Assistant Director (Plant Health Risk)

Pakistan Single Window; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) on behalf of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) seeks a qualified candidate to contribute to plant health risk assessment and regulatory documentation. The role focuses on supporting the Deputy Director Plant-Risk, collecting and organizing datasets, and drafting PRA sections under supervision.

Ideal candidates will have a strong background in agriculture with pest risk analysis exposure, plus proficiency in MS Office and technical writing.

Qualifications

• Sixteen years of education in Agriculture or related discipline from a HEC-recognized institution.
• Experience in plant protection, pest surveillance or regulatory analysis is preferred.
• Strong written communication and ability to translate science into regulatory documents.

Responsibilities

• Support the Deputy Director Plant-Risk in carrying out assigned functions.
• Assist pest risk assessment through data collection, cleaning and organisation.
• Perform technical analysis to support PRA including literature review and evidence compilation.
• Draft PRA sections, technical notes and briefing materials under supervision.
• Maintain pest risk databases and reference documentation.
• Coordinate with provincial departments and labs for field and diagnostic evidence.
• Prepare presentations and submissions for internal peer review and Scientific Committee deliberations.
• Monitor global pest alerts and SPS notifications related to plant health risk.
• Ensure documentation, version control, and record-keeping for risk assessment outputs.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of NAFSA’s mandate.

Skills

Pest risk assessment

Data handling

Technical writing

MS Office

Interpersonal skills

Education

BSc. Honours in Agriculture (Entomology/Plant Protection/Plant Pathology)

Job description

This position is being recruited by Pakistan Single Window (PSW) on behalf of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA). NAFSA is being established as a strategic national initiative to strengthen Pakistan’s agri-trade ecosystem through enhanced regulatory oversight, facilitation, and modernization of food safety and trade processes. The selected candidate will be part of NAFSA’s foundational team, contributing to the development of systems, processes, and institutional capabilities.

• Support the Deputy Director Plant-Risk in carrying out assigned functions.

• Support pest risk assessment activities through collection, cleaning, and organisation of relevant datasets (surveillance, interceptions, pest distribution, trade pathways).

• Conduct technical analysis to support PRA, including literature review and compilation of evidence for hazard identification and pathway assessment.

• Draft sections of PRA documents, technical notes, and briefing material under the supervision of the Deputy Director.

• Maintain pest risk databases, pest lists, and reference documentation to support assessments and regulatory decisions.

• Coordinate with provincial departments and laboratories for obtaining field and diagnostic evidence required for PRA.

• Assist in preparation of presentations and submissions for internal peer review and Scientific Committee deliberations.

• Support monitoring of global pest alerts, SPS notifications, and scientific updates relevant to plant health risk.

• Ensure documentation, version control, and record-keeping for all risk assessment outputs.

• Perform any other responsibilities assigned by the reporting officer in support of NAFSA’s mandate.

Education

-Minimum sixteen years of education (BSc. Honours) in Agriculture with specialization in Entomology, Plant Protection, Plant Pathology, Weeds Science or a related discipline from a well reputed academic institution recognized by HEC.

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience in plant protection, quarantine, pest surveillance, or SPS-related analytical work (fresh/entry candidates with strong PRA exposure may be considered).

• Proficiency in computer applications (MS Office; database/spreadsheet handling) and strong technical writing skills.

• Ability to analyze scientific information and translate it into structured regulatory documentation.

• Strong interpersonal skills for coordination with field and laboratory stakeholders.