Brucellosis Specialist

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO REU Assistant Director General, and the direct technical guidance of the FAO REU Animal Production and Health Officer.

Technical Focus 

As a consultant or PSA, you will work as part of a closely collaborating team. Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease affecting both animals and humans, is a significant constraint to livestock production and public health. This 3-year project aims to improve brucellosis control efforts in the Caucasus and Central Asia through a comprehensive approach addressing surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and capacity building, while strengthening veterinary systems. 

Tasks and responsibilities

. We seek a highly motivated specialist to contribute technical expertise across a range of activities, collaborating closely with national and international partners. The position of the International Brucellosis Specialist may be either a single consultant or a combination of consultants with complementary qualifications who, as a team, cover the following tasks:
• Design data collection tools for surveys and interviews on brucellosis occurrence, control measures, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of stakeholders.
• Analyze and interpret data on brucellosis prevalence, control programs, and KAP surveys.
• Offer technical expertise to update national brucellosis control plans and strategies.
• Assist in revising national legislation and regulatory frameworks for brucellosis control.
• Develop templates for joint protocols on brucellosis detection and control with public health and wildlife authorities.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of virtual (online) and field training courses for veterinarians on brucellosis diagnosis, management, and outbreak investigation.
• Assist in the development of training materials for farmers and other stakeholders on brucellosis prevention and biosecurity.
• Participate in the design and implementation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) on brucellosis management.
• Contribute to assessments of veterinary laboratory capacity for brucellosis diagnosis and participate in the development of training programs for laboratory personnel.
• Participate in regional coordination mechanisms and support the establishment of a regional brucellosis reference center.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a regional brucellosis data sharing mechanism.
• Participate in regional workshops and meetings to share project findings and best practices.
• Contribute to the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the project.
• Prepare technical reports on various project activities.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Microbiology, or a related field with a focus on brucellosis.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in brucellosis control programs, including field epidemiology and laboratory diagnostics.
• For Consultants: Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish / For PSAs: only working knowledge of English is required.

FAO Core 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, desirably in field locations.
• Extent and relevance of experience in brucellosis control programs.
• Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical support at local, national, or regional levels.
• Familiarity with and understanding the work of international organisations, regional entities, and national governments.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of Russian and/or local languages in the target countries is a strong asset.
• Experience working in the Caucasus and Central Asia is desirable.
• Proven experience in conducting training courses and capacity building for veterinary professionals and farmers.
• Excellent communication, writing, and reporting skills.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing) Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at For more information, visit the FAO employment website Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

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