Agricultural Officer

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 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 cross-sector approaches, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/specialist/advice and expertise.
•Responds to Member Nations' requests for technical and/or policy assistance; provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices; provides technical backstopping to field projects.
•Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations 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, supports increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
•Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
Specific Functions •Serves as part of the secretariat to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) and its Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources (ITWG-PGR), including organizing sessions, preparing documentation, and facilitating intergovernmental negotiations.
•Advises Member Nations on the implementation of Commission decisions and recommendations.
•Represents FAO within the Commission secretariat at relevant international forums and fosters synergy with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and other relevant bodies.
•Identifies and secures extra-budgetary resources to support the Commission's programme of work and related technical assistance activities.
•Leads interventions that enhance Members capacities to breed improved crop varieties efficiently and enable their adoption by farmers.
•Supports the work of the CGRFA, its ITWG-PGR and the ITPGRFA.
•Contributes to relevant Organization-wide multidisciplinary work, in particular on agricultural biotechnologies, climate change, nutrition and biodiversity.
•Contributes to the monitoring of the implementation of rolling global plans of action for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA and the preparation of associated periodic reports.
•Leads, contributes to, and/or provides technical support to the implementation of relevant Programme Priority Areas (PPAs) of the FAO Strategic Framework.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements •Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in plant breeding, plant genetics, plant molecular biology or a related field.
•Seven years of relevant experience in crop improvement, in particular in the application of modern biotechnologies and in work settings related to developing countries.
•Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official 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.
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