Research / Senior Research Manager, Weather Data Systems (Weather Initiative)

Precisiondev; India; Remote; INR 3,600,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Precision Development (PxD) is seeking a dynamic Research Manager/Senior Research Manager for the Weather Data Systems initiative in India. You will design, test, and scale weather information pipelines that convert real-time forecast data into actionable messages for smallholder farmers, working with researchers, government partners, and cross-functional teams.

This role combines research and technical build, aiming to embed insights into program implementation and policy-facing engagements,

Qualifications

• Experience building or managing a data pipeline, ideally real-time or automated processing.
• Ability to translate between forecast science, engineering, and program needs.
• Strong documentation habits to make complex systems understandable.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee a pipeline converting real-time forecast data into location-specific messages automatically.
• Ensure the pipeline is adaptable to multiple dissemination channels (voice, SMS, WhatsApp, apps, advisory systems).
• Minimize latencies and ensure fast, error-free delivery of time-sensitive forecast information to farmers.
• Own requirements for replicability across geographies rather than single-location solutions.
• Translate between forecast science and program teams to align needs.
• Oversee data management, quality checks, and testing as the pipeline scales.
• Document architecture and decision logic for maintenance and audits.
• Coordinate with dissemination teams to meet field standards.
• Guide teams on data quality and technical rigor as new use cases scale.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data pipelines

Documentation

English communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS in CS / Data Science / Engineering

Economics or agricultural economics background

Tools

Python

SQL

Job description

Title: Research / Senior Research Manager, Weather Data Systems (Weather Initiative)
Location: India (remote). Candidates must have existing authorization to work in India; PxD is unable to sponsor visas for this role.
Salary: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with the candidate's skills, experience, and the local labor market in India
Position: Full-time
Application deadline: October 25, 2026 (applications may be reviewed as they are submitted)

About the Role

Precision Development (PxD) is seeking a dynamic, creative, and self‑motivated Research / Senior Research Manager, Weather Data Systems to join a high‑performing team in India working on our weather initiative - a high‑profile, fast‑growing area of PxD's work with significant potential for impact and visibility.

In this role, you will help design, test, evaluate, and scale evidence‑based weather solutions for smallholder farmers, working closely with researchers, government partners, and cross‑functional teams. We're looking for a proactive self‑starter with strong research management skills, excellent stakeholder engagement abilities, and a passion for generating actionable evidence to improve program outcomes.

While anchored in research and iterative learning, the role will work fluidly across programmatic, service delivery, and research functions - ensuring insights are embedded into program implementation, operational decision‑making, and government‑facing engagements. We're hiring for this role at either the Research Manager or Senior Research Manager level. The specific level will be determined based on the candidate's years of experience, demonstrated seniority, and scope of past responsibilities.

This role suits someone who understands both the research side (what makes a forecast actionable) and the technical side (how to build a system that reliably gets it there), and who wants to build infrastructure rather than run a single one‑off analysis.

Responsibilities

• Work with forecast science, technology, and dissemination teams to design and oversee a pipeline that converts real‑time scientific forecast data into location‑specific farmer messages automatically
• Design the pipeline to be so it is adaptable to different dissemination vendors and channels (voice, SMS, WhatsApp, apps, LLM‑powered advisory systems, or combinations), accommodating how each system ingests data.
• Ensure fast, error‑free delivery of time‑sensitive forecast information to farmers by minimizing latencies in data transformations or other aspects of the pipeline.
• Own the technical and process requirements for making the pipeline replicable across geographies, rather than custom‑built for a single location or use case
• Translate scientific forecast outputs and technical system constraints for research and program teams, and vice versa, so each side understands what the other needs
• Oversee data management, quality checks, and testing of the pipeline as it scales
• Document the pipeline's architecture, decision logic, and rationale so it can be maintained, audited, and extended by others
• Coordinate with dissemination teams to ensure automated messages meet the standards developed by the field research team
• Guide teams on data quality and technical rigor as the pipeline scales to new use cases or geographies
• Provide guidance to Associate and Manager level staff supporting the pipeline
• Contribute to funding proposals and reports on the technical build
• Contribute to PxD's institutional knowledge management on weather data systems

What You’ll Bring

• Degree in a technical, quantitative, or data‑related field (computer science, data science, engineering, statistics, or similar); economics or agricultural economics backgrounds with strong technical skills also considered
• Experience building or managing a data pipeline, ideally one involving real‑time or automated data processing
• Working knowledge of the tools and languages needed to build and maintain such a pipeline (e.g., Python, SQL, or similar)
• Ability to work across technical and non‑technical teams, translating between forecast science, engineering, and program needs
• Experience designing systems meant to be replicated or scaled, not just built once
• Strong documentation habits: the ability to make a technical system legible to people who didn't build it
• Strong writing and oral communication skills in English

About Precision Development (PxD): PxD is a rapidly scaling global nonprofit working with governments across Africa and Asia to close the last‑mile gap in smallholder farming. We deliver evidence‑based information and tools - from timely farming and weather guidance to climate‑resilient inputs - that millions of farmers use to improve their lives. In the last 12 months alone, we reached over 60 million farmers at a cost of just $0.47 per farmer per year, with our flagship program in India delivering a benefit‑cost ratio of 12:1-19:1. Operating in Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond, the majority of our team is based in our program countries, working directly alongside government partners and farming communities toward our goal of improving the lives of 100 million farmers by 2030.

In line with our values, we evaluate candidates on merit alone, without regard to gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, disability, caste, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. We offer flexible working arrangements to support your wellbeing. Personal data provided is used for recruitment purposes only.