Fisheries Management and Assessment Support Specialist

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; United States; Remote; USD 65,000 - 101,000; Part time

Job summary

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is seeking professionals for Consultant/PSA assignments across various locations to support fisheries assessment and management projects. Roles involve field missions, data analysis, training material development, and technical advisory services to FAO Members and regional bodies.

Assignments vary from a few days to 11 months on a when-actually-employed basis.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or first level degree with 2 additional years of experience (for Consultants) / Relevant educational background (for PSA Subscribers) in economics, biological sciences, oceanography, limnology, geography, sociology, development, communications, information management/technology, data or computer science, management/business administration or other field relevant to NFIFM work.
• At least 1 year (for Category C), 5 years (for Category B), or 10 years (for Category A) of relevant experience in the field of management and assessment of fisheries, or in technical areas related to NFIFM work, like collection, management and/or analysis.

Responsibilities

• Organize and participate in field missions and other events in support of NFIFM’s programme of work.
• Prepare training and dissemination materials; develop, deliver and/or assess training actions (e-learning courses, training courses and workshops).
• Prepare or review technical documents, publications and technical/scientific reports.
• Provide technical support and advice to fisheries organizations and to projects; on-site support and coaching where required.
• Manage data and information related to assessment and management of fisheries; GIS and data analysis.
• Lead or contribute to studies, publications and tools related to NFIFM’s work.

Job description

Job Description - Fisheries Management and Assessment Support Specialist (2602295)

Job Description

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: 2602295

Job Posting

06/Nov/2026

Closure Date

04/Feb/2027, 10:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : NFIFM - Assessment and management

Job Type

Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition

Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Primary Location

Various Locations-Various Locations

Duration : From 1 to 11 months on a when-actually-employed basis

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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division is one of FAO's core technical divisions under the Natural Resources and Sustainable Production stream at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Division collaborates with Members and partners to promote for the responsible and sustainable management of aquatic food systems, aiming for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. To fulfill its mandate, the Division focuses on the global development of fisheries and aquaculture through the implementation of its Blue Transformation a strategic approach that outlines a vision for sustainable and resilient aquatic food systems. Additionally, it extends support to Members through normative instruments and in collaborations with regional fishery bodies (RFBs) established within the framework of the FAO Constitution.
The Assessment and Management Team (NFIFM) of the Fisheries Division is a multidisciplinary Team responsible for all programmes and activities related to Assessment and Management of fisheries and conservation of fishery resources, including all aspects of Fisheries Management and Assessment related to the social, economic, and ecological dimensions in the framework of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. The Team: 1) provides information, advice and technical assistance to FAO Members and Regional Fisheries Bodies and Arrangements on Fisheries Management and Assessment globally, covering all its technical areas of work; 2) promotes and supports the development, dissemination and adoption of tools, methods and approaches to facilitate the management, monitoring and assessment of fisheries under the EAF framework; 3) monitors the global status and trends of fish stocks and fisheries; 4) supports the monitoring of all the relevant SDG indicators; 5) supports and promotes cooperation and coordination with other institutions and programmes concerned with responsible fisheries; and 6) provides technical advice and information on the availability and role of processes and tools for fisheries governance and management in ocean governance and relevant multi-lateral environmental agreements, with a focus on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. The Team develops and implements a large portfolio of programmes, projects, and activities in an integrated and coordinated way, to deliver on its mandate at the service of FAO member countries.
Efficient assessment and management of fisheries requires support from multiple technical disciplines, that allow for the development of high-quality assessment and advice to fisheries management, as well as the development and implementation of effective management strategies. Many of the tasks associated with this work are time-limited in nature, requiring an intensive use of specialists in multiple areas of work.

The purpose of this call is to attract global talent for Consultant and Personal Services assignments that may provide support and/or leadership to fisheries projects and technical support processes in the Fisheries Assessment and Management area. The assignment may be located in various locations, depending on the requirements, with potential travel for field missions. Suitable and qualified specialists will be included in a roster of experts that will be used to identify candidates for relevant short-term assignments with NFIFM. The assignments can range in duration from a few days or weeks to a maximum of 11 months (on a when-actually-employed basis).

Reporting Lines

The Consultants/PSA Subscribers will work under the overall supervision of the Team Leader, Assessment and Management Team, and will report to a relevant Officer of the Team.

Technical Focus

The Consultant or PSA Subscriber will work as part of a closely collaborating multidisciplinary team to provide advice and/or technical support, lead or manage projects, activities, research, analyses, and development on issues and tasks related to the assessment and management of marine and/or inland fisheries, considering the social, economic, ecological and/or institutional dimensions of fisheries food systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Organize and participate in field missions and other events in support of the delivery of NFIFM’s programme of work, including for consultation, training, capacity development and technical assistance to beneficiaries of FAO support programmes and projects;
• Prepare training and dissemination materials (lecture support material, e-learning materials, manuals, exercises and other materials); develop, deliver and/or assess training actions (e-learning courses, training courses and workshops, and other training-related activities);
• Prepare or review technical documents, publications and technical/scientific reports;
• Provide technical support and advice to fisheries organizations from member countries or regional organizations, and to projects developed, implemented and/or managed by NFIFM, including direct support at meetings and workshops, remote assistance and coaching/guidance, or on site with the organizations requiring support, including on institutional capacity;
• Manage data and information related to the assessment and management of fisheries, including geospatial data and local knowledge, as well as to the planning and monitoring of the work developed by the team;
• Lead or contribute to relevant studies, publications and analyses, knowledge products and dissemination materials related to NFIFM’s areas of work (Management and Assessment of fisheries food systems), including research and the development and implementation of guidelines, guidance, tools, capacity development and training materials, or similar products;
• Lead or contribute to the development of technical tools supporting the work of NFIFM as well as supporting FAO members in discharging their responsibilities related to the assessment, monitoring and management of fisheries food systems, covering the social, economic, biological and institutional dimensions of fisheries food systems; this may require knowledge on the use of, but not limited to, data management tools, geographical information systems (GIS), fisheries assessment methods and models, decision-support tools and tools supporting the collection, management and analysis of fisheries-related data and information;
• Support the collection, management, collation and/or analysis of data and information related to the multidimensional assessment and management of fisheries food systems, including the development of tools and processes and/or the application of said tools and processes to actual situations of assessment and/or management of fisheries;
• Represent NFIFM in internal and external meetings, in particular those related to the development and implementation of NFlFM’s-led programmes/projects (only for consultants);
• Formulate projects in accordance with FAO’s strategic framework and the FAO’s project cycle;
• Coordinate, implement, operate and manage assigned programmes/projects and/or project components and activities in accordance with FAO rules, procedures and systems, and donors’ requirements;
• Any other duty related to NFI’s areas of work and to specific assignments.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• Advanced degree or first level degree with 2 additional years of experience (for Consultants) / Relevant educational background (for PSA Subscribers) in economics, biological sciences, oceanography, limnology, geography, sociology, development, communications, information management/technology, data or computer science, management/business administration or other field relevant to NFIFM work.
• At least 1 year (for Category C), 5 years (for Category B), or 10 years (for Category A) of relevant experience in the field of management and assessment of fisheries, or in technical areas related to the support to NFIFM work, like collection, management and/or analysis