Senior Manager - Software Innovation for Water Resources (Globally Recruited)

International Water Management Institute; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 1 215 000 - 1 564 000; Full time

Job summary

A global water research organization in Pretoria is seeking a Full Stack Software Developer to lead the development of data tools for water resources. Responsible for end-to-end project delivery, the ideal candidate should have a Master's with 10 years of experience or a PhD with 5 years in software development, particularly focused on water management. This role offers flexible working options.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Retirement plan

Comprehensive health insurance

Relocation assistance

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field with 10+ years of experience, or PhD with 5+ years post-doctoral experience.
• Extensive software development experience in water management.
• Proven full-stack development experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead software development and deployment for data infrastructure.
• Ensure timely, quality delivery of software projects.
• Mentor junior researchers in software best practices.

Skills

Software development

Cloud deployment (AWS)

Agile project management

Programming (Python, Java, JavaScript)

Education

Master's degree in Water Resources Management or similar

PhD in relevant field

Tools

Flutter

Git

DevOps

PostgreSQL

Job description

Overview

The International Water Management Institute ( IWMI ), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking a dynamic and technically skilled Full Stack Software Developer with expertise in Integrated Water Systems. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to global water security from our office in Pretoria, South Africa.

This is an internationally recruited position; therefore, individuals with relevant abilities from diverse locations around the world are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate is expected to be based in South Africa, with options for onsite, hybrid, or remote working arrangements.

Role

The Senior Manager - Software Innovation for Water Resources will lead the development of IWMI’s Data Infrastructure and digital tools, including the AI agents platform. The incumbent will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of projects, provide crucial technical guidance to early career researchers, and play a key role in developing project proposals. This role also serves as the primary point of contact for all software development activities within IWMI, guiding the creation of digital products and ensuring best practices are followed from initial Proof of Concept (PoC) to final, impactful solutions.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Software Development Leadership: Spearhead the design, development, and deployment of software solutions for IWMI's data infrastructure and digital tools, with a specific focus on the AI agent's platform, ensuring these solutions support IWMI’s mission and enhance its data-driven research capabilities.
• Project Management: Ensure the successful, on-time, and high-quality end-to-end delivery of all software projects, so that delivered solutions meet stakeholder expectations and advance IWMI’s strategic objectives.
• Technical Guidance and Mentorship: Provide guidance and mentorship to junior researchers and technical staff, fostering a culture of best practices in software development, with the aim of elevating team capabilities and ensuring high-quality outputs that drive IWMI’s innovation.
• Strategic Planning: Contribute to the development of project proposals, providing technical expertise and strategic direction for future initiatives to ensure upcoming projects are technically feasible and aligned with IWMI’s strategic vision.
• Stakeholder Communication: Act as the primary point of contact for all software development matters, coordinating effectively with internal teams, researchers, and external partners to ensure transparency, alignment, and stakeholder satisfaction in line with IWMI’s goals.
• Quality Assurance: Oversee the creation of all digital products, ensuring they adhere to software development best practices, are robust, scalable, and maintainable to guarantee high-quality tools that reliably support IWMI’s ongoing research and operations.
• Collaborative Design: Work closely with researchers to translate their innovative ideas into tangible digital products, guiding the process from Proof of Concept (POC) and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stages to full-scale deployment to ensure cutting-edge research is transformed into practical solutions that advance IWMI’s mission.

Requirements

Educational Qualifications & Experience

Essential :

• Master’s degree in Water Resources Management, Software Development, AI, Data Science, Machine Learning, or a closely related field, coupled with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience; OR PhD in the aforementioned fields, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant post-doctoral experience.
• Extensive experience in software development, with a strong portfolio of successfully delivered projects dedicated to water management.
• Expertise in software development within the water management domain.
• Proven experience in full-stack development, including front-end, back-end, and database technologies, and strong knowledge of digital twin technologies, open data cubes, and AI Agentic Platforms.
• Demonstrated experience deploying solutions in the cloud, with proficiency in AWS required and knowledge of Azure considered a plus.
• Experience with modern web frameworks, specifically Flutter (e.g., React, Angular, Vue, Django, Flask).
• Experience with version control systems and DevOps (e.g., Git).
• Experience deploying machine learning models, including computer vision.
• Experience in Agile project management and Scrum methods.

Desirable :

• Experience with data infrastructure, data pipelines and cloud-based services.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential :

• Familiarity with AI / Machine Learning concepts and frameworks.
• Familiarity with hydrological modelling for both surface water and groundwater.
• Familiarity with spatial data and remote sensing, particularly in applications of integrated water resource management.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or JavaScript.
• Knowledge of database management systems (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB).
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities.

Desirable :

• Familiarity with MLOps & AI ethics for water management.
• Ability to engage with non-technical stakeholders & explain AI concepts.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced research environment.

Benefits

This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary, an attractive retirement plan, comprehensive international health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. Internationally recruited staff who are employed at a duty station outside of their home base / country of nationality will also receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for eligible dependents. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of two years.

How