Young Professional Officer (Transboundary Plant Pests Management)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is an international organization that leads global efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable, reduce rural poverty, and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. FAO operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 12,000 employees worldwide, working towards sustainable agricultural practices and food security.

Job Overview:
The Young Professional Officer (Transboundary Plant Pests Management) position is situated within the Plant Health cluster of the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This role is crucial for managing transboundary plant pests and diseases, which involves a multifaceted approach that includes surveillance, early detection, forecasting, and the promotion of environmentally sound management techniques. The officer will be responsible for providing technical support and guidance to countries, ensuring that they can effectively manage and control plant pests and diseases. The position requires a proactive approach to developing and implementing strategies that enhance plant health and pest management, contributing to the overall mission of FAO to eradicate hunger and malnutrition while preserving natural resources.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Young Professional Officer will undertake a variety of duties and responsibilities, including but not limited to: analyzing relevant technical, social, economic, environmental, and technological information for input into various documents; maintaining records and updating databases and web pages; providing technical support to various projects; collaborating in the development of training tools and materials; organizing workshops and seminars; participating in meetings, consultations, and conferences; supporting the preparation and implementation of plant pest management and contingency plans; contributing to capacity development programs for national staff involved in plant pest surveillance; enhancing early warning, monitoring, forecasting, and reporting systems for plant pests; assisting in the development of national and regional management strategies for plant pests; preparing and reviewing technical specifications for survey and control operations; monitoring and assessing the impact of pest control treatments on human health and the environment; and providing additional relevant support as needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agriculture/agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, plant protection, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have at least one year of relevant experience in plant pest management areas. Proficiency in English (level C) and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is also required. Candidates should demonstrate competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree, specifically a Master's degree or equivalent, in fields related to agriculture, agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, or plant protection. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of plant pest management and the scientific principles underlying sustainable agricultural practices.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least one year of relevant experience in plant pest management or related fields. Experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable. Candidates should have a proven track record of collecting and analyzing technical information and data, as well as experience in preparing, editing, and revising technical or scientific documents. Experience in organizing meetings and workshops is also beneficial.

Languages:
Candidates must have a working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language, which could be Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. Additionally, having proficiency in another FAO language would be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
Candidates must be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application. This position is part of the Young Professionals Programme (YPP), which is a recruitment initiative aimed at attracting talented and qualified professionals, particularly from non- and under-represented countries. Priority will be given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and developing countries in general. This program is designed to help candidates start a career as international civil servants with FAO.