Raising The Village · 1 day ago
Data Collectors - Soil Assessment
Greater Morgantown Area
Contract
Onsite
Entry, Mid Level
2+ years expRaising The Village (RTV) is an international development organization focused on eradicating ultra-poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Data Collector - Soil Assessment will conduct soil health assessments to support RTV's Smart Agriculture interventions, requiring technical knowledge in soil analysis and community engagement.
AgricultureAssociationSocial EntrepreneurshipSocial Media
Responsibilities
Soil Sampling and Technical Fieldwork
Conduct field surveys to collect soil samples using established protocols and safety guidelines
Identify, document, and interpret physical soil properties (e.g., texture, color, depth, stoniness)
Use GPS devices to locate and log predefined soil base units, ensuring accurate geospatial mapping of sample sites
Perform soil scanner tests (where applicable) to assess pH, organic matter, and nutrient composition using the Agrocares soil scanner
Data Collection and Management
Accurately document all sample metadata, including location coordinates, depth, sample condition, and environmental notes
Input soil physical properties and field notes into RTV's digital data tools (scanner app, survey form)
Ensure data accuracy, completeness, and adherence to formatting requirements and submission timelines
Field Logistics and Tool Management
Manage RTV-issued field equipment, including soil scanners, augers, GPS units, sample bags, and protective gear
Ensure proper handling, care, and secure storage of all field tools during and after operations
Community Engagement and Mobilization
Liaise with community leadership (LCs, parish chiefs, and local agriculture officers) to introduce and explain the soil profiling activity, in support of the RTV Regional Agricultural Officer
Maintain respectful and trust-building interactions with all community stakeholders
Training and Quality Assurance
Participate in all training sessions on soil profiling, scanner usage, data entry, and field safety
Apply feedback and guidance from VENN and regional agriculture officers to improve data quality and compliance
Technical Routing
Lead GPS-based routing around soil-based units to ensure efficient field navigation and sample representativeness
Other Duties
Record qualitative observations related to soil condition, land use, and farming practices where applicable
Execute any additional tasks assigned by the VENN Officer to ensure smooth operations and survey success
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Agriculture with specialisation in Soil Science, Agronomy, or a related field
Minimum 2 years of field experience in soil sampling and agricultural data collection
Familiarity with soil scanners, soil augers, GPS devices, and survey applications (ODK, Survey123)
Ability to interpret basic soil characteristics and perform scanner-based soil analysis
Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage respectfully with rural communities
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in remote and dynamic field conditions
Willingness to collaborate and align with the RTV field officers
Company
Raising The Village
Providing critical infrastructure, tools and training to recovering villages.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Kathleen Rommel
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Company data provided by crunchbase