[Remote] Agriculture Program Lead, The AI Access Initiative

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Evidence Action is launching The AI Access Initiative, focusing on scaling AI-enabled innovations to benefit people in low- and middle-income countries. The Agriculture Program Lead will design and execute the Agriculture portfolio, specifically AI-enabled weather forecasting and advisory services for smallholder farmers, while building partnerships with governments and delivery partners to ensure impactful program delivery.ResponsibilitiesOwn and lead the Agriculture program strategy: Set the multi-year vision and annual workplan to reach tens of millions of smallholder farmers with high-quality, AI-enabled forecasts and advisory servicesDrive state and national government partnerships: Build trusted relationships with ministries of agriculture, state-level governments, and meteorological agencies to enable forecast dissemination at scale, with a focus on institutionalization over timeManage delivery partner relationships: Coordinate with implementing partners and research collaborators to ensure forecasts are delivered cost-effectively and at high qualityDesign and oversee scaling pilots: Launch and evaluate work across new dissemination channels (SMS, WhatsApp, radio, telco partnerships) and new forecast types (e.g., dryspell, short-run), with rigorous learning agendasTranslate across stakeholders: Serve as an effective bridge among forecasting researchers, AI labs, NGOs, funders, and government counterparts; communicate technical concepts crisply to non-technical audiencesBuild and lead the agriculture team: Recruit, coach, and manage country leads, state-level staff, and partner teams; cultivate a high-performance, high-accountability cultureDrive learning and quality: Embed measurement, feedback loops, and cost-effectiveness analysis into the program; partner with M&E researchers to build the evidence base over timeOperate in ambiguity: Chart paths forward in new geographies and problem spaces with urgency, rigor, and pragmatismSkills5+ years' experience as a builder in international development, with a strong preference for direct experience in agriculture, weather forecasting, smallholder advisory services, agricultural extension, value chain interventions, or rural last-mile deliveryA proven track record of significantly scaling organizations and/or programs to deliver last-mile impact at the farmer levelTraining or early career experience in a high-rigor environment (e.g., top-tier management consulting, high-growth NGO program leadership, strategy/econ research) and the ability to rapidly get up to speed in new technical areas including AI/ML forecasting conceptsDemonstrated success leading agriculture or rural development programs from idea to scaled delivery, including managing multi-stakeholder coalitions with governments, research institutions, NGO implementers, and private sector partnersA track record as a strong people manager and builder: able to set clear standards, empower others, and cultivate a high-performance culture across distributed and field-based teamsExperience working with Asian and/or African governments to drive large-scale change, with a strong preference for direct experience working with Indian state governments, ministries of agriculture, or national meteorological agenciesHigh EQ and the ability to influence across diverse partners, from AI/forecasting researchers to frontline delivery staff to senior government officialsStrong fluency with AI tools, and eager to experiment, learn, and adapt to emerging technologiesComfort with ambiguity and fast iteration; can define and test hypotheses, adapt quickly, and maintain focus on impactExcellent written and verbal communication skills; able to synthesize complex technical ideas into crisp narratives for different audiencesWillingness and ability to travel extensively internationally (:20-40%), with significant time expected in India and other priority geographiesPassion for the mission of ensuring that the benefits of frontier AI reach the world's poorest populations, while mitigating its downside risksBenefitsComprehensive benefits including international health careHSA/FSA optionsLife insuranceDisability coverageRetirement plans with a matching componentGenerous and flexible leave optionsOther employee perks on a reimbursement basisCompany OverviewEvidence Action reducing poverty and spurring growth in developing countries. It was founded in 2012, and is headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia, USA, with a workforce of 501-1000 employees. Its website is https://www.evidenceaction.org/.