Job opportunities

The South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) is a world-renowned agricultural research institute that supports the sustainability and profitability of the South African sugar industry through innovative research and technology transfer. SASRI is a division of the South African Sugar Association (SASA) and serves the entire sugarcane-growing sector across Southern Africa.

We are currently seeking a skilled and proactive Agrometeorologist to join our multidisciplinary team in advancing climate-smart farming practices and developing decision-support tools using climate and weather data.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor, collect, and interpret weather and climate data relevant to sugarcane production
• Develop seasonal climate outlooks, rainfall predictions, and drought monitoring tools for growers
• Provide agroclimatic advisories and recommendations to support field operations including planting, irrigation, and harvesting
• Work closely with agronomists and extension officers to integrate weather data into crop modelling and decision support systems
• Manage and expand SASRI's weather station network and weather web website
• Contribute to research on climate variability, extreme weather events, and their impact on sugarcane production
• Provide training and support to growers and stakeholders on the use of meteorological data and tools
• Leading or contributing to multidisciplinary research projects
• Generate monthly, regional and industry sugarcane production forecasts by analysing crop model outputs together with agronomic data obtained from extension specialists

Minimum Requirements:

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in Agricultural Meteorology or related field
• Minimum of 3-5 years' experience as an agricultural meteorologist preferably in a crop research/production environment
• A valid driver's licence and willingness to travel throughout the sugarcane producing areas of South Africa and Southern Africa
• Strong understanding of South African climatic patterns and agro-ecological zones

Knowledge and Skills:

• Basic programming skills in R, Python, or similar languages for data analysis and automation of workflows
• Hands-on experience with the installation, calibration, operation, and maintenance of automatic weather stations (AWS) and environmental sensors
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate complex climate information into practical recommendations
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams
• Experience in collecting, processing, and analysing weather and climate data for agricultural applications (e.g. crop modelling, drought risk analysis, seasonal forecasting)