Field Operations & Agronomic Data Associate at Kaplo Africa

Role Overview

• We are seeking a Field Operations & Agronomic Data Associate to support the deployment and management of a structured productivity pilot.
• The role involves overseeing sensor installation, field data collection, environmental monitoring, and coordination with farm operators to ensure disciplined implementation of monitoring protocols.
• This position sits at the intersection of agriculture, field operations, and data-driven decisionsupport.

Key Responsibilities
Sensor Deployment & Maintenance:

• Support installation of soil moisture, EC, and ambient sensors.
• Ensure correct sensor placement at appropriate root-zone depths.
• Conduct routine checks to ensure sensors are functioning properly.
• Maintain accurate records of sensor IDs, locations, and installation details.

Field Monitoring & Data Logging:

• Conduct weekly field visits to:
• Monitor soil moisture patterns.
• Document irrigation timing.
• Track environmental conditions.

Maintain structured logs of:

• Irrigation events
• Weather observations
• Crop growth stages
• Stress indicators

Farmer Coordination:

• Liaise directly with farm managers.
• Communicate monitoring observations and recommended irrigation timing adjustments.
• Ensure farmer feedback is captured and documented.
• Track compliance with agreed monitoring protocols.

Performance Tracking:

• Assist in documenting baseline conditions.
• Support yield measurement and harvest data collection.
• Compare monitored vs non-monitored zones (if applicable).
• Contribute to pilot reporting and analysis.

Reporting & Documentation:

• Submit weekly structured field reports.
• Photograph installation and crop progress.
• Maintain organized data records for analysis.
• Highlight anomalies or risks early.

Success Metrics for This Role

• Accurate sensor deployment.
• Consistent weekly monitoring reports.
• Clear documentation of irrigation timing changes.
• Structured harvest data collection.
• Professional farmer engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Interested candidates should possess a Degree or diploma in:
  • Agronomy
  • Agricultural Engineering
  • Crop Science
  • Soil Science
  • Agricultural Technology
• 1–3 years field experience preferred.
• Practical understanding of irrigation systems.
• Basic understanding of soil moisture and crop stress concepts.

Technical Competencies:

• Comfortable using digital tools for data logging.
• Ability to interpret basic soil moisture trends.
• Familiarity with GPS mapping is an advantage.
• Basic Excel or data entry skills.

Soft Skills:

• High field discipline and reliability.
• Strong observational skills.
• Structured thinker.
• Comfortable engaging with commercial farmers.
• Detail-oriented.