Senior Agricultural Officer

Job Posting: 12/Nov/2025

Closure Date: 03/Dec/2025, 4:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: NSP

Job Type: Staff position

Type of Requisition: Professional

Grade Level: P-5

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

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

Post Number:

CCOG Code: 1H01

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your 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 in order to increase production in a sustainable manner so as to eradicate hunger and malnutrition while preserving the natural resources and environment for future use.

The Senior Agricultural Officer (Cropping Systems - Team Leader) will lead the Crop and Mechanization Systems team (NSPLD), one of the six teams that make up the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP). NSPLD contributes to NSP's overarching goal of fostering resilient and sustainable plant production and protection systems that produce more with less. The team leads efforts to develop, validate, and promote the adoption of context-specific, modern agronomic practices with sustainable agriculture mechanization as an integral part that sustainably enhances the productivity, efficiency, and resilience of diverse cropping systems.

The position is located in the Plant production and Protection Division (NSP) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Agricultural Officer (Team Leader) reports to the Director of NSP.

Technical Focus

Support Member States in fostering sustainable crop production systems through policy development, capacity building, knowledge transfer and technical/project support. In so doing, promote the use of context-sensitive and fit-for-purpose modern agronomic techniques, strategies, and practices, which encompass efficient, productivity-enhancing, and environmentally-sound methods for land preparation, sowing, managements of soil fertility and moisture, and harvest of crops that are grown for food, feed, fiber, oil, ornamental, and industrial purposes.

Key Results

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

Key Functions

• Plans, manages, 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 inputs 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 of interventions that use modern crop production and protection systems to address
• Members' development needs relating, in particular, to climate change adaptation and mitigation; nutrition
• outcomes; and overall input use-efficiency.
• Promotes the use of modern agriculture technologies e.g. drones, remote sensors, artificial intelligence,
• digitalization, information technology, etc. that are context-sensitive to enhance the productivity and resilience of
• cropping systems while promoting sustainable agricultural mechanization; and efficient soil fertility and moisture
• management.
• Provides technical, capacity strengthening and policy support to Members to respond to their cropping systems'
• needs and enables them to adopt sustainable agricultural production and protection practices in rural, urban and
• peri-urban settings.
• As a member of the NSP management team, contributes to the programmatic and administrative operations of the
• division, through the exercise of responsibility for the agronomics component of its work on sustainable crop
• production systems.
• Manages efficiently NSPLD team's human and material resources to deliver high quality results and products that
• constitute an integral part of NSP's contribution to the implementation of the Organization's Strategic Framework,
• through leadership in strategic planning, organization of work, direction to staff and the judicious use of funds.
• Provides oversight and quality assurance for the Organization's work in Member Nations pertaining to the
• enhanced productivities of diverse cropping systems, especially for the crops that are grown for food, feed, fiber,
• oil, ornamental, and industrial purposes.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agronomy, crop science, soil science, sustainable agriculture mechanization or related fields.
• Ten years of relevant experience, including at least three years in a leadership role and managing resources, with public or private sector institutions, international organizations with an emphasis on cropping systems agronomy.
• 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
• 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 experience in leading, engaging and empowering multidisciplinary teams, working groups and networks related to crop system improvement, including in developing countries.
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and delivery of strategies and programmes related to the sustainable intensification and diversification of crop production systems.
• Experience in leveraging innovation (e.g. digital agriculture, mechanization, AI, precision agriculture) and building partnerships with governments, private sector, and research institutions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in food, feed, fiber, oil, ornamental, and/or industrial crops.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in developing sustainable crop production systems including agro-ecosystem management and value chains, modern agriculture systems, and sustainable agriculture mechanization.
• Demonstrated strong managerial and interpersonal skills.
• Extent and relevance of experience in leading capacity development and developing related tools and materials.
• Experience in promoting integrated approaches to crop production including crop/livestock or crop/fish systems, agro-forestry, urban and peri-urban agriculture is desirable.

_________________________________________________________________

FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

_________________________________________________________________

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link:

Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:

• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• 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 These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO's behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO's client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT