Back Senior Research Assistant - Field Experimentation Expert
- Added Date: Thursday, 05 February 2026
- Deadline Date: Thursday, 19 February 2026
- Tags: climate change mental health English language
- Organization: International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas
- Country: Egypt
- Egypt Safety Rating
- City: Cairo
- Post Level: Chief and Senior Professional
- UN Recruitement
Reports to: Senior Climate Scientist and Systems Modeler
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Purpose of the position
ICARDA seeks to appoint a Senior Research Assistant \u2013 Field Experimentation Expertto support the coordination, oversight, and advancement of various projects revolving around the themes of digital agriculture, hydromet and biomet observations, and data-driven research activities in Egypt. The role combines operational leadership, technical understanding, and strong collaboration skills to ensure timely implementation of field activities, high-quality data collection, robust monitoring systems, and effective engagement with national partners and local communities. The position is central to ensure that digital tools, climate-smart interventions, and monitoring frameworks are efficiently deployed, scientifically validated, and translated into actionable insights for farmers, policymakers, and research teams. The position will contribute to Consortia for Red Palm Weevil C4RPW (45%), CGIAR Climate Action Science Program- CASP (35%) and CGIAR Digital Transformation Accelerator-DTA (20%).
About ICARDA
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR.
ICARDA\u2019s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org.
Main responsibilities
Operational Coordination: Oversee and coordinate research activities, ensuring effective collaboration with ICARDA teams, partners, and field agents. Monitor fieldwork, address operational issues, and supervise site visits to ensure data quality and compliance.Data & Digital Tools Management: Administer and validate spatial and non-spatial datasets; support deployment and maintenance of digital agriculture tools and remote sensing workflows; contribute to robust measurement and reporting frameworks.Technology & Troubleshooting: Collaborate with vendors and partners to resolve equipment issues promptly and organize deployment of technology packages.Progress Tracking & Reporting: Understand program goals and indicators; monitor partner progress, expenditures, and deliverables; assist in preparing progress reports and maintaining communication.Stakeholder & Community Engagement: Facilitate inclusive participation among community groups, farmers, government bodies, and the private sector; support dialogues on climate-smart practices and partnership building.Administrative Support: Assist with procurement, recruitment, logistics, and represent the operations team as needed.
Requirements
Education, qualifications, and experience
Master\u2019s degree in a relevant discipline such as agriculture, horticulture, data science, hydrology, climate/meteorology, climate change, agronomy, or a closely related field.Demonstrated experience of 3 years in agricultural research operations, digital agriculture, environmental monitoring, or related areas.Proficiency in managing data, geospatial workflows, and utilizing digital tools to support field-based research.Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative and problem-solving approach for engaging multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders.Experience working in dryland systems, climate-smart agriculture, or community-based projects is considered an asset.Proficiency in English and Arabic is mandatory.Benefits
Terms of appointment, salary, and benefits
This is a nationally recruited staff position open for Egyptian nationals for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, five months\u2019 maternity leave, 15 days\u2019 paternity leave. The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of 3 years, renewable subject to continued need for the position and satisfactory performance. The first 3 months will be a probationary period.
Please be advised that ICARDA accepts applications only in English, as per the organization's standard communication language. Applications in other languages will not be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.