Plant Production and Protection Officer - Posting No. 1544
Date Posted
June 10, 2009
Employer
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location
Santiago, Chile
Job Description
Professional Vacancy Number 2153-SLS
Grade Level: P-4
Duration: Fixed Term 3 years
Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Subregional Coordinator (SLS) and the functional guidance of the Director, Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP), the incumbent will provide support on matters related to the field of sustainable plant production and protection to the Subregional Multidisciplinary Team, which will lead FAO's response to the needs of the Subregion, including those of the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIO's). Specifically to:
- Advise FAO Members in the identification, formulation and implementation of plant production (including plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), seed policy, seed systems, biosafety and biotechnology) and protection development programmes and projects; and ensure that plant production and protection are adequately integrated into the work of the Multidisciplinary Team.
- Act as a focal point for information exchange and support for national and subregional capacity building required for the support and the implementation of relevant international conventions and agreements, in particular the IT-PGRFA, and the Global Plan of Action on PGRFA, the International Rice Commission, the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides, the IPPX, and the Rotterdam Convention;
- Act as the technical secretary and information focal point of the Technical Cooperation Network on Ag-Biotechnology (REDBIO/FAO);
- Conduct periodic reviews and appraisals of the current plant production and protection situation in the Subregion , through studies and surveys;
- Provide technical backstopping to projects dealing with the strengthening of plant production (including urban and peri urban agriculture, sustainable intensification and diversification of cropping systems, breeding, use and protection programs, including provision of Subregional perspectives on thematic crosscutting initiatives such as: biodiversity, biotechnology, bio-security, good agriculture practices and organic agriculture;
- Prepare technical documentation, papers and training material;
- Contribute to and participate in the planning and execution of FAO regulate programme activities on plant production and protection in the subregion and support FAO global and regional plant production and protection programmes;
- Liaise on technical matters with relevant officers at Headquarters, other Subregional offices and the Regional Office;
- Liaise with academic/research institutions and "centers of excellence" in the Subregion and with national, regional and subregional institutions, organizations and bilateral assistance agencies in order to promote subregional cooperation in plant production and protection;
- Plan, organize and participate in subregional meetings, conferences, seminars dealing with plant production and protection;
- Perform other related duties as required
Job Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Candidates should meet the following- Advanced University Degree in one of the following: Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Crop Physiology, Crop Protection or a closely related field
- Seven years of relevant experience in project/programmes/networks.technical groups development and facilitation
- Working knowledge of English and Spanish
Candidates will be assessed on the following:
- Extent of experience in crop production and crop protection in Latin America
- Extent of experience in project/programme/networks/technical groups development and facilitation
- Extent of experience in coordinating implementation in crop studies and in providing policy advice at local, national and subregional levels
- Extent of experience and knowledge of the relevant international conventions and agreements and understanding of the work of international organizations and national governments
- Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret and synthesize scientific information
- Demonstrated ability to organize and conduct technical meetings, conferences and workshops at community, national or subregional levels
- Demonstrated negotiating and advisory skills and excellent oral and written communications skills (including ability to write concise reports)
*The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extensions of apopintments
How to Apply:
Please provide a completed FAO Personal History Form, found on the internet site.
- You application should be typewritten (where possible), signed and dated.
- Clearly indicate in the appropriate box on the personal History Form and on the front of your application, the title of the post and the Vacancy Number.
- Submit a separate application for each position for which you are applying.
- Send your application to the address indicated on the Vacancy Announcement.
- Internal candidates should provide 10 copies of their application.
Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for an interview.
Filling in the FAO Personal History Form:
Language Skills: Please list the languages with which you are familiar, beginning with your mother tongue, indicating the extent of your knowledge as:
- Excellent/Good= Working Knowledge: You will be expected to work independently using the language required, to prepare a variety of written communications (correspondence, reports, working papers ect...) to participate actively in meetings and in work-related discussions, ect.
- Fair= Limited Knowledge: You will be expected to follow work related discussions or meetings, even though you may wish to intervene in another official language. You will be expected to participate in simple conversations, to use the telephone, to read and understand work related texts and to write simple communication ect.
- Slight
Computer Skills
- Indicate you word processing skills and knowledge of database/spreadsheet (e.g. Excel, Access) or any other office automation software known and used
- If applicable, specify your work experience in data entry/retrieval and programming skills. Indicate knowledge of programming languages and operating systems
Academic Qualifications:
Starting with the present and going back in time, please give details of:
- Period of study with name and location of academic institution,
- Title of study obtained, both in the original language and in English, indicating the subject(s) of specialization and year degree* was/is to be awarded,
- List any other relevant training or formal education that may be relevant to your application.
If selected for an interview, you will be expected to provide FAO with certified copies of your academic records
*A university degree is a title of study sustained by at least 3 years of full time study from a bona fide institution. An advanced university degree is equivalent to a Masters degree.
Experience:
- Relevant professional experience is counted from the time of attainment of the first relevant degree
- Endeavour to demonstrate how your experience meets the requirements of the post
- If applicable, give the number of publications and provide a list and the dates of the most relevant publications
- Provide samples of written work only upon request
Salary
Level P4 carries a net salary per year form US$ 90,910 to US$111,390 (without dependents) and from US$97,625 to US$ 120,307 (with dependents)
Contact Information
V.A. 2153-SLS Vacancy Manager
Plant Production and Protection Division
FAO Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00153 Rome Italy
Phone - Not Available
Fax - +39 06 57056347
Cell Phone - Not Available
Email - VA-2153-SLS-AGP@fao.org
Website - Not Available