Thailand: Senior Food Systems Officer P-5

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 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.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Food Systems Officer (Post Production) reports to the Assistant Director General (ADG) / Regional representative (RR) and technical guidance of the Nutrition and Food Systems Division of the Organization.

Technical Focus

Strengthen national, local and regional food systems in Asia and the Pacific Region and their linkages to nutrition, through technical and policy support targeted to the development of micro, small and medium agro-industry, post-harvest systems management and food loss and waste reduction.

Key Results

Leadership and technical and policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of regional programmes of work, projects, products and services in accordance with Regional priorities and FAO Strategic Objectives.

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

· Contribute to multidisciplinary teams and provide a vision, strategy, leadership and coherent approach on micro, small and medium scale agro-industry development; post-harvest systems management and food loss and waste reduction, for their effective contribution to improving nutrition in Asia and the Pacific region, drawing on corporate and international good practices, frameworks and knowledge.

· Support countries and the region in achieving results associated with their Country Programming Frameworks, Regional Initiatives and Corporate Strategic Objectives in the area of food systems linked to nutrition.

· Provide technical advice on the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programmes at all levels related to: food processing and packaging by micro-, small and medium food industry; post-harvest systems management; food loss and waste reduction and quality assurance of nutritious food, designed to strengthen local, national and regional food systems.

· Serve as regional focal point in key technical areas and represent the organization in relevant internal and external meetings.

· Build and maintain networks and partnerships with key government, UN, civil society and scientific and academic organizations to achieve or enhance results and help to develop their capacities to autonomously undertake research and policy development in the areas of agro-industry, post-harvest systems management, food loss and, food waste reduction, quality assurance and technology transfer and innovation in food systems.

· Contribute to the analysis and understanding of policy, institutional and technical causes and solutions to major trends in the food systems in the region and their implications for nutrition, systematizing, publishing and disseminating this knowledge and contributing to efforts to improve associated data and statistics

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

· Advanced University degree in food science , food technology, post-harvest, or other closely related subject

· Ten years of relevant experience in agro-industry and/or post-harvest with specialized experience in at least two of the following areas of post-harvest systems management under tropical/sub-tropical conditions, value addition, food product development, food quality/safety management,

· Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish.

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 skills in the analysis of technical issues for policy development, on local, national and regional food systems.

· Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of programmes related to micro, small and medium-scale agro-industry, post-harvest systems management and food loss and food waste reduction in development organizations

· Proven ability to mobilize resources

· Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

· All candidates should possess computer/word processing skills.

· Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

· Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your iRecruitment online profile (see “*How to Apply*”). We strongly recommend that you ensure that the information is accurate and complete including employment record, academic qualifications and language skills.

· Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognised in the IAU/UNESCO list.

· Other similar positions at the same level may be filled from this vacancy notice and the endorsed candidates will be considered for the Employment Roster for a period of 2 years.

· Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments.

REMUNERATION

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

To apply, visit the iRecruitment website at http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/ and complete your online profile. Only applications received through iRecruitment will be considered.

Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.

Vacancies will be removed from iRecruitment 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. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: iRecruitment@fao.org