Agricultural Officer

Job Description - Agricultural Officer (Plant Genetic Resources Use) (2602319)

Job Description

2602319

Agricultural Officer (Plant Genetic Resources Use)

Job Posting

12/Nov/2026

Closure Date

03/Dec/2026, 10:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : NSP

Job Type

Staff position

Type of Requisition : Professional

Primary Location

Italy-Rome

Duration : Fixed-term: two years with possibility of extension

Post Number : 0921181

CCOG Code : 1H01

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based ondate and time settings ofyour personal device

The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture

• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production , better nutrition , a better environment, and a better life , leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) enables the transition to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable plant production and protection through optimization and minimization. This requires the integration and harmonization of all appropriate crop production policies and practices to increase production in a sustainable manner in order to eradicate hunger while preserving natural resources and the environment.

The normative and operational work of the Seed System Cluster (NSPSS) contributes to NSP's overarching goal of resilient and sustainable plant production and protection systems by enhancing the timely access of farmers to sufficient quantities of affordable quality seeds and planting materials of the preferred, well-adapted, productive and nutritious crop varieties that are resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. To achieve this aim, the team works with countries and other partners to safeguard plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, to use them in breeding progressively superior crop varieties and to deliver the quality seeds and planting materials to farmers.

The position is located in the Seeds System Cluster (NSPSS), one of the five clusters in the NSP Division, at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Agricultural Officer (Plant Genetic Resources Use) reports to the Senior Agricultural Officer ( Seed Systems ) /Cluster Leader, NSPSS.

Technical Focus

The sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA), in particular to breed progressively superior crop varieties, including through the judicious application of efficiency-enhancing modern biotechnologies and farmer participatory approaches, while fostering synergistic linkages with the conservation of PGRFA and context-specific seed systems.

Key Results

Technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional 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, analysis, assessment, monitoring and/or