Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Protection)
Closure Date: 05/Jun/2019, 9:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit: RAP
Job Type: Staff position
Type of Requisition: Professional
Grade Level: P-5.
Primary Location: Thailand-Bangkok
Duration: Fixed term: 2 years with possibility of extension
Post Number: 0125105 CCOG Code: 1H01
The Regional Office for RAP is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. RAP also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAP develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.
The post is located in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand.
Reporting Lines
The Senior Agricultural Officer reports to the ADG/RR RAP and works under the technical supervision of the Group Leader.
Technical Focus
Plant protection; pest and disease control policies and legislation; pesticides and their regulations; sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures; biological and agro-ecological control methods; responses to national and trans-boundary pest and disease outbreaks and plant health emergencies.
Key Results
Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of Regional Programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with Region objectives FAO Strategic Objectives and in alignment with the Organization’s Gender Policy.
Key Functions
• Plans, manages, or leads highly specialized or multi-disciplinary teams, leads, coordinates, and/or participates in Regional committees, project teams, and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies;
• Analyzes global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Objectives, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies;
• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence based strategies, and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks;
• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services;
• Provides technical and policy advice to Member countries and technical support to decentralized offices in the development and implementation of their programmes;
• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality / effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning, on-line tools;
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders;
• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate strategy.
Specific Functions
• Advises FAO member countries in the region in identification, design, operation and evaluation of programmes on sustainable plant protection against weeds, pests and diseases, sanitary and phytosanitary issues and integrated pest management
• Provides technical support to the Secretariat of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Agreement and its Commission including organization of regular sessions of the Commission, execution of its agreed work programme, guidance on regional phytosanitary standard setting and the maintenance of the regional phytosanitary information system.
• Promotes and strengthens the implementation of the International Code of Conduct on the distribution and use of pesticides
• Supports the implementation of relevant international conventions (such as IPPC and Rotterdam Conventions) among countries in the region
• Oversees the collection of data and evidence to promote the development of agro-ecological plant protection alternatives and other modern technologies to support climate smart actions in agriculture
• Provides technical support and project backstopping services to FAO Representatives, project managers and for field projects in the region as Lead Technical Officer or part of the Project Task Force
• Maintains liaison with plant protection, quarantine and other relevant organizations and with national and regional institutions involved in the area
• Leads the development of viable responses to plant health emergencies and pest and disease outbreaks and long term solutions including natural sources of resistance and biodiversity
• Develops whole-of-system solutions for plant quarantine and protection in collaboration with the natural resources and policy teams in RAP
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced University degree in Agriculture, Plant Science with specialization in entomology, plant pathology, plant protection, pest and disease control or related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in planning and implementing of programmes and projects with an emphasis on plant protection with public or private sector institutions, international organizations including related policies in developing countries.
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian
Competencies
• Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking
Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential
• Demonstrated analytical, managerial, negotiating and advisory skills with good publication record
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the work of national governments and international organizations
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of programmes and projects related to plant protection in development organizations
• Proven ability to make effective oral presentations and write and edit clear and concise technical reports
• Proven ability to mobilize resources
• Relevant experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses.
GENERAL INFORMATION
• Candidates endorsed in the selection process for this vacancy announcement will be considered for the FAO Professional Employment Roster for a period of two years. The Roster is used to fill other similar positions at the same or lower grade, and in the same or another duty station.
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.
HOW TO APPLY
- To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills.
- Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile;
- Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application;
- Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile;
- Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list;
- Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications;
- Incomplete applications will not be considered;
- Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered;
- Vacancies will be removed from the recruitment portal at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date;
- We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
