About Us

At Raising The Village (RTV), we are dedicated to eradicating ultra-poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. As a dynamic, rapidly growing international development organization, we’ve assembled a team of over 350+ passionate individuals in Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC, alongside an additional 10+ professionals in North America. Together is committed to elevating communities out of ultra-poverty by implementing innovative solutions and leveraging advanced data analytics to drive impact.

Our holistic approach has positively impacted over 1 million lives since 2012, and we’re poised to achieve even greater milestones, aiming to assist 1 million individuals annually by 2027. Our growth and success are fueled by the invaluable support of global partners who share our vision of sustainable change.

Job Description

The Data Collector - Soil Assessment is responsible for conducting high-quality soil health assessments to support RTV’s Smart Agriculture interventions. This role requires field-based data collection, technical knowledge in soil analysis, equipment handling, and meaningful engagement with local communities. The contractor will lead soil data collection activities, support GPS-guided routing, ensure tool accountability, and uphold scientific and ethical standards during all stages of the survey process.

Responsibilities

1. Soil Sampling and Technical Fieldwork

• Conduct field surveys to collect soil samples using established protocols and safety guidelines.
• Identify, document, and interpret physical soil properties (e.g., texture, color, depth, stoniness).
• Use GPS devices to locate and log predefined soil base units, ensuring accurate geospatial mapping of sample sites.
• Perform soil scanner tests (where applicable) to assess pH, organic matter, and nutrient composition using the Agrocares soil scanner.

1. Data Collection and Management

• Accurately document all sample metadata, including location coordinates, depth, sample condition, and environmental notes.
• Input soil physical properties and field notes into RTV’s digital data tools (scanner app, survey form).
• Ensure data accuracy, completeness, and adherence to formatting requirements and submission timelines.

1. Field Logistics and Tool Management

• Manage RTV-issued field equipment, including soil scanners, augers, GPS units, sample bags, and protective gear.
• Ensure proper handling, care, and secure storage of all field tools during and after operations.

1. Community Engagement and Mobilization

• Liaise with community leadership (LCs, parish chiefs, and local agriculture officers) to introduce and explain the soil profiling activity, in support of the RTV Regional Agricultural Officer.
• Maintain respectful and trust-building interactions with all community stakeholders.

1. Training and Quality Assurance

• Participate in all training sessions on soil profiling, scanner usage, data entry, and field safety.
• Apply feedback and guidance from VENN and regional agriculture officers to improve data quality and compliance.

1. Technical Routing

• Lead GPS-based routing around soil-based units to ensure efficient field navigation and sample representativeness.

1. Other Duties

• Record qualitative observations related to soil condition, land use, and farming practices where applicable.
• Execute any additional tasks assigned by the VENN Officer to ensure smooth operations and survey success.

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture with specialisation in Soil Science, Agronomy, or a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of field experience in soil sampling and agricultural data collection.
• Familiarity with soil scanners, soil augers, GPS devices, and survey applications (ODK, Survey123).
• Ability to interpret basic soil characteristics and perform scanner-based soil analysis.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage respectfully with rural communities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in remote and dynamic field conditions.
• Team Coordination: Willingness to collaborate and align with the RTV field officers.