Facilitation Specialist (Facilitation and Design Thinking)
Facilitation Specialist (Facilitation and Design Thinking)
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Job Description
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
- 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 person 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 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
FAOs commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
HOW TO APPLY
If you need help or have queries please create a one-time registration with FAOs client support team for further assistance: IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT
Organizational Setting
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.
The Office of Innovation (OIN) is an important instrument within FAO to provide strategic direction and help drive and coordinate innovation across the work of the Organization i.e. to consolidate and strengthen FAOs innovative spirit including the innovation of approaches and cooperation models. OIN supports the Programme Priority Areas ensuring that FAO mainstreams innovation in its programs facilitates cross-collaboration between the various FAO units and aids in forging and reinforcing transformative partnerships.
The Office of Innovation has established the Acceleration Zone (AZ) in FAOs HQ in Rome. The AZ is a space dedicated to FAO teams that need innovative facilitation services to conduct collaborative workshops through which they can address problems or issues preventing the delivery of projects or programs they are responsible for. By leveraging innovative facilitation techniques Acceleration Zone helps FAO teams accelerate the delivery of impactful programs and projects. Through its services the AZ contributes to the mainstreaming in FAO of an innovation culture.
Reporting Lines
The Facilitation Specialist (Facilitation and Design Thinking) reports to the Innovation Officer (Innovation Accelerator) who is responsible for the managing of the AZ. S/he works in close collaboration with other technical staff in OINs Venture Team and across OIN.
Technical Focus
Providing structured facilitation services through the Acceleration Zone (AZ) to support FAO team in addressing challenges that hinder progress projects or strategic activities and initiatives. The facilitation focuses on enabling collaborations co-creation through application of human-centered design thinking MG Taylor and other methodologies. Delivering participatory methodologies the Facilitation Specialist will help teams unlock ideas align strategies co-develop innovative journeys roadmaps pitches and other facilitation outputs that lead to accelerated delivery and increase impact.
The Facilitation Specialist will also support teams in developing pitches for specific projects with the objective of developing proposals that can make an impact on audiences including donors or partners. The incumbent will contribute to the continuous improvement of the AZ service offerings by co-developing facilitation tools piloting new formats building internal capacity and ensuring that services are responsive to the evolving needs of FAO and its partners.
The incumbent will design implement and evaluate services offered at the AZ in accordance with FAOs Strategic Framework and policies.
Tasks and responsibilities
Facilitate design thinking sessions encompassing needs assessment empathy mapping and ideation.
Facilitate different stages of the innovation process including sourcing design implementation and scaling using MG Taylor design thinking and other participatory tools.
Oversee test and learn approaches for continuous evaluation and improvement of prototypes and pilot initiatives.
Incorporate user feedback to make iterative enhancements to the solutions developed.
Provide extensive support for innovation initiatives by integrating human-centric design principles.
Participate in multi-disciplinary teams and/or lead working groups/teams collaborate with other departments and agencies on work groups and committee and promote best practices.
Engage in planning and contributing to AZ workshops conferences and meetings by suggesting agenda items and preparing essential documentation and presentations that align with innovation and design thinking principles.
Support comprehensive field missions that focus on implementing innovative solutions offering expert advice to consultants government officials and other stakeholders on organizing mission activities and compiling reports on findings and outcomes.
Offer expert recommendations on the use of innovation methodologies in the formulation of projects policies and strategies as well as establishing standards and guidelines for projects and programs that incorporate design thinking and innovation within the scope of the organizations goals and objectives.
Provide training sessions on Design Thinking and other innovation facilitation methodologies to interested members of the internal FAO facilitators networks.
Perform other related duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
Advanced university degree in knowledge or communication science social science political science agricultural sciences innovation systems or related studies or any other relevant degree
Minimum of five years of relevant experience in design and facilitation of innovation initiatives with a focus on human-centred design and innovation methodologies
Working knowledge (proficient -level C) of English
FAO Core Competencies
Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
Deep understanding of design thinking principles and their practical applications in solving complex multi-stakeholder challenges within the agrifood sector.
Proven experience in designing and facilitation of innovation process both in virtual and in persons settings.
Demonstrated ability to assist in the expansion of innovative solutions ensuring they can be successfully adapted and adopted at scale.
Degree of familiarity with designing developing prototyping and implementing facilitation tools visual templates and workshop materials.
Work experience in more than one location or area of work particularly in field positions is desirable.
Relevance and extent of experience in national/international setting including field locations enabling the use of new communication techniques and behaviour change approaches.
Relevance and extent of experience in working with technical units and multi-disciplinary teams to enable innovation and change.
Selection criteria
Demonstrated track record of working with innovative facilitation techniques including experience in innovation focused environments such as labs incubators accelerators transformation programmes innovation-focused companies or other organizations that leverage these techniques to support their work programs.
Recognized certification in facilitation design thinking or human-centred design (HCD) or MG Taylor will be highly desirable.
Proven extensive experience in applying MG Taylor systems thinking human centric design in project and programme design and service delivery more generally.
Comprehensive knowledge of agile methodologies and experience implementing agile practices to streamline and improve the efficiency of project execution will be appreciated.
Good knowledge of the agrifood and development sectors including global regional and national actors and agrifood systems.
Familiarity with digital collaboration tools and platforms and emerging technologies that support the human-centred design frameworks.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application interview processing)
- Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
- 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 informationvisit the FAO employment website
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment accreditation any residency or visa requirements and security clearances.
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full-Time
