About the position
South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI) a division of the South African Sugar Association (SASA) has a permanent opportunity available for an Agrometeorologistbased in Mount Edgecombe.
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)
Desired Skills:
- Agrometeorologist
- Durban
- Agriculture
