How to apply for Welfare Measurement Lead

About Fish Welfare Initiative

Fish Welfare Initiative works to improve the welfare of farmed fish in aquaculture. It is one of the few organizations focused specifically on fish welfare, and the role is based remotely in India with fieldwork in rural Andhra Pradesh.

About the role

This role leads measurement of farmed fish welfare through field assessments and data analysis. You will develop the Welfare Assessment Protocol into a full measurement framework, run field studies comparing farms with and without FWI programs, and manage local assessment staff. Your findings will inform program scaling, modification, and geographic expansion.

A typical day

A typical day might involve traveling to farms in rural Andhra Pradesh to oversee data collection, training local assessment staff, and reviewing data. You would also spend time analyzing data, refining the Welfare Assessment Protocol, and preparing findings for leadership. The balance between fieldwork and analysis depends on the current phase of studies.

Who Fish Welfare Initiative is looking for

• Has strong statistical and data analysis skills, including managing data collection and running statistical comparisons.
• Has experience conducting field studies or field assessments, ideally in rural settings.
• Can manage and train local staff while spending significant time on farms yourself.
• Has rigorous analytical thinking and exceptional attention to detail.
• Is enthusiastic about fieldwork in rural Andhra Pradesh and about fish welfare.

Tips for this application

• Show concrete experience with field data collection and statistical analysis. Give examples of studies you designed or ran.
• Demonstrate willingness to work on farms in rural Andhra Pradesh. Mention any prior fieldwork in rural or agricultural settings.
• Explain how you would refine a Welfare Assessment Protocol into a framework usable across different farming systems and interventions.
• Include examples of managing or training local staff for data collection, focusing on data quality.
• Connect your analytical work to program decisions. Show you can communicate findings to leadership for scaling or modification.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your statistical and data skills, with specific examples of field studies you managed.', 'Your experience training and managing local staff for high-quality data collection.', 'Your willingness and ability to spend significant time on farms in rural Andhra Pradesh.', 'How you would develop a welfare measurement framework that informs program scaling and geographic expansion.']

Research before applying

• Read about Fish Welfare Initiative's work and their focus on farmed fish in aquaculture.
• Learn about aquaculture practices in Andhra Pradesh and common welfare issues for farmed fish.
• Understand what a Welfare Assessment Protocol typically includes and how it is used in farmed animal welfare.
• Look into the Charity Entrepreneurship incubator, which FWI is part of, to understand their approach.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you refine the Welfare Assessment Protocol into a comprehensive measurement framework across farming systems?
• Describe a field study you conducted. How did you manage data collection and statistical analysis?
• How would you train and manage local assessment staff to ensure high-quality data?
• How do you handle the challenges of fieldwork in rural areas?
• How would you communicate findings and recommendations to leadership on program scaling or modification?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Not showing specific experience with field data collection and statistical analysis.
• Avoiding or showing reluctance about fieldwork in rural Andhra Pradesh.
• Focusing only on data analysis without addressing staff management or training.
• Making generic statements about animal welfare without connecting to fish welfare measurement.