Full Time
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Posted on December 10, 2025

Category: NGO

ILRI

Research Officer I – Water Data Science (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) – International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Deadline: December 20, 2025
Position Code: REF: RO/IWMI/22/25
Employment Type: Full-time
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is seeking a qualified Research Officer I – Water Data Science to support research activities involving spatial and non-spatial water data, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis. The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing IWMI’s Water Data Science Strategic Program and supporting CGIAR research initiatives.

IWMI is a global, non-profit research organization dedicated to improving water and land management for food security, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI operates in multiple regions, including its sub-regional office in Addis Ababa. It is one of 15 centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

Key Responsibilities

Support field data collection, organization, and analysis for high-resolution water accounting assessments.
Download, manage, and structure large time-series geospatial datasets for use in water accounting frameworks.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of IWMI’s Open Data Cube (ODC) for storing, analyzing, and visualizing water-related datasets.
Collaborate with teams to integrate cloud-based storage, processing, and analytical tools for remote sensing, geospatial modeling, and hydrology research.
Assist in collecting, processing, mapping, and visualizing geographic data for research projects.
Work with cross-functional teams to develop integrated solutions addressing complex water resource challenges.
Manage and organize datasets from multiple projects in the East Africa region to ensure accessibility and proper data sharing.
Provide training to stakeholders and partner institutions on field data collection, data analysis, and GIS mapping.
Contribute to research involving geospatial modeling, hydrology, and remote sensing.
Support the writing of peer-reviewed publications and present findings at scientific events.
Assist in advancing digital innovation initiatives, including the use of AI and new water data technologies.
Stay up to date with trends and advancements in GIS, remote sensing, and water data science.
Perform other related tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Minimum Requirements

Education

Master’s degree in:

Remote Sensing
Geomatics Engineering
Hydrology
Water Resources
Data Science
Computer Science
Or a closely related field

Experience

Minimum 3 years of professional experience in water-related research.
Experience using cloud computing platforms for big data analytics.
Proficiency in Python and geospatial libraries (NumPy, GDAL, xarray, etc.).
Experience with satellite imagery processing and geospatial analysis.
Familiarity with both open-source and proprietary GIS platforms.
Experience working in multidisciplinary and multicultural research teams.

Skills

Strong command of GIS tools such as QGIS, ArcGIS, and related software.
Ability to create and maintain spatial databases.
Strong skills in analyzing and manipulating raster and vector data formats.
Python programming for spatial data processing, task automation, and geospatial workflows.
Understanding of machine learning tools (Python-based).
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Duty Station

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Job Grade

HG 13

Monthly Base Salary

ETB 42,084

Terms of Appointment

This is a National Staff (NS) position. The initial contract is for three years, renewable based on performance and funding availability. IWMI/ILRI offers a collegial, multicultural research environment with competitive salaries and benefits aligned with ILRI’s National Staff structure. The ILRI campus includes secure facilities, dining options, and recreational amenities.