About the Job

Are you passionate about using geospatial technology to make a positive impact on the world? Join us at Better Cotton as Spatial Data Coordinator and play a vital role in empowering a global workforce with effective and secure solutions, contributing to the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative – we support more sustainable farming practices and farm livelihoods for nearly 3 million farmers in the Better Cotton network in 23 countries around the world.

Reporting to the Field Digitalisation Manager, you will be part of the wider IT & Data Function. You will find yourself collaborating closely with the Field data digitalisation, Impact and MEL teams. Together we aim to ensure Better Cotton staff are empowered to succeed in their roles supporting global cotton communities through geospatial innovations.

This challenging role offers excellent opportunities for personal and professional development, together with a competitive benefits package.

The Challenge

Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

As Spatial Data Coordinator, you will use your skills to conceptualise, innovate and execute tasks related to the geospatial applications related to cotton. This role involves selecting appropriate tools for geospatial data collection, ensuring robust database structures, advising on visualization mechanisms, designing pilots for agricultural assessments, utilizing machine learning for automated detection, and developing web applications to showcase GIS data layers.

We are looking for someone who has

the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Essential

• Tools Selection, pilot studies and data collection:
• Run pilot studies and evaluate suitable hardware and software technologies suitable for field based GIS data collection.
• Implement geospatial field data collection in small farmer contexts.
• Implement image recognition and classification solution for crop classification and estimation of cotton acreage and yield.

• Database Management & Governance:
• Contribute to the organizational data model from the GIS data perspective.
• Maintain the integrity and performance of geospatial databases.
• Ensure transformation of field based geospatial data into well-known text formats to aid necessary visualisation.
• Standardisation of place codes and admin boundaries across countries (aligned with other international standards)

• GIS data analysis, visualization and reporting :
• Compare and advise on visualization mechanisms for geospatial data in both web-based and desktop environments.
• Develop and maintain web applications to showcase GIS data layers.
• Perform remote sensing analysis for topics such as land use change detection,  biomass calculation and others.
• Integrate mapping outputs with Power BI for comprehensive reporting and analysis.
• Ensure that GIS map templates comply with organisational communication guidelines
• Work with cross-functional teams to develop and refine agriculture models.

• Understand Impact crediting
• Work closely with Impact, MEL and IT functions to understand the geospatial data and analytical needs of the program. Majorly (but not limited to) polygonal data handling and remote sensing-based analysis and verification of agriculture outcomes.
• Demonstrable analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Experience in coaching and/or supporting other staff 
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across different teams and cultures, strong relationship-building skills and service-oriented attitude 
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken, with attentive listening abilities and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely 
• Self-starter able to work autonomously and adapt to changing priorities 

Desirable 

• Interest in contributing to a more sustainable world
• Master's degree in Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing or a related field.
• Knowledge/ experience about ODK, CommCare, QField and/or ESRI based field tools will be added advantage.
• Expertise in GIS/ remote sensing software and cloud-based GIS platforms like Google Earth Engine, QGIS, Esri’s ArcGIS Online.
• Experience on Google Earth Engine for different classifiers, especially for crop classification and geospatial operations at planetry scale is highly valuable.
• Experience of working with GeoAI or AI application in Remote sensing will be highly valued.

What we offer

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working
• Continuous learning and development
• Medical Outdoor & Indoor benefit for self & dependant/s
• Life Insurances
• 25 days paid annual leave, plus 9 Bank Holidays and a further 3 days off 
• Enhanced parental benefits
• A warm, positive working environment where everyone is valued
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based in Lahore. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.

 Our hiring process

Initial Screening:

If you are selected, you will be contacted for an initial screening, which may involve a brief phone interview or video call. The purpose is to learn more about you, confirm basic qualifications, and discuss the role and organisation.

Interviews:

If you are confirmed after the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management.

Assessment and Testing:

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. 

Reference Checks:

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history.

Offer stage:

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. 

About Better Cotton

Better Cotton is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. Our 200+ colleagues of 37+ nationalities are united by a shared passion and commitment to achieving the Better Cotton mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. Through our network of field-level partners a quarter of the world’s cotton is now grown under the Better Cotton Standard. We have united the industry’s stakeholders behind our efforts, from ginners and spinners to brand owners, civil society organisations and governments. Everyone who cares about cotton and its sustainable future can now be part of something better.

Better Cotton initiative at Pakistan is working under a service level agreement with Better cotton, Global. 

About our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:  

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible) 
• As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic) 
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic) 
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic) 
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)  

Being you @ Better Cotton

Better Cotton is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources. 

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.