Research Associate / Senior Research Associate (Weather Initiative)

Title: Research Associate / Senior Research Associate (Weather Initiative)

Location: Delhi, India preferred. 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, at 5 pm IST  (applications may be reviewed as they are submitted) 

About the Role: 

Precision Development (PxD) is looking for a Research Associate / Senior Research Associate to join our team. The successful candidate will work closely with PxD and affiliated researchers, contributing substantially to PxD's weather initiative in India — testing new ideas and measuring their impact. The role calls for someone who understands and appreciates how digital technology is adopted and scaled within government.

If you're passionate about working with government to scale evidence-based, technology-driven solutions, and committed to driving positive change in the agricultural sector, we encourage you to apply.

We're hiring for this role at either the Research Associate or Senior Research  Associate level. The specific level will be determined based on the candidate's years of experience, demonstrated seniority, and scope of past responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

These will evolve as the role develops; key initial areas are outlined below.

Data & Systems

• Support implementation and performance tuning of dashboards visualizing weather and related data (R/Shiny, SQL)
• Develop and maintain data pipelines for ingesting, processing, and storing weather data (APIs, databases)
• Support streamlining and automation of weather data workflows for PxD's research teams
• Monitor data quality and flag anomalies or gaps in incoming weather data feeds
• Support and train local staff on SQL tasks related to weather data systems

Analysis & Development

• Prepare weather and related operational/research data for analysis
• Conduct data analysis or build predictive models/tools using weather data:
  • To improve existing PxD operations, systems, or services (e.g. advisory triggers, alert thresholds)
  • As part of research projects using weather data (e.g. correlating weather variables with program outcomes)
• Prototype and conduct feasibility analysis for new weather-data-based services (e.g. remote sensing–based advisory, forecast integration)
• Support technical troubleshooting and uptime of weather data systems (APIs, sensors, third-party data providers)

What You’ll Bring: 

• A Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, public policy, statistics, or a closely related field. 
• Strong understanding of economics, econometrics, and familiarity with randomized evaluations.
• Excellent knowledge of Stata, R, Python, or similar software for data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience working on field research in economics in LMIC countries.
• Demonstrated experience in using SurveyCTO/ODK or a similar program for survey design.
• Understanding of research ethics for human subjects in the social sciences.
• Excellent organizational skills, detail-oriented, and ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Fluency in English. Demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of any Indian language is a plus. 
• Ability to work under time pressure and solve problems creatively.
• Willingness to travel to project sites and conduct fieldwork.

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. 

How to Apply:

To apply, please visit the PxD website and use the online application form to submit a CV, cover letter, and brief responses to the screening questions. Applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis. The final deadline to apply is 25 October 2026, 6 pm IST.

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.