Field Technical Coordinator (2 positions)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; United States; Remote; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

FAO in Sri Lanka seeks two Field Technical Coordinators to support a fisheries and aquaculture resilience project. You will coordinate field activities, supervise cage installations, and work with government partners to strengthen CBFOs and district outreach.

You will travel to project sites, maintain reporting records, and ensure environmental safeguards while contributing to capacity building and data collection for progress toward targets.

Qualifications

• University degree in Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries, or a related field from a recognized university.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in project coordination, including at least 2 years in aquaculture or fisheries projects.
• Working knowledge of English and Sinhala/Tamil.
• National of Sri Lanka.

Responsibilities

• Support field implementation of project activities and oversee cage installation and net barriers.
• Coordinate with DAEO and AEO to provide technical guidance on aquaculture practices.
• Coordinate fish seed stocking activities with NAQDA and communities.
• Organize and support training of fishers and CBFO/RFOs.
• Monitor field activities and report progress; maintain records and photos.
• Ensure adherence to environmental and social safeguards and liaise with district offices.

Skills

Field coordination

MS Office

Data reporting

Travel readiness

Education

University degree in Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries, or related field

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Project

Job description

Job Description

Job Description - Field Technical Coordinator (2 positions) (2601487)

2601487

Field Technical Coordinator (2 positions)

Organizational Unit : FASRL - FAO Representation in Sri Lanka

Job Posting: 26/Oct/2026

Closure Date: 09/Nov/2026, 10:59:00 PM

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : NPP (National Project Personnel)

Primary Location: Various Locations-Various Locations

Duration : 9 months

Post Number : N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The project “The Project for Strengthening Resilience of Inland Fisheries Affected by the Cyclone” (OSRO/SRL/090/JPN) is implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and NAQDA. It aims to restore the income and livelihoods of inland fishers affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts.

The project will support reservoir restocking, installation of rearing cages and barrier nets, provision of fish breeding hormones for hatchery operations, and capacity building of fishers and community-based fisheries organizations to strengthen resilient and sustainable inland fisheries systems. The Field Technical Coordinator will be based in Trincomalee and Ampara districts to facilitate the project implementation.

Reporting Lines

The Field Technical Coordinator will report directly to the AFAOR (Programme) and work under the technical supervision of the Project Management Specialist.

Technical Focus

The selected Field Technical Coordinator for the particular duty station will provide technical and field-level support for the implementation of fisheries and aquaculture activities under the project, with a focus on the installation and management of fish cages and barricade nets, fish seed stocking activities, and strengthening community-based fisheries operations.

Further, he/she will work closely with NAQDA, district fisheries officers, Aquaculture Extension Officers (AEOs), Development Assistant Aquaculture Officers (DAEOs), and community organizations to facilitate technical guidance, field monitoring, training programmes, and data collection. The Technical/ Field Coordinator will ensure the quality implementation of field activities, compliance with environmental and social safeguards, and timely reporting of project progress to support the achievement of project targets.

Also, the selected individual should have the ability to achieve planned filed targets, coordinate effectively with multiple stakeholders, and ensure timely completion of field activities in compliance with project requirements and deadlines.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support the field implementation of project activities and oversee the installation of cages and barricade nets;
• Work closely with DAEO and AEO and facilitate the provision of technical guidance on aquaculture practices;
• Coordinate fish seed stocking activities with NAQDA and communities;
• Organize, facilitate and support training of fishers and CBFO/RFOs;
• Monitor field activities and report the field progress;
• Maintain comprehensive records of all technical field activities, particularly field training reports, photographs, and duly signed photo consent forms in a systematic manner;
• Ensure adherence to environmental and social safeguards;
• Liaise with district fisheries offices and communities;
• Support project related data collection and monitoring;
• Undertakes any other tasks as requested by AFAOR (Programme) and Project Management Specialist.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• University degree in Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries, or a related field from a recognized university/institution.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in project coordination, including at least 2 years of experience in aquaculture or fisheries-related projects.
• Working knowledge of English and Sinhala/Tamil.
• National of Sri Lanka

Technical/Functional Skills

• Relevant experience working with rural fisheries organizations, community-based fisheries groups, and fisheries-dependent communities.
• Strong field coordination, organizing and implementing skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver results within established deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, Project, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work closely with the Project Management Specialist (PMS) to achieve project targets through regular field monitoring, quality control, field coordination, and reporting.
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites as required.
• Demonstrated experience in project coordination at field level, organizing trainings/ workshops, building the capacity of the societies, logistics management, and administrative support.
• Familiarity with the project implementation areas, particularly Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara districts.
• Knowledge and practical experience in fisheries and aquaculture development activities (stocking of seeds, construction of cages, barrier net, etc), community engagement, and field-level project implementation.

Selection Criteria

• Previous working experience with FAO in a similar capacity will be considered an added advantage.
• Possession of a valid motorcycle riding licence.
• An advanced university degree will be considered an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.