Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger and support member countries to develop agriculture, fisheries, livestock and forestry sectors sustainably. The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (FAOSAP) supports 14 Pacific Member Nations – including Tonga – to address priorities relating to food security, nutrition, climate resilience and rural livelihoods. Under TCP/TON/4001, FAO is supporting the Government of Tonga to strengthen smallholder dairy production systems, improve reproduction and nutrition, and build long-term capacity in dairy farm management.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands and direct supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of TCP/TON/4001 (FAOSAP Livestock and Animal Health Officer), and in close collaboration with the National Project Co-ordinator (NPC’s) in Tonga Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF), the international dairy specialist will undertake the following duties:

Technical Focus

Reproduction management, nutrition, herd management, seasonal breeding transition, pasture systems, calf-rearing systems, farmer training, development of SOPs/manuals, and strengthening operational capacity of dairy farms.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

•     Study the TCP/TON/4001 project document and the initial diary needs assessment report including key priorities and constraints
•     Collaborate closely with the LTO and Ministry focal points to implement the project activities 
•     Provide day-to-day operational oversight of Toloa dairy farm to implement key recommendations from the report on reproduction, nutrition and herd management 
•     Work in conjunction with local Tongan dairy expert based in Hango – to guide and mentor staff and students on cattle reproduction, nutrition and herd management 
•     Support the Toloa and Hango farms breeding system by guiding reproductive management processes and establishing herd group structures with appropriate monitoring frameworks 
•     Establish calf-rearing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), introduce weekly weighing with growth targets, and improve young-stock nutrition 
•     Advise knowledge management and contribute to international best practices for manuals, SOPs, and training materials on pasture management, herd production and health management, milk hygiene and handling, and use of effluent as fertilizer.
•     Develop a 12-month feed budget aligned to seasonal calving
•     Develop and assist in implementing a pasture improvement plan and introduce rotational/strip grazing systems for Toloa and Hango
•     Develop an animal ID and tagging system, design simple health and production record-keeping tools and reporting templates, create a basic digital excel (Excel) database to ensure data sustainability, and train staff in data entry, data interpretation, and informed decision-making
•     Deliver weekly hands-on training for farm staff at Toloa and develop training curriculum covering reproduction, calf rearing, nutrition, health 
•     Support Hango College to integrate dairy modules into teaching and facilitate practical field demos and farmer learning days 
•     Provide technical specifications for priority procurements listed in the Initial Assessment report, oversee equipment setup and correct use, guide improvements to sheds, housing, fencing, and water systems, advise on long-term infrastructure planning, and ensure all upgrades support seasonal calving and improved productivity
•     Provide production-based input for niche dairy product planning, advise on required volumes and quality standards, support HACCP readiness, and guide linkage of farm outputs to hotel and retail markets

General duties and responsibilities are: 
•     The incumbent shall familiarize him/herself with FAO’s corporate communication policy and operational guidelines to ensure mandatory coherence of all communication and information outputs.
•     The incumbent shall demonstrate a strong understanding of FAO Style in drafting documentation, without the need for continuous correction or oversight.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in animal science, veterinary science, dairy production or a related discipline or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
•     At least 5 years of relevant experience in dairy farm management, or dairy extension services. Demonstrated experience working in tropical or Pacific Island contexts is an advantage.
•     Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement