Deputy Director General (Operations) | NAFSA

Pakistan Single Window; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 3,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) is recruiting on behalf of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) to build the foundation of a national agri-trade regulatory system. The Deputy Director General (Operations) will lead the Operations Wing and translate scientific risk assessments into operational actions.

The role oversees import/export control, licensing, inspection, quarantine, and certification; coordinates with provincial agencies; and drives performance through KPIs while

Qualifications

• 15+ years in large-scale operations within a regulator or similar entity.
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience coordinating with multiple government agencies and provincial departments.
• Experience developing SOPs and performance management systems.
• Familiarity with digital trade facilitation platforms is an advantage.
• Strong leadership and decision-making under time pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Operations Wing under the NAFSA Act and SOPs.
• Oversee import/export control operations at ports, airports, and borders.
• Direct implementation of inspection and quarantine for plants, animals, food, and feed.
• Ensure certification, licensing, and registration of operators and consignments.
• Implement risk-based decisions and monitor KPIs with corrective actions.
• Lead domestic inspection programs and coordinate recalls when required.
• Coordinate with provincial governments and agencies for harmonized enforcement.
• Support national digital trade facilitation, data exchange, and workflow automation.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Crisis management

Stakeholder coordination

Communication

Policy formulation

Education

Master’s or PhD in veterinary sciences / public policy / management

Project management certifications (PMP/PRINCE2)

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.

The Deputy Director General (Operations) is the officer responsible for applying all frontline SPS services, for implementation of various regulations and compliances with notified standards and SPS measures and enforcement activities across Pakistan. This position leads the Operations Wing, which encompasses import/export control, registration & Licensing of business operations, formulation plants, domestic inspection, quarantine and certification functions for food, plants and animals, and coordination with provincial and border agencies. The role ensures consistent, risk-based implementation of NAFSA’s core regulatory mandate by translating scientific risk assessments into operational risk management decisions while maintaining appropriate separation between risk assessment and risk management (operations). The role also monitors sites and zones; surveillance of pest and disease-free areas.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all operational functions under the Operations Wing, ensuring effective implementation of SPS measures under the NAFSA Act and prescribed rules.
• Oversee import and export control operations at designated points of entry and exit (seaports, airports, dry ports and land borders), including inspection, sampling and detention decisions as per approved SOPs.
• Direct implementation of inspection and quarantine controls for plants, animals, food and feed, aligned with applicable international standards (Codex, WOAH, IPPC) and national requirements.
• Ensure timely and credible certification, licensing and registration of business operators and consignments, with strong controls to prevent fraud and improve service delivery.
• Implement risk management decisions based on scientific advice and risk assessments; maintain risk-based targeting and prioritization of controls to focus on high-risk goods and operators.
• Lead domestic inspection programs for food safety and SPS compliance in markets, processing facilities and supply chains; coordinate product recalls and corrective actions where required.
• Lead national preparedness and crisis management arrangements for SPS emergencies (outbreaks, contamination incidents), including incident command, coordination and public risk communication support.
• Manage the network of regional offices, quarantine stations and inspection facilities; ensure adequate staffing, training, integrity controls and supervision across the field footprint.
• Coordinate with provincial governments and relevant agencies (Customs, Ports, Airports, Maritime, Health, Livestock, Agriculture) for harmonized implementation and enforcement.
• Ensure availability and compliance with operational SOPs, checklists, sampling/testing protocols and evidence handling requirements; enforce service standards and ethical conduct.
• Drive operational performance management: define KPIs, monitor trends (clearance times, compliance rates, seizures/violations), and report to the Director General with corrective action plans.
• Coordinate with national systems for digital trade facilitation, e-certification, data exchange, and operational workflow automation.
• Lead transition of legacy matters and integration of operational functions, assets and staff from the abolished DPP and AQD departments, ensuring continuity of services and minimized disruption to trade.

Education

• PhD/Master’s degree (16 years of education) in veterinary sciences, plant protection/quarantine, food technology/safety, Business/Public Administration/Management, Public Policy, Logistics/Supply Chain, Economics, or a related discipline (HEC-recognized).
• Professional qualifications/certifications in operations or project management (e.g., PMP/PRINCE2), quality management, or public sector management are an advantage; sector exposure in SPS, quarantine, food safety, animal/plant health or border/regulatory operations is desirable (a technical degree in these fields is an added advantage but not mandatory).
• Hands-on understanding of SPS inspection regimes, sampling and testing workflows, quarantine operations, and certification integrity controls.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience leading large-scale operations/service delivery in a regulator, autonomous body, or complex public/private organization, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Strong operational planning, incident/crisis response, and problem‑solving skills with sound judgement and ability to make timely decisions.
• Experience coordinating with multiple government agencies and provincial departments, and engaging private sector operators on compliance improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement SOPs, performance management systems and integrity controls for frontline operations.
• Familiarity with digital trade facilitation systems, data-driven targeting and integration with relevant national digital trade facilitation platforms is an advantage.
• Strong leadership, communication and decision‑making skills, with high integrity and the ability to operate under pressure in time‑critical situations.