Specialist - Water Management Hydrological Modeling, Data Management, Research Coordination

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 Under the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KERA) Project, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will support the Government of Kerala (GoK) and the World Bank (WB) in the co-development of low-emission agronomic and water management practices tailored for scalable adoption across rice-based agricultural systems in all 14 districts of Kerala. These efforts will be guided by state-of-the-art technologies and grounded in rigorous scientific evidence, aimed at supporting robust and scalable Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems that ensure environmental integrity while maintaining acceptable transaction costs. As part of its contribution to the KERA project, IRRI will deliver the following key outputs: a) Scientifically tested and validated low-emission agronomy and water management practices (LEPs) for rice cultivation in Kerala, which support the development of MRV systems necessary for accessing carbon credit mechanisms. b) A spatially explicit targeting strategy for LEP adoption, based on prevailing management practices and the region’s socio-ecological conditions, designed to optimize co-benefits and mitigate potential landscape-level trade-offs. c) A decision support system for evidence-based water resource management to promote lower emissions at both catchment and command area scales. d) An integrated landscape framework that links hydrology, crop management, and farmer institutions in support of low-carbon rice systems. This framework will also serve as a foundation for future investments by capturing and disseminating project insights and lessons learned. e) Capacity building of PhD scholars and early-career faculty from Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) through training in interdisciplinary research design, advanced analytical methods, and digital tools to support and guide the transition towards low-emission, sustainable rice-based systems in Kerala. Under the supervision of the Scientist I, the incumbent will develop protocols of data collection, analyze dataset, pursue agro-hydrological modeling across landscape, organize workshops, and write technical reports. The role will require frequent stakeholder interaction, field travel, and cross AoW collaboration. The incumbent will ensure that the data collected from field observations and modeling tools are effectively assimilated to inform robust policies and shifts in conventional farming practices. Additionally, the incumbent will also work closely with faculties from Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) and partner institutions abroad. There is a strong possibility for the incumbent to enroll in a PhD program under the co-supervision of faculty from international universities and IRRI. Therefore, candidates with a Master’s degree with experience in agricultural field data collection – particularly related to water and agro-hydrological modeling are strongly encouraged to apply.

Roles and Responsibilities · Prepare standard procedures for studies targeting sampling approaches/ data compilation strategies/ analysis process/ report and peer-reviewed journal paper writing.
· Model hydrological components at landscape scale to achieve the objectives underlined under AoW 2, and 4.
· Contribute to empirical research including designing and implementation of farmer surveys, data sources and other research studies for robust irrigation planning and management.
· Collect and compile agro-hydrological and climatic datasets from partners and global to regional data sources and interpret research findings based on defined objectives for report preparation.
· Provide technical input and support in the assessment, design, implementation, monitoring, analysis and reporting of the project. Recommend immediate intervention to research design when encountered with real-world challenges when necessary.
· Constantly communicate and engage with internal and external academic, research and development partners and collaborators for project design and implementation.
· Maintain regular communication with researchers, scientists within Kerala to ensure activities are implemented as planned and reporting deadlines are regularly met.
· Provide assistance and support to internal and external stakeholders (e.g., partners and farmers) considering the implementation of surveys, trainings, and other research activities mostly in India. Assist in representing IRRI with government institutions, project partners, coordinating bodies and other stakeholders as per project requirements as may be required.
· Support with project monitoring and progress reporting.
· Ensure maintenance of accurate data recording and update database for efficient storage and retrieval of information.
· Assist in validation and analysis of data and interpretation of results.
· Assist in developing scientific publications, project reports and communication products.
· Organize regular meetings with partners and stakeholders to discuss, streamline and implement research activities.
· Prepare and submit updated research outputs in a timely manner. Install equipment in farms for data collection and analysis.
· Occasional travelling to other IRRI offices within India.

Qualifications Master's degree in Soil Water Conservation Engineering/Water Resources Engineering/ Irrigation Engineering with minimum 3 years of relevant experience

Skills Required Mandatory:
• Excellent networking and communication skills
• Team player and able to work independently
• Has ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment
• Can effectively establish priorities and meet deadlines
• Has extensive technical proficiency in conducting impact evaluation studies
• Has extensive experience of using digital tools and models related to hydrology and irrigation planning
• Experience of organizing workshops
Preferred:
• Familiar with the rice sector in Kerala
• Experience with installing field sensors/equipment for measuring water related datasets
Allowances:
• In addition to the base salary mentioned above, IRRI also offers the following allowances:
• House-Rent Allowance: IRRI provides a house rent allowance of 40% of base pay per month.
• Transport Allowance: A monthly transport allowance of INR 4,000
• Dearness Allowance: One Hundred and Thirteen percent (113%) of employee’s base pay.
• Leave Travel Allowance (LTA): One-month base pay per annum, on availing minimum 2 days of vacation leave
• Education Allowance: INR 1000/- per child per month (limited 2 children)

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!

Having trouble submitting your application?If you experience issues with the online submission, please send your CV and cover letter (combined into a single PDF file) to Ms. Maria Beverlyn Caparas at M.Caparas@cgiar.org, with a copy to irri-workforceresourcing@cgiar.org.
Subject line should be the Position Title as advertised plus the Job ID (e.g., Specialist – Agronomy (HQ01828)).
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we kindly ask for your patience. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.