Senior Agrifood Systems Officer (Agrifood Systems)

FAO; Roma; In loco; EUR 30.000 - 50.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

An international organization seeks a Senior Agrifood Systems Officer to lead and innovate systems approaches for agrifood transformation at country level. The role involves providing technical expertise, fostering partnerships, and ensuring effective capacity development. Candidates must have a Master's degree in a relevant field, ten years of experience in agrifood systems, and strong language skills. This position offers competitive compensation and various benefits, including annual leave and international health insurance.

Servizi

Dependency allowances

Rental subsidy

Education grant for children

30 working days of annual leave

Competenze

• Advanced university degree relevant to agrifood systems.
• Ten years of relevant experience in agrifood systems.
• Working knowledge of English and another FAO language.

Mansioni

• Lead systems approaches to agrifood systems transformation.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams for agrifood issues.
• Facilitate implementation of evidence-based strategies.

Conoscenze

Systems thinking

Policy development

Capacity development

Resource mobilization

Partnership building

Formazione

Master's degree in relevant fields

Descrizione del lavoro

Reporting Lines

The Senior Agrifood Systems Officer reports to Director, ESF.

Technical Focus

Lead, innovate, facilitate the design, and implementation of systems approaches to agrifood systems transformation with a focus on country level engagement and the systematic implementation of systems-based practices to enable agrifood system transformation to deliver food security and nutrition.

Key Results

Provide leadership, technical expertise in policy and practice as well as capacity development for (i) the design of operations with an integrated systems approach to agrifood systems transformation, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, and (ii) facilitate the implementation and monitoring, evaluation and adaptive learning from systems approaches, in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

Plans, manages, or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams; leads, coordinates, and / or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams, and working groups; and / or provides technical leadership or secretariat services in technical networks and / or international technical policy and standard-setting bodies.

Analyses global and country-specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, programme of work, work plans, and supporting budgets and / or resourcing strategies.

Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of approaches, evidence-based strategies, and related tools, methodologies, and supporting systems / databases, including 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 ongoing programme development, as well as the provision of technical and / or policy advisory services.

Provides technical and policy advice to Members 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 and effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge‑sharing activities with Members, such as policy support, organisational development, and individual learning events, including the preparation of related information and online tools.

Represents the Organisation 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 mobilisation activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

Leads the delivery of the Agrifood System Transformation Unit programme of work on the implementation of a systems approach to agrifood system transformation at country‑level.

Innovates initiatives, partnerships and learning labs for agrifood systems transformation to demonstrate how to turn systems approaches into practice on the ground and monitor and measure results.

Oversees the application of normative products and implementation and development of sets of practices to apply systems approaches.

Engages with entrepreneurial actors in finance and investment, academia, innovation, communications, UN agencies and NGOs to form strategic alliances and partnerships to deliver transformative changes.

Works with FAO decentralised offices and member countries and subnational institutions to integrate systems thinking into policies, governance and projects.

Supports the communication of results through a variety of information products and communications strategies.

Engages in resource mobilisation activities.

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master's degree level or equivalent) relevant to agrifood systems, including but not limited to food policy, agricultural sciences, food security, agribusiness, global development, public health, geography, systems dynamics, nutrition, sociology or economics.

Ten years of relevant experience in the area of agrifood systems, including leading and innovating initiatives at the intersection between different issues and sectors in agrifood systems with a systems approach.

Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (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.

Deep understanding of systems approaches in agrifood systems and integrative 'nexus' thinking across key agrifood systems issues and sectors (e.g. productivity, environment, livelihoods, nutrition, equity, resilience).

Extent and relevance of experience innovating, designing and leading transformative initiatives in agrifood systems.

Experience of data analysis and application of analytical skills to understanding quantitative and qualitative evidence of the functioning of agrifood systems.

Extent and relevance of experience of fostering collaboration and convening and coordinating diverse actors across stakeholders and sectors in agrifood systems storage, including product.

Demonstrated skills in innovation, strategic thinking and facilitation to translate vision into action A PhD in a relevant field is desirable.

FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link :

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 Organisation. This includes :

• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.