Director Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender nationality background and culture
Qualified female applicants qualified nationals of nonand underrepresented 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 FAOs values
FAO as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations has a zerotolerance 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 DirectorGeneral who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the Specialized Agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to highquality food.

To meet the Zero Hunger Challenge political commitment and major alliances with key stakeholders are crucial. Partnerships are at the heart of FAOs mission to help build consensus for a world without hunger. The effectiveness and credibility of the Organization as a policymaking forum and unique multilingual centre of excellence knowledge and technical expertise depends to a considerable degree on its ability to work and develop strategic partnerships. Only through effective collaboration with governments civil society the private sector academia research centres and other stakeholders and making use of each others knowledge and comparative advantages can food security be achieved.

The Partnership and UN Collaboration Division (PSU) leads FAOs engagement in the UN Development System repositioning develops capacities fosters dialogues scales up programmes and advocates for FAOs corporate positions in support of FAOs Strategic Framework 202231 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It ensures that multistakeholder processes and strategic interventions globally and locally are an integral part of FAOs work and provides targeted support for successful collaboration with partners. PSU has a critical role in driving efforts to enhance outreach coordination and identification strengthening and stewardship of strategic partnerships with UN agencies nonstate actors (NSAs) including private sector entities civil society academia and research institutions parliamentarians family farmers and Indigenous Peoples organizations.

The Division has the lead responsibility for the promotion of the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS RAI) and the FAO Policy on Indigenous Peoples. It is also in charge of FAOs elearning programmes and access to scientific and technical data through knowledge platforms and enhanced information policies and standards promotes and facilitates knowledge sharing on sustainable food security and nutrition among various stakeholders.

The position is located in thePartnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSUDD) at FAO headquarters in Rome Italy.

Reporting lines

The Director reports to a Deputy DirectorGeneral.

Summary of Duties and Functions

Under the policy guidance and the general supervision of a Deputy DirectorGeneral the Director PSU provides strategic managerial and technical leadership for the work of the Division and facilitates the management of corporate activities including:

• Lead the Divisions work in contributing towards the achievement of the areas of its mandate;
• Provide strategic vision leadership and coordination of FAOs work related to transformative partnerships with other actors from inside the United Nations (UN) system and with private sector entities civil society organizations Indigenous Peoples family farmers organizations parliamentarians academia research institutions among others;
• Lead the implementation of FAOs Strategy for Private Sector Engagementin coordination with the Project Support Division and the Resource Mobilization Division especially supporting Divisions and Offices in this area with a view to expanding the partnership base and scaling up the Organizations formal and informal engagements;
• Explore new partnership modalities and collaboration approaches and promote the identification of innovative solutions to address challenges in agrifood systems and development especially at the country level;
• Foster and maintain strong relationships with partners and stakeholders ensuring effective communication collaboration and coordination;
• Establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the effectiveness and impact of partnerships and continuously improve partnership strategies and initiatives;
• Lead outreach capacity building and support efforts on the application of international guidance instruments such as the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFSRAI Principles) and ensure that partners adhere to applicable responsible business practices;
• Ensure liaison and coordination with and provide information guidance and support to all units of the Organization both at headquarters and in the Decentralized Offices (DOs) in topics related to the areas of the Divisions mandate;
• Maintain liaison with FAO Members and provide them with relevant information and policy and technical advice as necessary;
• Ensure cooperation and coordination with the organizations of the UN Common System in particular with the Romebased agencies and other global regional and national institutions and relevant partners and stakeholders;
• Promote FAOs efforts for the transformation of agrifood systems through the active engagement of stakeholders capacity development technical support and international dialogue;
• Represent the Organization at highlevel meetings and other events relevant to the Divisions field of competence;
• Exercise management responsibility for the Divisions programme of work planning advice quality control and ensuring the implementation of the Divisions approved work plan in support of the FAO Strategic Framework 202231 as well as the costeffective use of financial and human resources based on Results Based Management principles;
• Maintain a motivated and effective workforce by supporting the recruitment of highly qualified staff mentoring coaching and supporting their career development;
• Supervise and support the preparation of FAO publications and media material related to the areas of the Divisions mandate;
• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in social sciences international development international relations or any other relevant area of FAOs mandate;
• At least fifteen years of professional experience in management of intercultural teams for results multistakeholder processes development and implementation of partnerships with a variety of partners and collaboration with the United Nations Common System;
• Demonstrated capacity to work in partnership with relevant institutions and stakeholders including the private sector civil society academic and research institutions local communities UN agencies member countries and resource partners;
• Demonstrated intellectual managerial and strategic leadership of a high order in relevant subject areas;
• Experience with multilateral negotiations and providing advice to governments successful resource mobilization and partnerships;
• Management experience interpersonal and communication skills as demonstrated in leading and working effectively with large teams of people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international environment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Working knowledge (proficient level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate level B) of one of the other FAO languages (Arabic Chinese French Russian or Spanish).

Leadership Competencies
Results focus: Takes accountability for the delivery of agreed results in service of FAOs strategic framework Leading engaging and empowering others: Coordinates directs facilitates and recognizes team efforts; creates an enabling environment and assists others to realize and develop their potential Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication Partnering and Advocating: Promotes ideas and develops partnerships to advance the Organizations work Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement: Continually seeks to improve the knowledge skills and work processes of oneself and others Strategic thinking: Makes informed and coherent decisions aligned with broader goals and strategies.

FAOs 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 the 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.