Reference number: 202565
Job status: In-progress
Job category: Temporary Position
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya
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CIFOR-ICRAF
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) envision a more equitable world where trees in all landscapes, from drylands to the humid tropics, enhance the environment and well-being for all. CIFOR and ICRAF are non-profit science institutions that build and apply evidence to today’s most pressing challenges, including energy insecurity and the climate and biodiversity crises. Over a combined total of 65 years, we have built vast knowledge on forests and trees outside of forests in agricultural landscapes (agroforestry). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to improve lives and to protect and restore ecosystems. Our work focuses on innovative research, partnering for impact, and engaging with stakeholders on policies and practices to benefit people and the planet. Founded in 1993 and 1978, CIFOR and ICRAF are members of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. CIFOR-ICRAF is looking for a
Temporary Remote Sensing Officer (Internal Vacancy)
Overview The Remote Sensing Officer will implement advanced data science and remote sensing tasks. One specific task will be the training and deployment of Google GenCast weather forecasting model to our servers. The person needs to be able to train, tune and interpret complex Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) used to predict a multitude of climatic indicators 15 days ahead based on historic data. Also, the person needs to perform an extensive validation on the outcomes of the predictions to make informed decisions on the usefulness of the outputs. These predictions can flow into our other pipelines to enhance the climate resilience assessments across projects. He/she will also work with cloud platforms such as Google Earth Engine for the development of pipelines for spatial data integration. The recently developed Spatio Temporal Asset Catalog (STAC) requires new pipelines to populate and update the STAC with the latest satellite information. For this, an advanced level of GEE and/or python is required. Additionally, this person will actively contribute to the development of dashboards, and other platforms and decision support tools. Also, this role will support the development of remote sensing outputs that can be used to inform restoration planning, assess climate resilience, and applied for large-scale monitoring of land restoration outcomes. The position will support a range of projects and programs across CIFOR-ICRAF, including the Knowledge for the Great Green Wall Action (K4GGWA) and Regreening Africa Phase II.
Duties and responsibilities
1. Data science & remote sensing
Train and deploy complex GNN models for continental weather forecasting.
Perform scientifically robust validation of ML predictions.
Develop pipelines to populate and update the STAC.
Spatial data analysis tasks, including spatial queries, vector data extraction, processing, and cleaning.
General data analysis and report writing.
2. Dashboard development
Develop interactive dashboards to display analyses using R, Python and/or Julia
Develop interactive tools to share and communicate spatial data sets through, for instance, earth engine apps.
3. Various other tasks
Contribute to scientific papers.
Contribute to proposal development and writing.
Requirements
BSc degree in remote sensing and spatial data science is required with proven ability to perform complex data science and remote sensing tasks and combine various (remotely sensed) datasets.
Develop dashboards showing (remotely sensed) data.
Advanced computer programming skills in R, Python, Javascript, database technologies, and data management.
Education, knowledge and experience • BSc degree in remote sensing and spatial data science is required with proven ability to perform complex data science and remote sensing tasks and combine various (remotely sensed) datasets.
• Develop dashboards showing (remotely sensed) data.
• Advanced computer programming skills in R, Python, Javascript, database technologies, and data management.
Terms and conditions • This is a temporary position for Locally Recruited Staff (LRS). CIFOR-ICRAF offers competitive remuneration in local currency commensurate with skills and experience.
• The appointment will be for be for 6 months.
• The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya CIFOR-ICRAF HQ Offices.
Application process The application deadline is 06 Oct 2025
We will acknowledge all applications, but will contact only short-listed candidates.
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