Key skills
NRM
Additional/Preferred Skills
Engineering structure design
Preferred Qualifications
MTech/MSC
Scientific officer–Natural Resource Management
ICRISAT seeks applications from dynamic Indian Nationals for the position of Scientific Officer – Natural Resource Management to support the Global Research Program – Resilient Farming Systems. There are 14 vacancies and the selected candidates will contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and documentation of benchmark and living landscape initiatives aimed at strengthening water security, ecosystem resilience, agricultural productivity, and sustainable rural livelihoods across diverse agro-ecological regions of India. The role involves field-based research, baseline assessments, stakeholder consultations, hydrological and landscape assessments, and support for the preparation of landscape restoration and climate-resilient development plans. The candidates will provide technical support for prioritizing and implementing Natural Resource Management interventions, including water harvesting, groundwater recharge, soil and water conservation, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, climate-resilient farming systems, farm mechanization, fodder development, and landscape restoration. The role also includes preparation of technical reports, project documents, training materials, progress updates, and knowledge products. The candidates will act as the technical focal point at the assigned project cluster, coordinate with government departments, research institutions, NGOs, development partners, and farming communities, and guide field teams to ensure quality implementation and monitoring of project activities. Project locations include Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Karnataka. This position will be based at ICRISAT’s Headquarters in Patancheru, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi- arid or dryland tropics has over 2 billion people and 644 million of these are the poorest of the poor. ICRISAT and its partners help empower these disadvantaged populations to overcome poverty, hunger and a degraded environment through better agricultural production systems.
ICRISAT is headquartered at Patancheru near Hyderabad, India, with two regional hubs and eight country offices in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRISAT envisions a prosperous, food-secure and resilient dryland tropics. Its mission is to reduce poverty, hunger, malnutrition and environmental degradation in the dryland tropics. ICRISAT conducts research on its mandate crops of chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in the arid and semi-arid tropics. The Institute focuses its work on the drylands and in protecting the environment. Tropical dryland areas are usually seen as resource-poor and perennially beset by shocks such as drought, thereby trapping dryland communities in poverty and hunger and making them dependent on external aid. Please visit - www.icrisat.org
Responsibilities and Qualification:
- M.Tech. in Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, or M.Sc. in Soil Science, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Watershed Management, Agronomy, Agroforestry, Agriculture Production Systems, Hydrology, Climate-Smart Agriculture, or related disciplines from a recognized institution.
- 2–10 years of relevant professional experience in Watershed Development, Hydrology, Landscape Restoration, Natural Resource Management, Regenerative Agriculture, Agroforestry, Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Rural Development, Or Allied Sectors.
- Demonstrated experience in baseline assessments, primary data collection, scientific monitoring, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and implementation of landscape-based interventions. Experience in hydrological assessments, watershed planning, land resource assessment, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, engineering design of NRM structures, GIS/GPS applications, and preparation of technical reports will be an added advantage.
- Strong communication, coordination, analytical, documentation, and reporting skills, with the ability to effectively engage with farming communities, government departments, local institutions, contractors, development partners, and multidisciplinary research teams.
- Willingness to be stationed at assigned project clusters in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, or Karnataka, undertake extensive field travel, and work independently under challenging field conditions while ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of project activities and technical outputs.
General:
This is a contractual role for a period of 24 months (02 years), renewable based on the performance of the incumbent and the institute’s continuing need for the position.
How to apply:
The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. Shortlisting will start from 15 July 2026. All Applicants should apply with their latest Resume, and the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable about their professional qualifications and work experience. All applications will be acknowledged; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
ICRISAT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining a progressive and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or whether they have a disability.