Job description
- Background of the recruitment and description of the projectIrrigation is an important element for stable agricultural production. However, the sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in developing countries is hampered by weak water management organizations, insufficient irrigation facility development, and inappropriate irrigation techniques. This situation in turn has led to serious problems, such as the reduction in irrigated area due to the waste of water resources, slump in local economies owing to declining productivity, and increased environmental impact because of inappropriate irrigation. In response, JIRCAS is conducting research on measures to solve them using soil impact assessment, and water balance, image, game theory analyses. As for irrigation water collectively managed by local farmers, it is essential that natural science and engineering as well as sociological methods be used to explicate the roles of agricultural communities, the process of disseminating water management and new agricultural technologies for the appropriate implementation of technologies in society.
To this end, JIRCAS is looking for researcher(s) knowledgeable of rural planning to conduct factor-analysis and countermeasure-planning that enable farmers to observe sustained water management and to adopt suitable technology in engagement with agricultural communities utilizing the foregoing methods.
In addition to the requisite knowledge and research achievements, the researcher must be willing to stay in developing regions to do pro-active research in collaboration with researchers in Japan and overseas. By fostering an excellent international perspective throughout the term of office, the researcher is expected to play a leading role in the field of rural development. - Work content and job description【Examples of Research Projects】
○ Analyzing factors and developing countermeasures to enable farmers to exercise optimum water management and technology adoption on a sustained basis
○ Making known and clear the impact of new information-sharing methods such as social media on improving water management systems and the functionality of agricultural communities
○ Developing methods to employ agricultural community functions in the dissemination of new agricultural technologies
【Key Words】
Field of Specialization: Participatory irrigation management, rural communities, social capital
International Field: English language skills, international outlook to promote international collaborative research - Assigned departmentExisting departmentsRural Development Division
Job type
- Researcher/Postdoc level
Research field
- Others – OthersRural planning, water engineering
Wages
- Annual Salary : 5 million yen ~ 7 million yen- Monthly (base) salary is determined in accordance with the Employee Salary Regulation,” taking into consideration experience and other factors, and ranges from 346,000 to 410,000 yen (currently in effect).
– Bonuses are paid twice a year (June and December) at 1.725 months’ salary per payment (currently), with the first bonus after employment being less than 1.725 months’ salary.
– Various allowances (commuting, overtime, regional, etc.) are paid in accordance with the regulations; dependent and housing allowances are not provided.
※ The monthly salary and other terms may change due to corresponding revisions to the regulations.
Working hours
- Working hours :08:30-17:15Break time :12:00-13:00Holidays : – Two-day weekend system (Saturday, Sunday)
– Holidays: National, Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 to January 3)
– Annual leave: 5 days granted upon employment (April 1, 2026)
– Other kinds of leave: Sick, special (summer (3 days), caregiving (5 days), marriage, childbirth, bereavement, etc.)Overtime and other explanations : – Regular working hours (08:30 – 17:15)
– Flexible working hours and discretionary working hours are available (after completion of the probationary period) (procedures required)
Application requirements
Qualifications
- Education and Degree RequirementsPh.D. / Doctor- Those who already have doctoral degrees or are expecting to obtain one before the scheduled starting date.
- Work experience- Possesses the knowledge and skills required for the position as a research staff member
– Possess international awareness and language proficiency (English) to promote international collaborative research
– Research experience overseas is desirable - Official qualification in specific field, etc.- Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 or higher, or equivalent Japanese language proficiency
- Description- This center promotes gender equality in keeping with the Basic Law for a Gender-Equal Society and encourages applications from female researchers.
– We welcome applications from foreign researchers, provided that they have obtained the necessary residence status to work at this organization in Japan by the date of employment.
Employment Type
- Regular employee
Contract period
- Nontenured – Tenure-track
5 years (April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031)
– If you take special leave for childbirth, childcare, or caregiving during your term of employment, you may request an extension of your term of employment equivalent to the duration of such leave.
– Tenure review is conducted for eligible candidates 11 months before the end of the term. Those who pass the review will continue as research fellows without a fixed term upon the expiration of their initial term.
Probationary period present- 6 months
Work location
- 305-0851 Ibaraki Tsukuba-shi Ohwashi 1-1
Compensation
- InsuranceEmployees’ Health Insurance : Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mutual Aid AssociationEmployees’ Pension Insurance : Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mutual Aid AssociationWorker’s accident insurance : AvailableEmployment insurance : Available
- Measures for preventing passive smoking at the workplaceSmoking is prohibited on the premises except for designated smoking rooms.
Application Considerations
Number of hired
Application period
- 2025/11/10~2025/12/05 Deadline for receipt
Application method
- Application documents (specified forms)
- Attached documentsApplication Form : Online SubmissionJIRCAS Researcher Entry Sheets
– Please fill out the prescribed form (EXCEL, Application Form Sheet).
– Be sure to include your email address (for administrative communications).
– Submit the Application Form Sheet and Publications Sheet in the same file (file name: Application Number-Applicant’s Name-1.xls, e.g., 1-Kokusai Tarou-1.xls) without converting it to PDF.Achievements and Activities : Online SubmissionJIRCAS Researcher Entry Sheets
– Please fill out the prescribed form (EXCEL, Publication Sheet).
– Be sure to include your email address (for administrative communications).
– Submit the Application Form Sheet and Publications Sheet in the same file (file name: Application Number-Applicant’s Name-1.xls, e.g., 1-Kokusai Tarou-1.xls) without converting it to PDF.Other online application forms
1. PDF file of the recommendation letter (A4 size, 1 page. Free style. Include the recommender’s name, affiliation, position, phone number, and email address).
– Must include the recommender’s handwritten signature.
– JIRCAS staff members cannot serve as recommenders.
– Submit the PDF file of the recommendation letter with a file name: Application Number-Applicant’s Name-2.pdf, e.g., 1-Kokusai Tarou-2.pdf.
2. PDF files of the applicant’s main peer-reviewed papers (5 at most)
– If available online, the URLs may be listed on the achievement sheet instead. - Return of application documentsWe will dispose of all application documents responsibly.
JREC-IN Portal web application
Accept
E-mail Application
Not available
Recruiting Institution’s Web application system
Not available
URL of this job posting
Selection / Notification of result
- Selection1. Document screening: December 2025
2. Interview: January 2026
※Venue: Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (1-1 Oowashi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture) - Notification of resultAll applicants will be notified by email.
Application documents will not be returned regardless of the outcome.
Contact details
Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
Research Planning and Management Office
Oka
0298386330
KenkyuKobo-ml(at)jircas.go.jp
* Please change (at) to @ and send it.
Notes
1. All expenses incurred in the course of job application are to be borne by the applicant.
2. Application documents will not be returned regardless of the outcome of the selection process.
3. All administrative correspondence will be done by email.
4. To get an idea of what it is like to work at JIRCAS, please see the messages posted by staff on:
https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/gender/messages
