Job Description

Organizational Setting

The Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF), in the Economic and Social Development Stream, provides strategic leadership for FAO's support to Members in the development of improved food safety and more sustainable agrifood systems. The food safety work of the Division is framed by the FAO Strategic Priorities for Food Safety within the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031. Working in close coordination with other technical units at headquarters and the Decentralized Offices, the Division is tasked with integrating FAO's scientific and economic analyses to provide improved policy guidance and targeted investment in food safety and agrifood systems. This includes normative products, methods and tools; documentation and collective learning of systems approaches; and support for implementation at national and subnational levels. Bringing together FAO's longstanding experience and capacities in strengthening systems of food safety and quality control with its technical support to Member Nations in the areas of value chain development, agroindustry and agribusiness enterprise development, urban food systems and food loss and waste, the Division integrates and extends food systems support across the Organization.

The position is located in the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF), at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Food Safety Officer reports to the Senior Food Safety Officer, ESF.

Technical Focus

Effective and efficient management of food safety and of official food control measures to improve food safety at national, regional and global levels.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of Divisional programmes, projects, products and services with regard to food safety/food controls in accordance with the Division's objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams, leads and/or participates on Organization-wide cross-committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise.
Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices as well as technical backstopping to field projects.
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 and on-line tools.
Promotes international cooperation, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Strategy.
Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.

Specific Functions

Leads the assessment of national food control systems as a basis to address the capacity development needs in a strategic manner;
Guides and supports the formulation and implementation of national and regional projects aiming at strengthening food safety and food control systems, (or parts thereof, such as for example, strengthening capacities in relation to Codex Alimentarius processes, use of the risk analysis paradigm, and in particular of the development of risk based food control policies, strategies and programmes etc) in the framework of FAO programme of work and country needs, including regional and global policy and standard setting bodies;
Develops training materials and technical guidance documents related to official food control and food safety, designs and implements the related training programmes and collaborates in providing technical backstopping to capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member countries;
Analyses country specific requirements in the area of food safety and food control policies in order to input into the FAO Programme of Work, divisional work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing mobilization efforts in line with the FAO Strategic Priorities for Food Safety;
Provides technical and policy advice to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of projects aiming at strengthening food control systems and food safety policies;
Supports partnerships with non-government stakeholders, in particular civil society organizations, donors, and organizations including those of the private sector, around specific food safety and food control issues;
Maintains close collaboration with other FAO units at headquarters, regional, Sub-regional and national offices as well as with relevant national and international institutions.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in food science, food technology, veterinary public health, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology or a related field.
Seven years of relevant experience in advising on, implementing and managing food control programmes and public sector policies for food safety.
Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions;
Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of official food control systems, including policy and regulatory matters, as well as implementation of official food control measures;
Extent and relevance of experience in undertaking analysis and assessments, using benchmarked approaches of food control systems;
Extent and relevance of experience in implementing food control capacity development programmes and in providing technical and policy advice in relation to national and regional policy making processes, strengthening regulatory and non regulatory approaches to food safety, enhancing the use of Codex Alimentarius standards in support of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and other trade considerations, using the risk analysis framework, and related matters;
Extent and relevance of experience in different countries and regions, especially in developing countries and countries in transition, at regional and national levels;
Ability to mobilize resources, support sound resources management and to deliver against deadlines.