Senior Agricultural Officer (Agricultural Machinery)

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

Organizational Setting

The Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) contributes to FAOs work by supporting countries to transition to sustainable crop production systems which produce more with less through optimization and minimization. This requires the integration and harmonization of all appropriate crop production policies and practices to both optimize productivity and minimize the systems environmental footprints and thereby eradicate hunger and malnutrition while preserving natural resources.

The Crop and Mechanization Systems team (NSPLD) one of the six teams that make up NSP contributes to the divisions overarching goal by developing validating and enhancing the adoption of context-specific modern agronomic practices.

Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM) which sustainably enhances the productivity efficiency and resilience of diverse cropping systems is an integral part of the endeavour. The Senior Agricultural Officer (Agricultural Machinery) will lead the SAM component of NSPLDs work programme.

The post is located in the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) at FAO Headquarters in Rome Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Agricultural Officer (Agricultural Machinery) reports to the Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP).

Technical Focus

Strategic and technical leadership for the identification development and validation of context-appropriate agricultural machinery and processes including digitalization and their enhanced adoption by farmers and other value chain actors through partnerships enabling environment and continued innovation to ensure suitability and relevance.

Key Results

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

Key Functions

• Plans manages and/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 input 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 and dissemination of methodologies and guidelines for SAM and digitalization adopting an ecosystem-based approach to improve productivity competitiveness and overall sustainability of diverse cropping systems.

• Enhances the incorporation of SAM including automation and digitalization along entire crop value chains especially under low input smallholder production systems.

• Provides leadership and support to FAO Member countries and regional bodies in developing and implementing SAM and digitalization policies strategies and operationalization plans.

• Nurtures and develops strategic partnerships with governments and non-state actors including public and private sector entities research academia civil society farmers and grassroots organizations to promote innovations in cropping systems which are enabled by SAM and digitalization to enhance value addition reduce food losses and enhance overall efficiency.

• Manages the SAM groups human and financial resources to ensure high-quality outputs and results contributing effectively to NSPs role in implementing the FAO Strategic Framework.

• Provides oversight and quality assurance for FAOs technical support to its Members for the enhanced adoption Of agricultural machinery and equipment including digital tools robots drones and supporting infrastructures.

• Advises on the formulation and implementation of programmes and projects with SAM components and related service delivery systems.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in agricultural engineering or agricultural machinery design agronomy with specialization in agricultural machinery or related field.

• Ten years of relevant experience in agricultural mechanization and agricultural machinery with public or private sector institutions international organizations with an emphasis SAM including related policies including in developing countries.

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official 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 and relevance of experience in planning and delivery of agricultural mechanization strategies and programmes.

• Extent and relevance of experience in systems approach to SAM including for ecosystems management value chains and modern agricultural systems.

• Demonstrated skills and experience in leading multidisciplinary teams working groups or networks related to agricultural machinery including for the development and implementation of policies standards and systems.

• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in related fields such as business models development precision and conservation agriculture and related concepts.

• Extent and relevance of experience in the provision of technical or policy advice to countries on SAM.

• Extent and relevance of experience in promoting capacity development and developing related educational tools and materials.

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 qualificationsshould 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
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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.

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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 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
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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.

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 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.