Job Description

Organizational Setting

The Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) contributes to FAO's work by supporting countries to transition to sustainable crop production systems, which produce more with less, through optimization and minimization. This requires the integration and harmonization of all appropriate crop production policies and practices to both optimize productivity and minimize the systems environmental footprints and thereby eradicate hunger and malnutrition while preserving natural resources.

The Crop and Mechanization Systems team (NSPLD), one of the six teams that make up NSP, contributes to the divisions overarching goal by developing, validating, and enhancing the adoption of context-specific, modern agronomic practices.

Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM), which sustainably enhances the productivity, efficiency, and resilience of diverse cropping systems, is an integral part of the endeavour. The Senior Agricultural Officer (Agricultural Machinery) will lead the SAM component of NSPLD's work programme.

The post is located in the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Agricultural Officer (Agricultural Machinery) reports to the Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP).

Technical Focus

Strategic and technical leadership for the identification, development, and validation of context-appropriate agricultural machinery and processes, including digitalization, and their enhanced adoption by farmers and other value chain actors, through partnerships, enabling environment, and continued innovation to ensure suitability and relevance.

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of divisional/cross-divisional programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

Plans, manages, and/or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams, leads, coordinates, and/or participates on Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams, and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies, and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks.
Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis' activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.
Provides technical and policy advisory services to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes of work.
Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Members such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools.
Represents the Organization at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences, advocates strategic partnerships, best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national partners.
Leads or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

Leads the development and dissemination of methodologies and guidelines for SAM and digitalization, adopting an ecosystem-based approach to improve productivity, competitiveness, and overall sustainability of diverse cropping systems.
Enhances the incorporation of SAM, including automation, and digitalization along entire crop value chains, especially under low input smallholder production systems.
Provides leadership and support to FAO Member countries and regional bodies in developing and implementing SAM and digitalization policies, strategies and operationalization plans.

Nurtures and develops strategic partnerships with governments and non-state actors, including public and private sector entities, research academia, civil society, farmers' and grassroots organizations, to promote innovations in cropping systems, which are enabled by SAM and digitalization, to enhance value addition, reduce food losses and enhance overall efficiency.
Manages the SAM group's human and financial resources to ensure high-quality outputs and results, contributing effectively to NSP's role in implementing the FAO Strategic Framework.
Provides oversight and quality assurance for FAO's technical support to its Members for the enhanced adoption Of agricultural machinery and equipment, including digital tools, robots, drones, and supporting infrastructures.
Advises on the formulation and implementation of programmes and projects with SAM components and related service delivery systems.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agricultural engineering or agricultural machinery design, agronomy with specialization in agricultural machinery, or related field.
Ten years of relevant experience in agricultural mechanization and agricultural machinery, with public or private sector institutions, international organizations with an emphasis SAM including related policies including in developing countries.
Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

Results Focus
Leading, Engaging and Empowering
Communication
Partnering and Advocating
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
Extent and relevance of experience in planning and delivery of agricultural mechanization strategies and programmes.
Extent and relevance of experience in systems approach to SAM, including for ecosystems management, value chains, and modern agricultural systems.
Demonstrated skills and experience in leading multidisciplinary teams, working groups or networks related to agricultural machinery, including for the development and implementation of policies, standards and systems.
Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in related fields such as business models development, precision and conservation agriculture and related concepts.
Extent and relevance of experience in the provision of technical or policy advice to countries on SAM.
Extent and relevance of experience in promoting capacity development and developing related educational tools and materials.