Lead Data Scientist

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict disasters and the impact of climate change.

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WHY JOIN WFP

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive diverse and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training accreditation coaching mentorship and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country regional and global offices around the world and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE:Lead Data Scientist

TYPE OF CONTRACT:Regular CST Level II

UNIT/DIVISION:Geospatial and Intelligence Unit (PRG-FG) / Programme Division (PRG)

DUTY STATION (City Country):Remote work from home station (Marche Italy)

DURATION:To 31-Dec-2026

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Earth Observation data is a fundamental component of the analytical activities of the Geospatial and Intelligence Unit (PRG-FG) of the Programme Division (PRG) as it provides a range of crucial information products for all of WFPs areas of the disaster response cycle in particular for the countries under corporate scale-up.

The Geospatial and Intelligence Unit (PRG-FG) deals with a wide variety of Earth Observation data from low resolution long record high frequency variables (rainfall vegetation indices land surface temperature) to very high (sub-meter) resolution data as well as high-frequency field scale resolution multi-spectral and SAR data from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 platforms.

These data sets have diverse applications from monitoring of drought or extreme rainfall conditions to detection of changes in refugee/IDP camps and signs of conflict as well as high granularity assessments of natural hazard impacts mapping of cropland and crop types.

An area of emerging interest is the application of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to develop synergistic approaches involving the usage of diverse types of Earth Observation data (medium resolution high resolution Sentinels Very High-Resolution commercial data) with a view to overcome technical challenges due to large data volumes heavy storage requirements and complex processing.

WFP is currently facing a situation where the increase in need for food assistance due to the impacts of conflict and climate change significantly outstrips the resources available to address those needs. Improved geographic targeting and prioritization is therefore another area of increasing importance for which the organization is seeking to harness Earth Observation technologies in a more systematic manner with the aim to develop scalable solutions for better precision in the selection of communities and households for WFPs and partners assistance.

Reporting to the Head of PRG-FG WFP is seeking a consultant senior data scientist to design the Units strategy on the application of machine learning for earth observation and manage the teams data scientists. The consultant will identify strategic opportunities for research projects to develop data science methodologies for food security monitoring targeting and prioritization using satellite/climate data potentially in combination with other sources of data and information. The consultant will also play a key role in leading data innovation efforts producing data science tools for decision making.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Review and develop the Units work and strategy on machine learning data science and other relevant research and innovation areas.
• Identify and scope out strategic opportunities for research projects to develop data science methodologies for food security analysis using satellite/climate data potentially in combination with other sources of data and information.
• Coordinate with other PRG-FG workstream leads (e.g. Climate Risk Applications; Natural Hazards and Impacts; Resilience and Livelihoods; Emergency Coordination) as needed to carry out transversal projects and tasks.
• Identify scope out and contribute to the implementation of potential improvements to the Units technical processes and pipeline architecture to streamline and productionize data science and engineering deployments.
• Supervise and mentor other Data Scientists in the Unit review opportunities for PRG-FG analytical staff professional development and career growth.
• Lead the coordination of the broader data science and engineering community in the global Service to encourage standardization of methods and tools and coordination of research work.
• Design and oversee a strategy of technical engagement for the Units machine learning for earth observation work. This includes maintaining ongoing engagements for example with ESA NASA CERN LIST IBM Microsoft Google etc identifying relevant fundraising opportunities writing technical project proposals and grant applications for predictive analytics and other research and innovation projects.
• Write and/or supervise the writing of technical papers and reports to be submitted to peer-reviewed international journals as the opportunity arises.
• Participate and/or facilitate the Units participation in scientific and humanitarian conferences workshops and meetings to present the Units data science work and to keep up to date on the latest advances in AI data science and earth observation and their applications to food security monitoring targeting and prioritization.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Overall supervision direction and guidance provided to the data scientists in the Unit.
• Reports and/or documentation outlining:
• The pursuit of strategic opportunities for research projects to develop data science methodologies for food security monitoring using satellite/climate data potentially in combination with other sources of data and information.
• Potential improvements to the Units technical processes and pipeline architecture to streamline and productionize data science and engineering deployments.
• Opportunities for PRG-FG analytical staff professional development and career growth.
• Evidence of progress in the implementation of the top priority high-impact research projects and/or deployment process restructuring.
• As the need arises methods and code for machine learning for earth observation developed scientific paper(s) submitted to peer-reviewed journals project proposals and grant applications developed and submitted presentations on the Units data science work developed and delivered.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced university degree in mathematics computer science physics or similar quantitative field.

Experience:

Minimum 8 years in data science related fields.

Knowledge & Skills:

Proficient knowledge in predictive modelling machine learning and applied statistics and experience in leading research projects.

Experience in writing scientific papers and project proposals.

Python programming skills and experience with data science libraries (pandas numpy scikit-learn etc.).

Understanding of databases (SQL and/or noSQL) and developer tools (git aws docker etc.).

Experience with Remote Sensing and GIS skills (QGIS) is an asset.

Experience working with the humanitarian sector or in a social science field is an asset.

Language:

Excellent spoken and written English.

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

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• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs job requirements merit and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse all forms of discrimination any kind of harassment sexual harassment and abuse of authority. Therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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