How to apply for Research / Senior Research Manager, Farmer Insights and Field Research (Weather Initiative)

About Precision Development

Precision Development (PxD) is a nonprofit that supports people living in extreme poverty by providing digital information and services that increase productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability. The weather initiative is a high-profile, fast-growing area of PxD's work with significant potential for impact and visibility. This role is remote in India and requires existing authorization to work in India.

About the role

The Research / Senior Research Manager, Farmer Insights and Field Research (Weather Initiative) will design, test, evaluate, and scale evidence-based weather solutions for smallholder farmers. The role works closely with researchers, government partners, and cross-functional teams, and fluidly across programmatic, service delivery, and research functions. The work ensures insights are embedded into program implementation, operational decision-making, and government-facing engagements.

A typical day

A typical day might include meeting with researchers and government partners to align on a weather solution test, reviewing field data or farmer insights, and working with program and service delivery teams to embed findings into implementation. You may also prepare evidence summaries for government-facing engagements or adjust research plans based on iterative learning. Exact daily routines are not specified in the job details; ask the hiring team about team structure and typical workflows.

Who Precision Development is looking for

• Has strong research management skills, including designing and evaluating field research with smallholder farmers.
• Is a proactive self-starter with excellent stakeholder engagement abilities, especially with government partners and cross-functional teams.
• Can work fluidly across research, programmatic, and service delivery functions, not just in a research silo.
• Has a passion for generating actionable evidence to improve program outcomes and scale weather solutions.

Tips for this application

• Apply early. The application deadline is October 25, 2026, but applications may be reviewed as they are submitted.
• Confirm you have existing authorization to work in India. PxD cannot sponsor visas for this role.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to show research management on weather or agricultural advisories for smallholder farmers.
• Show experience working with government partners and cross-functional teams, since the role involves government-facing engagements.
• Use the exact job title in your application materials: Research / Senior Research Manager, Farmer Insights and Field Research (Weather Initiative).

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your experience designing, testing, evaluating, and scaling evidence-based solutions for smallholder farmers.', 'Your research management skills and ability to work across programmatic, service delivery, and research functions.', 'Your stakeholder engagement experience, especially with government partners and cross-functional teams.', "Your motivation to work on PxD's weather initiative and contribute to its high-profile, fast-growing area of work."]

Research before applying

• Read the Precision Development website, especially any content on the weather initiative and digital information services for smallholder farmers.
• Look for PxD publications or reports on farmer insights, field research, and weather advisories in India.
• Understand PxD's work with government partners in India and how research informs program implementation.
• Check the job posting for any updates, since applications may be reviewed as they are submitted.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would design a field research study to test a weather solution for smallholder farmers.
• How you have worked with government partners to embed evidence into program implementation or decision-making.
• How you manage research across programmatic and service delivery functions without losing research rigor.
• What you know about PxD's weather initiative and how you would scale evidence-based weather solutions.
• How you handle iterative learning and adapt research when field conditions or partner needs change.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without existing authorization to work in India, since PxD cannot sponsor visas for this role.
• Submitting a generic research resume without showing field research or farmer insights experience.
• Ignoring the cross-functional nature of the role and only highlighting academic research without programmatic or service delivery exposure.