[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. Responsibilities • Own 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 services • Drive 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 time • Manage delivery partner relationships: Coordinate with implementing partners and research collaborators to ensure forecasts are delivered cost-effectively and at high quality • Design 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 agendas • Translate across stakeholders: Serve as an effective bridge among forecasting researchers, AI labs, NGOs, funders, and government counterparts; communicate technical concepts crisply to non-technical audiences • Build and lead the agriculture team: Recruit, coach, and manage country leads, state-level staff, and partner teams; cultivate a high-performance, high-accountability culture • Drive 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 time • Operate in ambiguity: Chart paths forward in new geographies and problem spaces with urgency, rigor, and pragmatism Skills • 5+ 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 delivery • A proven track record of significantly scaling organizations and/or programs to deliver last-mile impact at the farmer level • Training 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 concepts • Demonstrated 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 partners • A 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 teams • Experience 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 agencies • High EQ and the ability to influence across diverse partners, from AI/forecasting researchers to frontline delivery staff to senior government officials • Strong fluency with AI tools, and eager to experiment, learn, and adapt to emerging technologies • Comfort with ambiguity and fast iteration; can define and test hypotheses, adapt quickly, and maintain focus on impact • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to synthesize complex technical ideas into crisp narratives for different audiences • Willingness and ability to travel extensively internationally (:20-40%), with significant time expected in India and other priority geographies • Passion for the mission of ensuring that the benefits of frontier AI reach the world's poorest populations, while mitigating its downside risks Benefits • Comprehensive benefits including international health care • HSA/FSA options • Life insurance • Disability coverage • Retirement plans with a matching component • Generous and flexible leave options • Other employee perks on a reimbursement basis Company Overview • Evidence 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/.