Forest Health Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is a specialized agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is 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. The FAO representation office in Armenia collaborates with various stakeholders, including the Government of Armenia, to implement projects that enhance agricultural practices and environmental sustainability.

Job Overview:
The Forest Health Specialist position is crucial for the successful implementation of the TCP/ARM/4005 project, which focuses on enhancing forest resilience to pests and diseases in Armenia. The specialist will provide national-level technical support for forest health risk assessments, develop monitoring systems, conduct field surveys, and assess biological control options. The role requires collaboration with national and international experts in entomology, pathology, and invasive species management. The specialist will be responsible for conducting comprehensive desk reviews, analyzing national capacities, and validating risk assessments to ensure alignment with international methodologies. Additionally, the specialist will design localized forest health monitoring systems and develop survey methodologies to identify high-risk sites for targeted interventions. The position also involves capacity building through training modules and practical demonstrations for national stakeholders, ensuring that the knowledge and skills are effectively transferred to local teams.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive desk review of national forest health status in collaboration with national experts in entomology, pathology, and invasive plants.
• Analyze national capacities, institutional gaps, available resources, and findings from previous forest health field assessments.
• Conduct risk assessments for key pests, diseases, and invasive species with guidance from international specialists.
• Validate identification results and risk assessments for consistency and accuracy.
• Design localized forest health monitoring systems in collaboration with international experts.
• Develop survey methodologies, trap/lure deployment protocols, and field monitoring procedures.
• Identify high-risk sites and prepare tailored survey and trapping strategies.
• Equip and maintain demonstration plots for practical training and field demonstrations.
• Support assessments of entomopathogens and other biological control options for priority pests. 1
• Oversee trap installation, maintenance, and sample collection in designated forest sites. 1
• Coordinate with national field teams for systematic survey planning and data collection. 1
• Support training for national stakeholders on survey planning, trap maintenance, pest diagnostics, data management, and biological control methods. 1
• Develop data collection protocols aligned with national forest monitoring systems and GCF requirements. 1
• Contribute to technical notes, training materials, field manuals, and progress reports for national reporting.

Required Qualifications:

• University degree in forestry, forest protection, entomology, plant pathology, ecology, environmental science, biological sciences, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in forest health, pest/disease monitoring, invasive species management, or biological control.
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and Armenian.
• National of Armenia or resident of the country with a valid work permit.
• Demonstrated experience in field surveys, diagnostics, and/or monitoring system implementation is essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree in a relevant field such as forestry, forest protection, entomology, plant pathology, ecology, environmental science, biological sciences, or a related discipline. This educational background is critical for understanding the complexities of forest health and the various factors that affect it, including pest and disease dynamics, ecological interactions, and management strategies.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in areas such as forest health, pest and disease monitoring, invasive species management, or biological control. This experience should include practical knowledge of field surveys, diagnostics, and the implementation of monitoring systems. Candidates should demonstrate their ability to work effectively in a team and contribute to the development of technical solutions for forest health challenges.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and Armenian is mandatory, with a working knowledge at Level C. This proficiency is essential for effective communication with local stakeholders, international experts, and for the preparation of technical documents and reports. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Yerevan, Armenia, with local travel required to project sites in Lori and Syunik Marzes. The role is full-time and involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including national and international experts. The contract duration and specific compensation details are not provided in the job description, but candidates should be prepared for a dynamic work environment focused on enhancing forest resilience and health.