Deshpande Foundation
Website:
deshpandefoundationindia.org
Job details:
About The Role
We are looking for a motivated and field-oriented GIS Lead to support geospatial analytics and technology-driven decision-making for natural resource management programs, including water security, watershed development, forestry, and rural livelihoods. The role combines spatial analysis, field operations, UAV-based data collection, and program support to enable evidence-based planning, monitoring, and impact assessment.
Educational Qualification
Graduate Or Postgraduate Degree In STEM Disciplines Such As
- Geography
- Geology
- Geo-informatics
- Remote Sensing
- Environmental Science
- Civil Engineering
- Agriculture
- Spatial/Data Sciences
Candidates with coursework or hands-on exposure to GIS, image processing, remote sensing, spatial analytics, or UAV mapping will be preferred.
Experience
- 2+ years of relevant experience in GIS, remote sensing, geospatial analytics, or related domains
- Experience in natural resource management, watershed development, forestry, agriculture, or climate-related projects is desirable
Key Responsibilities
Geospatial Analytics & Decision Support
- Provide geospatial analytics–based decision support for natural resource management programs such as water security, watershed management, forestry, and climate resilience
- Develop spatial insights and thematic maps to support planning, implementation, monitoring, and impact assessment
- Conduct spatial analysis using primary and secondary datasets to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and intervention priorities
Data Management & Analysis
- Work with geospatial and environmental datasets including:
- Weather and climate data
- Topography and DEMs
- Soil and land-use datasets
- Hydrological and watershed data
- Satellite imagery and remote sensing datasets
- Integrate, clean, validate, and analyze spatial and non-spatial datasets for program reporting and decision-making
- Maintain awareness of relevant open-source and institutional geospatial data repositories
UAV Operations & Field Studies
- Operate and manage the organization’s UAV systems (RGB and multispectral payloads) for field data collection
- Plan and execute drone surveys, image processing, orthomosaic generation, and related analyses
- Conduct field visits and ground-truthing exercises across project locations
- Ensure safe handling, maintenance, and documentation of UAV operations
Technology & Tools
- Use GIS and remote sensing tools such as:
- ArcGIS
- QGIS
- Google Earth Engine
- Relevant GIS plugins and extensions
- Python libraries for geospatial analysis
- Contribute to improving internal workflows, automation, and geospatial data systems
Team & Program Support
- Mentor and manage interns and junior team members
- Support training programs, workshops, and student engagement activities
- Collaborate with program teams, field staff, researchers, and external stakeholders
Desired Skills & Competencies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to interpret spatial data and convert it into actionable insights
- Comfort working with interdisciplinary teams and field environments
- Good documentation and communication skills
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks
Preferred Attributes
- Commitment to creating measurable social and environmental impact
- Curiosity and willingness to learn new tools and technologies quickly
- Comfort working in dynamic and evolving project environments
- Willingness to travel frequently for fieldwork and project support
- Practical, hands-on approach to problem solving
Nice to Have
- Experience with UAV mission planning and photogrammetry workflows
- Exposure to watershed or environmental projects
- Familiarity with mobile data collection tools and field survey platforms
- Basic scripting or automation skills in Python/R
Click on Apply to know more.