Senior Scientist - Sustainable Fertilizers, Soil Health, and Climate Solutions

Senior Scientist - Sustainable Fertilizers, Soil Health, and Climate Solutions

Join to apply for the Senior Scientist - Sustainable Fertilizers, Soil Health, and Climate Solutions role at International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

The Senior Scientist – Sustainable Fertilizers, Soil Health, and Climate Solutions position provides scientific leadership and programmatic direction to IFDC’s work at the intersection of fertilizer innovation, sustainable agriculture, soil health, and climate mitigation. The role combines strategic leadership, applied research, partnership development, and resource mobilization, translating rigorous science into scalable solutions for farmers, markets, and governments.

• Scientific and Technical Leadership – Provide technical leadership on sustainable fertilizer systems, design and oversee field trials, integrate life‑cycle assessment, soil carbon, and GHG accounting, and develop innovative nutrient‑cycling approaches.
• Climate, Carbon Markets, and MRV – Lead technical engagement on agriculture and soil carbon methodologies, support carbon‑in‑soil and emissions‑reduction approaches, and engage with international standards bodies to inform credible carbon certification and climate finance pathways.
• Program Leadership and Delivery – Design and manage multi‑country programs that link fertilizer innovation with farmer adoption, climate outcomes, and market access, translate research outputs into practical guidance, and contribute to IFDC’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning frameworks.
• Partnerships and Resource Mobilization – Build and manage strategic partnerships, lead grant writing and donor engagement, and represent IFDC in global forums on fertilizers, soil health, climate‑smart agriculture, and carbon markets.
• Policy Engagement and Institutional Capacity Building – Provide evidence‑based inputs to national and international policy dialogues, strengthen IFDC’s role as a trusted science‑policy‑market interface, and support capacity building of national institutions.
• Team Leadership and Mentorship – Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams, foster collaboration across IFDC departments and with external partners, and support publication of peer‑reviewed articles, technical reports, and policy briefs.

• PhD in Environmental Science, Soil Science, Agronomy, Climate Science, or related field.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in sustainable agriculture, soil health, fertilizer systems, or climate adaptation/mitigation.
• Demonstrated expertise in soil GHG emissions, nutrient management, organic amendments, regenerative agriculture, and climate‑smart agriculture.
• Strong experience leading large, complex, multi‑disciplinary programs across geographies.
• Proven track record in resource mobilization, donor‑funded projects, and partnership management.
• Ability to translate complex science into scalable, farmer‑relevant and policy‑relevant solutions.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience with carbon standards, MRV systems, and voluntary or compliance carbon markets.
• Familiarity with fertilizer product development, stewardship, and regulatory environments.
• Experience working with multilateral agencies, foundations, and private‑sector fertilizer companies.
• Strong publication record in peer‑reviewed journals.
• International experience and familiarity with different research and innovation funding mechanisms.
• Experience in establishing public‑private partnerships and fostering innovation ecosystems.
• Recognized publications, patents, or innovations in fertilizer science, soil health, or sustainable agriculture.

This position will report to the Director of Innovations and Research Department.

National recruitment; duty station at the IFDC office in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA.

Annual and sick leave, health, dental, vision and group life insurance coverage, social security and pension contribution in compliance with local laws.

The salary grade for this position is BG10.

IFDC is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. All employment decisions at IFDC are made on the basis of ability, performance, and organizational need, in alignment with our values of fairness, respect, and opportunity for all.

Seniority level:
Mid‑Senior level

Employment type:

Full‑time
Job function:
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Industries:
International Trade and Development