Senior Nutrition and Food Systems Officer (Nutrition Integration in Agrifood Systems)

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. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, and to ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 member countries, FAO operates in more than 130 countries worldwide, employing thousands of staff who work in various fields related to security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, agriculture, and nutrition.

Job Overview:
The Senior Nutrition and Food Systems Officer will play a pivotal role in the Food and Nutrition Division (ESN) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This position is focused on providing leadership in the technical area of nutrition integration within agrifood systems. The officer will support initiatives aimed at improving food production, supply chains, and markets to ensure that all individuals have access to healthy diets. The role involves developing, testing, and deploying evidence-based practices and guidelines that integrate nutrition into agricultural production, value chain development, and food market initiatives. The officer will collaborate closely with colleagues within ESN, other technical divisions, and decentralized offices to achieve FAO's strategic objectives related to nutrition integration.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Nutrition and Food Systems Officer include planning and managing specialized teams, leading cross-divisional committees, and providing technical leadership on international policy and standard-setting bodies. The officer will analyze global and country-specific requirements, agricultural, economic, social, and environmental factors to inform the FAO Strategic Framework and Programme of Work. Responsibilities also include implementing and monitoring work programmes, overseeing data collection and analysis, providing technical and policy advice to member countries, and organizing capacity development activities. The officer will represent FAO at international meetings, advocate for strategic partnerships, and lead resource mobilization efforts in alignment with FAO's strategic goals.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as nutrition, food and agricultural economics, rural development, food and nutrition policy, or public health. A minimum of ten years of relevant experience in integrating nutrition into agrifood systems is required, particularly in low- and middle-income contexts. Proficiency in English and intermediate knowledge of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is mandatory. Candidates should demonstrate strong competencies in results focus, leadership, communication, and strategic thinking.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields related to nutrition, food and agricultural economics, rural development, food and nutrition policy, or public health. A PhD in these areas is highly preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and research capability in the field.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least ten years of relevant experience in the design, implementation, research, and evaluation of nutrition integration efforts within agrifood systems. Experience in managing teams and resources, as well as collaborative work with partners, is essential. Additionally, candidates should have experience in organizing international meetings, seminars, and training courses, demonstrating their ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, with a requirement for intermediate knowledge of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish). This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the international context of FAO's work.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Rome, Italy, at FAO headquarters. The role is full-time and involves significant collaboration with international partners and stakeholders. The Senior Nutrition and Food Systems Officer will be expected to engage in resource mobilization activities and contribute to the strategic priorities of the Food and Nutrition Division. The position may involve travel to various countries for capacity development activities and international meetings.