FarmTree is a social enterprise based at the Wageningen campus, the Netherlands. The company develops and operates a science-based platform that makes field data and scientific knowledge actionable for agroforestry and regenerative agriculture practitioners — from project developers and cooperatives to farmers, microfinance institutions, and governments.
At the heart of FarmTree is a mechanistic biophysical model grounded in both scientific research and field practice. Unlike generic land-use tools, our model generates a rich set of performance indicators specific to agroforestry systems: farmers' income, soil health, hydrology, carbon sequestration, labour, gender outcomes, and other environmental and social metrics. These outputs support landscape investment decisions, business plan development, and project monitoring across our growing portfolio in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
The role we are advertising — Science & Data Lead — sits at the core of what makes FarmTree credible and operational. This person ensures that the data flowing through our platform is scientifically sound, well-structured, and transparently processed. That means overseeing the quality of our species and inputs database, building and improving AI-assisted tools for data gathering and calibration, and developing workflows that take field data from collection through cleaning to reporting — reliably and traceably.
Responsibilities
- Develop and improve AI-assisted workflows for species definition, calibration, and data processing
- Guide and instruct the CAFS expert to expand the species and inputs database
- Develop with external experts data cleaning and translation workflows that integrate data from multiple sources — including earth observation, survey data, and field monitoring data — into farm-level scenarios
- Oversee procedures to collect, clean, and process field data and calibration data
- Recruitment and guidance of technical interns from Wageningen and applied universities
- Oversee data documentation, model documentation, and scientific communication to clients and partners
- Answer scientific and data quality questions from clients and ensure their feedback is addressed
- Chair biweekly R&D coordination across model and platform teams
Must Have
- MSc or PhD in agroecology, agroforestry, ecology, data science, biophysical modelling, or a closely related field — with a clear emphasis on data and data processing for decision making
- Demonstrated ability to develop and apply data processing protocols using modern and evolving tools, including AI-assisted approaches
- Proficiency in at least one programming or data processing language (R, Python, C# or similar)
- Ability to translate scientific and data knowledge into clear requirements for an IT development team
- Curiosity about AI and modern data tools, and the drive to integrate these into scientific workflows
Nice to have
- An existing network in the agroforestry scientific or practitioner community
- Experience working with AI tools (Claude, Python-based automation, or similar) for scientific workflows
- Experience working alongside IT developers, including tools such as Jira
- Track record of peer-reviewed publications in agroforestry, land use, or environmental modelling
- Familiarity with carbon standards or climate impact assessment frameworks (e.g. Verra, Gold Standard, Plan Vivo)
- Experience in writing online content
What's great in the job?
- Great team of smart people, in a friendly and open culture
- No dumb managers, no stupid tools to use, no rigid working hours
- Real responsibilities and autonomy
- Expand your knowledge of science-based work in an entrepreneurial environment
- Create content that will help our users on a daily basis
What We Offer
A meaningful role at the intersection of science, technology, and sustainable agriculture. You will work in a small, mission-driven team based at the Wageningen campus, contributing directly to a platform that supports agroforestry practitioners across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. FarmTree offers a flexible working week — typically 28 to 32 hours, with 40 hours possible — and a collaborative, international working environment. FarmTree is a start-up evolving to a scale-up, which means real freedom to take initiative and shape your role, alongside the challenges and energy that come with a growing social enterprise.
We invite you to explore the FarmTree platform before applying — subscribe at farmtree.earth, take a look at the functionality, and tell us in your motivation letter what you would improve or build on.
Please apply using the button below. We ask for a CV and a short motivation letter. Thank you for your interest in FarmTree.