GIS/Remote Sensing and MRV Specialist

FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Indonesia; On-site; IDR 1,088,534,000 - 1,723,512,000; Full time

Job summary

FAO seeks a GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist to support forest monitoring, MRV and NFMS activities in Indonesia under MERANTI and FAO Indonesia Forestry projects. The role focuses on managing geospatial data, satellite imagery analysis and data integration across projects.

The candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in a related field, at least 5 years of GIS/RS experience, and proficiency in English and Bahasa Indonesia. Indonesian nationality is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Geography, Geodesy, Geomatics, Forestry, Environmental Science or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of GIS/remote sensing experience.
• Working knowledge of English and Bahasa Indonesia.

Responsibilities

• Manage GIS databases, datasets, geodatabases and layers to support NFMS, NFI 2.0, MERANTI and FAO forestry activities.
• Provide GIS/RS support for NFI 2.0 implementation including plot management and spatial analysis.
• Process and analyze satellite imagery for forest and land-cover monitoring, biomass and carbon analysis.
• Integrate field data with GIS, satellite imagery, LiDAR, and other datasets to strengthen NFMS.
• Produce and quality-check maps and analyses; document workflows; use SEPAL and GEE tools.
• Provide technical assistance and coordinate inputs with project teams and government counterparts.

Skills

GIS

Remote sensing

Spatial data management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Geography/Geospatial field

Tools

SEPAL

Google Earth Engine

Job description

Job Description - GIS/Remote Sensing and MRV Specialist (2602207)

Job Description

2602207

GIS/Remote Sensing and MRV Specialist

Job Posting

26/Oct/2026

Closure Date

09/Nov/2026, 10:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : FAINS - FAO Representation in Indonesia

Job Type

Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : NPP (National Project Personnel)

Primary Location

Duration : 12 Months with 3 Months Probation

Post 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

FAO supports the Government of Indonesia in strengthening forest monitoring, forest inventory and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems at national and sub‑national levels. This includes strengthening the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), improving the implementation and use of the National Forest Inventory (NFI 2.0), enhancing the use of geospatial and remote sensing technologies, and promoting better integration of field‑based and remotely sensed information for forest and land monitoring. Reliable, well‑managed and interoperable spatial data are essential to these efforts, supporting forest inventory, land‑cover assessment, biomass and carbon estimation, forest change monitoring, MRV and evidence‑based decision‑making.
Within this broader support, the MERANTI Project contributes to strengthening Indonesia's NFI and NFMS, including the operational implementation of NFI 2.0, enhancement of satellite‑based land‑cover assessment under SIMONTANA, and the development of approaches to integrate NFI field data with satellite, LiDAR and other remotely sensed data. The project also supports improvements in spatial data management, data integration, analytical workflows and the use of modern remote sensing tools and platforms to strengthen the efficiency, consistency and quality of forest monitoring.
This includes support for the assessment and strengthening of data and technical capacities, and improved linkages of forest monitoring arrangements and the national NFMS, including SIMONTANA and NFI. Effective spatial data management and analysis are therefore important to ensure that sub‑national forest monitoring and MRV work is consistent with, and can contribute to, national systems and methodologies.
With this context, FAO is seeking a GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist to provide continuous technical and operational support across these areas of work. The Specialist will support the management, processing, analysis and visualization of geospatial and remote sensing data; provide technical inputs to NFI, NFMS, forest monitoring, and MRV‑related activities; and support the work of national and international consultants and government counterparts. The position will also help ensure consistency, quality and interoperability of spatial data and analytical approaches across MERANTI project, FAO Indonesia Forestry project portfolio and related NFMS activities.

Reporting Lines

The GIS/Remote Sensing Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Indonesia, the general supervision of the FAO UN‑REDD Programme Coordinator, and direct supervision of the MERANTI National Project Coordinator. The Specialist will work closely with the Ministry of Forestry, particularly IPSDH and relevant BPKH units, and relevant technical institutions, as well as national and international consultants under MERANTI and FAO Indonesia Forestry project.
The position will provide cross‑project technical support and serve as the focal point for GIS, spatial data and remote sensing, working closely with specialized consultants and FAO technical experts as required.

Technical Focus

The Specialist will provide technical support in geospatial data management, remote sensing and spatial analysis to strengthen forest monitoring, National Forest Inventory (NFI 2.0) implementation, and the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), including SIMONTANA. The position will support the integration of field and remotely sensed data for forest and land‑cover monitoring, biomass and carbon assessment, and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), contributing to improved data quality, interoperability and evidence‑based decision‑making.

Tasks and responsibilities

• GIS and Spatial Data Management: Manage and maintain GIS databases, spatial datasets, geodatabases and thematic layers supporting NFMS, NFI 2.0, MERANTI and FAO forestry activities, ensuring data quality, consistency, documentation and accessibility
• NFI 2.0 Implementation and Spatial Analysis: Provide GIS support for NFI 2.0 implementation, including cluster and plot management, sampling, field planning, mapping and spatial analysis of inventory results.
• Remote Sensing and Forest Monitoring: Process and analyse satellite imagery and other remotely sensed data to support forest and land‑cover monitoring, change assessment, biomass and carbon analysis, and forest monitoring and MRV activities.
• Data Integration and Interoperability: Integrate NFI field data with GIS, satellite imagery, LiDAR and other relevant datasets, as appropriate, and support interoperability between NFI 2.0, SIMONTANA and other forest monitoring datasets to strengthen the NFMS and related analyses.
• Technical Outputs, Quality Assurance and Tools: Produce and quality‑check maps, spatial analyses and other GIS/RS outputs; document relevant datasets and analytical workflows; and apply appropriate tools and platforms, including SEPAL and Google Earth Engine, to support forest monitoring and MRV.
• Technical Assistance and Coordination: Provide technical assistance and knowledge sharing to national consultants and government counterparts on GIS, remote sensing and spatial data management, and coordinate technical inputs with relevant project teams and stakeholders.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• Bachelor's degree in Geography, Geodesy, Geomatics, Forestry, Environmental Science or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in GIS, remote sensing, spatial data management and/or forest and land monitoring.
• Working knowledge (level C) of written and spoken English and Bahasa Indonesia.
• National of Indonesia

FAO Core Competencies

Technical/Functional Skills

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.

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