National Expert on Soil Science and Soil Surveying

The National Expert on Soil Science and Soil Surveying will provide technical leadership and support for the development and updating of Sri Lanka's soil profile information system, agro-ecological zone maps, and crop suitability assessments. The role involves field soil profiling, data interpretation, database development, and capacity-building activities to support climate-resilient agricultural planning.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and updating of the national soil profile information system through field soil profiling, interpretation of laboratory data, database development, and integration of validated soil information into the national soil map.
• Support the updating of AEZ maps and crop suitability assessments through the integration and field validation of soil, climate, terrain, and land-use information.
• Capacity-building activities and the development of knowledge products.
• Provide technical support to develop the agro-ecological region map and the agro-ecological database of Sri Lanka.
• Provide technical support to update the soil profile information system, including the soil profile database, for the dry, Intermediate and the wet zone of Sri Lanka.
• Provide technical support to classify the soil series map and database of Sri Lanka.
• Provide technical support to explore and map potential areas for the cultivation of annual Field Crops, vegetables, root & tuber crops, perennial fruit crops, Plantation crops and spices including cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and pepper.
• Support to compile and submit the final deliverables, including crop suitability maps, soil profile information, agro-ecological maps and related databases.

Requirements

• A Postgraduate diploma in Soil Surveying or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in soil surveying, land suitability assessment, soil mapping, agro-ecological zoning, crop zoning, or natural resources management.
• Working knowledge of English (C1).
• Working knowledge of Sinhala and/or Tamil is required.
• National of Sri Lanka or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

Skills

• Soil Surveying
• Land Suitability Assessment
• Soil Mapping
• Agro-ecological Zoning
• Crop Zoning
• Natural Resource Management
• Soil Profiling
• Data Interpretation
• Database Development
• Capacity Building
• Climate-resilient Agricultural Planning

Languages

English, Sinhala, Tamil