Watershed Expert

Company Description Access Livelihoods (AL) is a Hyderabad-based group of social enterprises that partners with marginalized communities to reimagine and strengthen their livelihoods. Established in 2005, AL is an AIM–NITI Aayog recognized Established Incubation Centre, primarily focused on incubating women-owned producer enterprises across primary sectors to create equitable, long-term livelihood opportunities. The organization offers end-to-end support, including pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration services, delivered by a team of mission-driven professionals from leading institutions. AL currently works with more than 65,000 marginalized producers, including small and marginal farmers, weavers, tribal communities, and small livestock holders, and has incubated producer enterprises across multiple Indian states. To provide integrated support to women and producers, AL operates through seven specialized entities covering consulting, foundation work, finance, artisan services, learning, marketing, and international initiatives.

Role Description This is a full-time, on-site Watershed Expert role based in Kolar. The Watershed Expert will lead planning and implementation of watershed development projects, including site assessment, micro-watershed planning, and design of soil and water conservation measures. The role involves working closely with local communities, producer organizations, and field teams to build capacity on sustainable land and water management practices and climate-resilient agriculture. The Watershed Expert will oversee project execution, monitor progress against technical and social objectives, and ensure compliance with relevant government and donor guidelines. Daily responsibilities also include data collection and analysis, documentation of field learnings, preparation of technical reports, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders to drive impact-oriented outcomes.

Qualifications

• Strong technical expertise in watershed management, soil and water conservation, hydrology, and sustainable natural resource management.
• Experience in community-based approaches, participatory rural appraisal, and capacity building of farmer groups and producer organizations.
• Skills in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and documentation of field processes and outcomes.
• Ability to collaborate with government departments, NGOs, and technical agencies involved in watershed and livelihood programs.
• Proficiency in data collection, basic GIS or mapping tools, and use of MS Office for reporting and analysis.
• Relevant academic background, preferably a degree in Agriculture, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Watershed Management, or related discipline.
• Prior on-site field experience in rural or semi-rural settings, particularly in watershed or livelihood projects, is highly desirable.
• Strong communication skills in English and local languages, ability to work with diverse communities, and willingness to travel extensively within the project area.