Food Safety Officer

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 Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF) in the Economic and Social Development Stream provides strategic leadership for FAOs support to Members in the development of improved food safety and more sustainable agrifood systems. The food safety work of the Division is framed by the FAO Strategic Priorities for Food Safety within the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031. Working in close coordination with other technical units at headquarters and the Decentralized Offices the Division is tasked with integrating FAOs scientific and economic analyses to provide improved policy guidance and targeted investment in food safety and agrifood systems. This includes normative products methods and tools; documentation and collective learning of systems approaches; and support for implementation at national and subnational levels. Bringing together FAOs longstanding experience and capacities in strengthening systems of food safety and quality control with its technical support to Member Nations in the areas of value chain development agroindustry and agribusiness enterprise development urban food systems and food loss and waste the Division integrates and extends food systems support across the Organization.

The position is located in the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF) at FAO headquarters in Rome Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Food Safety Officer reports to the Senior Food Safety Officer ESF.

Technical Focus

Effective and efficient management of food safety and of official food control measures to improve food safety at national regional and global levels.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning development and implementation of Divisional programmes projects products and services with regard to food safety/food controls in accordance with the Divisions objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams leads and/or participates on Organization-wide cross-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 analytical monitoring and 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 approaches and strategies new tools technologies technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise.

• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance provides technical advice assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices as well as technical backstopping to field projects.

• 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 and on-line tools.

• Promotes international cooperation advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.

• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Strategy.

• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences identifies and implements strategic partnerships advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.

Specific Functions

• Leads the assessment of national food control systems as a basis to address the capacity development needs in a strategic manner;

• Guides and supports the formulation and implementation of national and regional projects aiming at strengthening food safety and food control systems (or parts thereof such as for example strengthening capacities in relation to Codex Alimentarius processes use of the risk analysis paradigm and in particular of the development of risk based food control policies strategies and programmes etc) in the framework of FAO programme of work and country needs including regional and global policy and standard setting bodies;

• Develops training materials and technical guidance documents related to official food control and food safety designs and implements the related training programmes and collaborates in providing technical backstopping to capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member countries;

• Analyses country specific requirements in the area of food safety and food control policies in order to input into the FAO Programme of Work divisional work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing mobilization efforts in line with the FAO Strategic Priorities for Food Safety;

• Provides technical and policy advice to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of projects aiming at strengthening food control systems and food safety policies;

• Supports partnerships with non-government stakeholders in particular civil society organizations donors and organizations including those of the private sector around specific food safety and food control issues;

• Maintains close collaboration with other FAO units at headquarters regional Sub-regional and national offices as well as with relevant national and international institutions.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in food science food technology veterinary public health chemistry biochemistry microbiology or a related field.

• Seven years of relevant experience in advising on implementing and managing food control programmes and public sector policies for food safety.

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO 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;

• Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of official food control systems including policy and regulatory matters as well as implementation of official food control measures;

• Extent and relevance of experience in undertaking analysis and assessments using benchmarked approaches of food control systems;

• Extent and relevance of experience in implementing food control capacity development programmes and in providing technical and policy advice in relation to national and regional policy making processes strengthening regulatory and non regulatory approaches to food safety enhancing the use of Codex Alimentarius standards in support of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and other trade considerations using the risk analysis framework and related matters;

• Extent and relevance of experience in different countries and regions especially in developing countries and countries in transition at regional and national levels;

• Ability to mobilize resources support sound resources management and to deliver against deadlines.

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
Incomplete applications will not be considered
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Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
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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The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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
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 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.