Job Description

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is on the lookout for a dynamic professional to join our headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka as the Information Technology Manager - Geospatial Software Engineering.

This is an internationally recruited position; therefore, individuals with relevant abilities from diverse locations around the world are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate is expected to be based in Sri Lanka; however, remote working may be considered.

Information Technology Manager is responsible for the design, development, and implementation of geospatial and digital solutions, translating hydrological and climate research into operational systems. The role also ensures coherence across digital platforms, including dashboards and Digital Twin ecosystems, while strengthening institutional capacity and aligning development practices with organizational standards.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Main Purpose of Job:

• Design and deliver geospatial software platforms, digital twin systems, and data‑driven applications, ensuring timely completion and high technical quality.
• Develop product strategies and roadmaps for digital tools and platforms, informed by user needs and research priorities, defining measurable success indicators.
• Lead the product lifecycle from ideation through deployment of geospatial decision‑support systems and dashboards, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with research outputs.
• Design and engineer software components, integrations, and system architectures that enable scalable geospatial analytics, real‑time data processing, and decision support.
• Maintain and enhance digital platforms and infrastructure across the development lifecycle, ensuring reliability, scalability, and strong user experience.
• Ensure IT systems align with organizational architecture, applying data security standards and supporting the integration of climate, hydrological, and geospatial data systems.

Main engagement, collaboration and communication responsibilities:

• Deliver tailored training and knowledge‑transfer sessions to research and technical teams to strengthen adoption and reduce dependency on key individuals.
• Clarify requirements with stakeholders across research and technical teams to ensure development outputs align with user needs and operational objectives.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional and global teams to standardize IT processes, ensure coherence of dashboard development, and align solutions with institutional architecture.
• Coordinate with data science and analytics teams to translate complex hydrological and geospatial models into implementable technical solutions.
• Engage with external service providers and partners to ensure quality development, compliance with specifications, and alignment with project goals.

Main responsibilities in the delivery of timely and quality services:

• Define and track performance indicators and produce progress reports to inform prioritization, decision‑making, and continuous improvement.
• Create and manage project timelines, roadmaps, and milestones to ensure efficient use of resources and timely delivery of digital solutions.
• Lead project lifecycles from pre‑implementation through post‑deployment, ensuring systems meet acceptance criteria and operational requirements.
• Monitor development and deployment processes to detect and resolve defects early, ensuring stability and reliability of production systems.
• Ensure secure system configuration, performance monitoring, and continuous optimization of platforms to maintain operational stability and scalability.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Education, Certifications & Trainings:

• Bachelor’s degree in highly relevant field. Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Relevant certifications.

Experience:

• Advanced experience in Information Technology, leading and implementing IT projects and services.
• Hands-on experience managing larger platforms, applying conceptual models, and identifying opportunities for system improvement.
• Experience in IT specific project management.
• Experience in software engineering / software / cloud development preferably related to digital agriculture tools, apps, and platforms.
• Experience in supervising team members, creating a collaborative work environment.
• Experience with artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analysis and visualization tools is a plus.
• Experience developing geospatial platforms, digital twins, and decision‑support systems using modern web GIS technologies.
• Experience working with cloud infrastructure, APIs, and data pipelines integrating Earth Observation and hydrological datasets.
• Experience working in an international not-for-profit organization is an advantage.

Technical Competencies:

• Programming Languages Demonstrates high proficiency in modern programming languages, including TypeScript (ES6+), Python, and SQL, enabling the design, development, and optimization of scalable and high‑performance software solutions, with working knowledge of additional languages such as Rust and R to support diverse development requirements.
• API & Backend Development: Applies advanced expertise in designing and developing robust backend systems and APIs using frameworks such as FastAPI and Django, leveraging REST and GraphQL standards, and managing spatial databases (PostgreSQL/PostGIS) to enable efficient data integration, processing, and delivery of geospatial applications.
• Cloud & DevOps: Utilizes strong expertise in cloud-native infrastructure and DevOps practices, including AWS services, containerization with Docker, and CI/CD workflows, to ensure scalable, secure, and reliable deployment of digital platforms and continuous improvement of system performance.
• Geospatial Data Processing Demonstrates strong capability in geospatial data processing and analysis, applying tools and standards such as Google Earth Engine, GDAL, STAC, COG, and raster/vector processing techniques to develop automated, high-quality data pipelines and ensure accuracy and integrity of spatial datasets.

Benefits

This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary, an attractive retirement plan, comprehensive international health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. Internationally recruited staff who are employed at a duty station outside of their home base/country of nationality will also receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for eligible dependents. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on July 16, 2026 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.