Information Technology Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with Members, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world's forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products. The Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) Team is a partnership between FAO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and AgriCord, housed in the NFO and supported under an umbrella programme and a multi-donor Trust Fund, focusing on climate-resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods. FFF sees the Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs) which represent smallholders, rural women's groups, local communities and indigenous peoples' institutions as the key agents of change in rural landscapes. The position is located in the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) Team of the Forestry Division (NFO) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the Manager/OiC of the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) and the direct supervision of the Lead FFF Forestry Officer and Monitoring- Reporting Specialist. They may be called upon to collaborate with other FAO Divisions and teams.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will support effective programme operations, coordination, and delivery.
The IT Specialist will focus on ensuring the functionality of IT-related steps on the operations of FFF delivery model; on the development, maintenance, or administration of Microsoft Power Platform solutions, supporting digital transformation initiatives through workflow automation.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will contribute to and/or take responsibility for one or more of the following tasks:

Information Technology Specialist
•     Identify and implement efficiencies, innovation opportunities, and digital transformation pathways, leveraging artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics (e.g. process mining, workflow automation, decision‑support tools, and low‑code AI solutions) to improve operational effectiveness and user experience.
•     Coordinate the regular maintenance tasks, optimization, and AI‑enhanced deployment of Microsoft PowerApps solutions, including integration with Power Automate and AI Builder to ensure reliability, scalability, and continuous improvement.
•     Consolidate and harmonize datasets from multiple sources (qualitative data, financial data, GIS, survey tools)
•     Support in development of project management tools (e.g. MS Project, Trello, Asana).
•     Ensure compatibility of the Microsoft Platforms with other NFO programs supported by Forest and Farm Facility.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     For Consultants: Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO with specialization applied computer science, management of information systems (MIS) or related field, business administration, economics, social sciences, data science. In alternative, a first-level degree and two additional year of relevant experience may be considered. 
•     For PSA.SBS: University degree (or technical degree/certificate) from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO with specialization applied computer science, management of information systems (MIS) or related field, business administration, economics, social sciences, data science. 
•     Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in information technology, digital solutions, project management support, or business process improvement of which minimum 1 year of relevant working experience in programme or project support, preferably within FAO or U.N. Agencies/organizations.
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Strong organizational, analytical, and writing skills. 
•     Familiarity with FAO’s contractual modalities and operational procedures is an asset.

Selection criteria:

•     Limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset
•     Demonstrated experience in the development of Microsoft Power Platform solutions, including Microsoft Power Apps and Microsoft Power Automate is a plus.