National Internet of Things (IoT) Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO Country Offices, which are headed by an FAO representative and working to implement the corporate Strategic Framework at country level, offer policy advice and technical assistance to countries to develop policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural sector in a sustainable manner to ensure zero hunger in the country. 
The FAO Representation in Bangladesh (FAOBD) is providing technical assistance to the Government of Bangladesh to facilitate the implementation of the Agriculture Sector Transformation Programme (ATP), under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). This initiative is funded by the Gates Foundation (GF) and is anticipated to be executed over a period of 38 months. The project aims to encourage investment in the crop sector and enhance the innovative technologies in line with agricultural transformation towards sustainable agro-economic growth in Bangladesh. The specific objectives, are to:
•     Conducting policy, institutional, and investment gap analyses to inform an effective action plan for agriculture sector transformation.
•     Identifying and establishing effective pathways for prioritizing and coordinating resources and partnerships.
•     Enhancing collaboration with the private sector.
•     Improving the scale and efficacy of investments in agrifood system research and innovation.
•     Strengthening institutional capacity and system.
•     Facilitating the piloting and scaling of catalytic technologies.

The National Internet of Things (IoT) Specialist will contribute to the development of policy-informed, climate-resilient, and practically implementable investment blueprints for six regions that promote agricultural transformation, with emphasis on environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and market responsiveness. The incumbent will play a key role in producing biennial policy notes for DAE under MoA.

Reporting Lines

The National Internet of Things (IoT) Specialist is a SC9 position (National Technical Expert). Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, technical supervision of the Deputy FAO Representative, Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and direct supervision of the Technical Advisor (TA), the incumbent will work closely with the National Project Coordinator, FAOBD’s Technical Assistance team, relevant government institutions, and other stakeholders.

Technical Focus 
The technical focus of the assignment focuses on regional agricultural policy and investment planning, emphasizing the development of evidence-based investment blueprints for six agro-ecological zones. It includes integrating agro-ecological and socio-economic analysis, providing policy advisory support, and coordinating with key stakeholders to mobilize investments aligned with national priorities. Additionally, the incumbent will undertake the preparation of six evidence-based policy notes for DAE and MoA, ensuring they offer actionable recommendations informed by data, impact assessments, and alignment with national strategies.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Conduct a comprehensive review of existing IoT solutions for soil moisture, nutrient, and crop condition monitoring, with a particular focus on technologies appropriate for smallholder and climate-resilient agricultural systems in Bangladesh.
•     Identify, select, and configure suitable sensor hardware (e.g., soil moisture, temperature, pH, EC, NPK sensors) and compatible communication technologies (e.g., LoRaWAN, NB-IoT) in consultation with project stakeholders and field experts.
•     Design sensor deployment strategies, including detailed experimental field layouts, calibration protocols, and power and data management plans, ensuring compatibility with local field conditions.
•     Oversee and support the deployment of IoT systems at designated demonstration sites, ensuring proper installation, data acquisition, connectivity, and integration with central data repositories.
•     Develop and implement data visualization frameworks to enable real-time monitoring and facilitate integration with farmer advisory systems and digital agriculture platforms.
•     Analyze collected sensor data to generate actionable insights on irrigation scheduling, soil fertility status, and optimal resource utilization, contributing to improved crop productivity and efficiency.
•     Document and report implementation progress, lessons learned, and challenges encountered; provide evidence-based recommendations to inform policy, system improvement, and potential scale-up.
•     Conduct training and capacity-building sessions for staff from BARI, BADC, DAE, and local stakeholders on the installation, maintenance, and use of IoT devices for precision agriculture.
•     Prepare and submit technical documents, including reports, briefs, presentations, and manuals for internal use and external dissemination, in line with FAO and donor requirements.
•     Provide continuous technical support to implementing partners and farmers to troubleshoot issues and ensure sustained system functionality and data reliability.
•     Perform any other duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    
•     Advanced university degree in Information and Communication Technology, Computer Science and Applications, Agricultural Engineering, Remote Sensing, or a related field.
•     At least 9 years of relevant professional experience in the field of Information and Communication Technology, preferably with demonstrated expertise in IoT applications for agriculture or environmental monitoring.
•     Working knowledge of English (level C).
•     National of Bangladesh.

FAO Core Competencies
•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 
•     Strong knowledge of IoT hardware/software integration, remote sensing, wireless communication, and cloud-based data systems.
•     Experience in automation systems (e.g., irrigation or fertigation).
•     Ability to conduct data-driven recommendations for resource optimization in agriculture.
•     Competence in training and capacity development of technical institutions and farmer groups.
•     Prior experience working with FAO, other UN agencies, or international development partners in agricultural development projects in Bangladesh will be considered an asset.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION