership on advancing systems agronomy analysis. This includes providing technical expertise in the design, development, implementation, management, and analysis of LCAS and related agronomy and spatial analytics activities across multiple countries and farming systems. The position will ensure the delivery of high-quality datasets and analytical products through robust methodologies, digital data collection systems, data quality assurance protocols, and advanced statistical analysis including the use of AI.

The incumbent will work closely with economists, agronomists, GIS specialists, data scientists, and national partners to strengthen agricultural data systems and generate actionable evidence that contributes to sustainable, productive, and climate-resilient agri-food systems.

This position will be based at the IRRI Cambodia Office in Phnom Penh and is open for international applications.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Contribute to the technical development and implementation of the Landscape Crop Assessment Survey (LCAS) across IRRI projects and countries in Southeast Asia, assessing project components to determine appropriate data structures.
• Support the design of survey methodologies, sampling frameworks, questionnaires, and data collection protocols for agricultural, socio-economic, and environmental assessments and research methods for data collection, analysis, visualization and use, including machine learning and AI.
• Develop and maintain data systems, databases, metadata standards, and documentation processes for LCAS and related datasets.
• Implement and monitor data quality assurance and quality control procedures throughout survey implementation and ensure sound statistical design and analysis.
• Conduct statistical, econometric, and spatial analyses of large datasets to support agricultural research and policy studies, with the guidance of the Senior Scientist
• Contribute to the development of analytical frameworks for assessing productivity, profitability, sustainability, climate resilience, and farmer livelihoods.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across IRRI programs, including agricultural economists, agronomists, GIS specialists, and remote sensing experts, to assess data management and analytics needs and develop tailored solutions.
• Provide technical guidance and capacity building to research teams, national partners, consultants, and enumerators on survey implementation and data management and guide research teams on data interpretation and statistical analysis.
• Collaborate with government agencies, research institutions, development organizations, and funding partners to support survey implementation and data utilization and develop digital innovations.
• Participate in technical meetings, workshops, conferences, and working groups related to agricultural data systems and survey methodologies.
• Deliver data management services, analyses and data products to teams and projects within agreed timelines, raising and addressing challenges early.
• Support end-to-end survey operations, including instrument development, digital deployment, field implementation support, data validation, and dissemination.
• Produce cleaned, documented, and analysis-ready datasets according to project timelines and institutional standards.
• Develop automated workflows and tools for data validation, processing, analysis, and reporting.
• Generate technical reports, policy briefs, scientific manuscripts, dashboards, and data visualization products.
• Support the integration of survey, geospatial, climate, and remote sensing datasets to enhance agricultural systems analysis.
• Ensure compliance with IRRI data governance, ethical standards, and data-sharing requirements.
• Perform any other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor from time to time

Qualifications

• PhD in Agricultural Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Survey Methodology, Geography, Agricultural Systems, or a closely related field.
• At least two (2) years of relevant postdoctoral professional experience in agricultural surveys, data management, statistical analysis, or agricultural research.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing large-scale agricultural or household surveys.
• Proven experience managing complex agricultural, socio-economic, and geospatial datasets.
• Track record of peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.
• Experience working in developing-country agricultural systems and international research organizations is highly desirable.

Skills Required

Mandatory

• Strong expertise in survey design, sampling methodologies, and questionnaire development.
• Advanced statistical and spatial analysis skills.
• Proficiency in R or similar analytical software.
• Experience with digital survey platforms such as SurveyCTO, KoboToolbox, ODK, or related systems.
• Strong database management and data quality assurance skills.
• Knowledge of agricultural production systems, farm household surveys, and rural development issues.
• Excellent project management, stakeholder engagement, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments.

Preferred

• Experience with the Landscape Crop Assessment Survey (LCAS) or similar agricultural monitoring frameworks.
• Knowledge of GIS, remote sensing, and spatial data analysis.
• Experience in impact evaluation, yield gap analysis, and agricultural policy research.
• Experience managing agricultural survey and systems agronomy research
• Familiarity with open-data standards.

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.

Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

This position will remain open until filled.

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IRRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.