National Soil Information and Data Specialist

2501208 National Soil Information and Data Specialist 

Job Posting

: 09/May/2025

Closure Date

: 23/May/2025, 9:59:00 PMOrganizational Unit: FRGHA - FAO Representation in Ghana

Job Type

: Non-staff opportunitiesType of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location

: Ghana-AccraDuration: 12 monthsPost Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

 

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level. 

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources. 

Specifically, FAO Country Offices: 

•    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
•    provide technical assistance and deliver core services; 
•    assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation; 
•    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and 
•    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.  

FAO is implementing the project ‘Soil mapping for resilient agrifood systems in Central America and sub-Saharan Africa (SoilFER) project in Ghana’ – GCP/GLO/1127/USA. The project aligns with FAO’s Programme Priority Areas BP1: innovation for sustainable agriculture production; BP5 ‘Digital agriculture and BE 1: Climate change mitigation and adapted agrifood system, and contribute to SDGs 2.1, 2.4 and 5B.

The position is in the FAO Country Office of Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The National Soil information and Data Specialist will report to the FAO Representative in Ghana, as well as to the project management team in HQ, which is hosted in the NSL.

Technical Focus

Programme soil monitoring system design, implementation, coordination and supervision based on standard international practise and the knowledge of the local conditions, culture, language and institutions of the country of assignment.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Supervise data collection, systematization and harmonization of soil maps and legacy data (in coordination with existing institutions and initiatives in Ghana).
•    Support the design and supervision of soil surveys and sampling at the national level, using advanced soil survey techniques and methodologies, to generate high-quality soil data and associated metadata, through rigorous quality control and quality assurance measures and in collaboration with the soil laboratory experts
•    Support the development of digital soil maps, based on soil survey data, and integrating soil data into decision support tools and applications for farmers and local institutions 
•    Support the design and supervision of a soil monitoring system, including the selection of monitoring sites, to be implemented through the establishment of a national soil spectral library and estimation service 
•    Support capacity development in digital soil mapping and modeling
•    Facilitate the organization of workshops on soil data with stakeholders and partners
•    Liaise with the project team to ensure timely delivery of survey outputs, including data, maps, scripts, reports and training sessions
•    Perform any other duties as assigned by the FAO Representative

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 
   
•    University Degree in Agricultural Science, Soil Science, Geographical Information Systems, Computer Science or any related field
•    At least 3 years of experience in digital mapping and analysis
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of English 
•    National of Republic of Ghana

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Adequate evidence of GIS and other software for mapping at Regional, national or sub-national level
•    Experience with remote and proximal sensing, and Geospatial analysis technologies 
•    Familiarity with use of GIS software and high-level programming languages like Python and R
•    Familiarity with digital soil mapping or development of digital maps in general 
•    Familiarity with use of GIS software and high-level programming languages like Python and R 
•    Familiarity with remote and proximal sensing technologies 
•    Familiarity with spatial and non-spatial data analysis, and data visualization

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/  
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 
•  Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

 

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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