Through a rigorous soil science research initiative, the Conservancy seeks to explore scientific evidence for the role of improved soil health to thriving soil biodiversity, and a critical input to agricultural production. Soil management decisions made in coming years will strongly influence climate adaptation potential in crop and pasture lands and will directly affect crop and livestock yields and our ability to meet food, fiber, fuel and water demands without expanding the agricultural footprint and further damaging the environment. Soil health is integral to sustainable agriculture and with the new emphasis on sustainable agriculture comes a reawakening of interest in soil health. The Conservancy’s global agriculture strategy emphasizes sustainable intensification. This leads us to soil health and improved soil management as pathways to the increased productivity and ecological functionality in cropping and grazing systems. Soil health is a key pillar of our Africa agriculture strategy. The Nature Conservancy, Africa Region seeks a soil scientist to join the Africa agriculture team and lead our soil health work working closely with other members of the regional agriculture team and global soil science team on the agenda of improving soil health cross the Conservancy and partner landscapes. This position will be base in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Soil Scientist will offer technical and science expertise for the Conservancy’s Soil health program on issues of improved crop and rangeland management including soil management, agriculture-soil-climate interactions, sustainable intensification, climate-smart agriculture, multi-functional landscapes, and food systems analysis and planning. S/he will contribute to efforts to establish TNC as a global leader in the application of soil sciences to conservation challenges. S/he conducts original research, publishes findings and communicates to diverse audiences to add to the evidence base for conservation strategies in support of TNC organizational goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- As a key member of Africa agriculture team, the soil scientist will lead the work to develop soil conservation, restoration and yield improvement plans for TNC Africa landscapes, and support their implementation.
- S/he will identify appropriate local partners working with farmer networks, they will develop and support partners to deploy a soil condition diagnostic and lead a participatory process to identify suitable agricultural soil management recommendations, utilizing the landscape diagnostic work, and put in place an appropriate monitoring framework.
- S/he will also coordinate the soil health demonstration site network, in TNC landscapes and will work with an NGO partner, possibly with whom participating farmers will be recruited and implementation methodologies developed.
- S/he will work to scale up this work beyond the TNC landscapes through appropriate partnerships.
- Must work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- Established connections and collaborations with soil scientific researches and practitioner groups
- Expert knowledge of current and evolving trends in soil science
- Record of peer reviewed publications in scientific journals.
- Experience translating science across traditional disciplinary boundaries and into pragmatic conservation and/or natural resource management decisions
- Experience manipulating, analyzing and interpreting statistical or environmental data.
- Experience fundraising and/or writing grants and research proposals.
- Experience leading or participating on cross functional teams.
- Experience managing complex projects including the financial aspect and coordinating the work of peers and partners.
- Experience working and communicating with a wide range of people.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD and 1-3 experience
- Experience in the agriculture and rangeland sectors, with emphasis on interactions between management, soil health, productivity and climate change, and their conservation challenges and opportunities.
- Experience designing systematic rigorous studies to address large-scale, complex problems.
- Experience implementing and managing short and long term programmatic goals.
- Experience producing scientific research that balances data and resource limitations with rigor and credibility
- Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with all levels of management and staff.
- Proven negotiation and persuasion skills.
- Multi-language skills.