Senior Fishery Officer (Aquaculture)

Job Posting Organization:
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is dedicated to addressing the economic, social, institutional, governance, and policy aspects of fisheries and aquaculture. Established to enhance human well-being, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, and poverty reduction, the division focuses on sustainable practices in fisheries and aquaculture. It emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment and the well-being of fishing communities while ensuring the collection and dissemination of accurate fishery statistics. The division operates globally, working towards the management and conservation of living aquatic resources, including biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance, and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.

Job Overview:
The Senior Fishery Officer (Aquaculture) will play a pivotal role in leading the coordination and operationalization of meetings for the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITWG AqGR). This position requires close collaboration with technical secretaries to ensure consistency in aquaculture dialogues and contributions to FAO's statutory bodies. The officer will advocate for the integration of aquaculture into broader agrifood transformation discussions and coordinate with FAO Decentralized Offices on global and regional agreements relevant to aquaculture. The role is crucial for implementing FAO's Blue Transformation Roadmap and the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA).

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Fishery Officer will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including: acting as Secretary to the COFI Sub-Committee on Aquaculture, organizing regular sessions and intersessional meetings, monitoring the implementation of COFI:AQ's programme of work, and coordinating aquaculture-related inputs to FAO's statutory bodies. The officer will also manage the electronic questionnaire on aquaculture provisions, oversee the analysis of responses, and produce progress reports. Additionally, the officer will promote COFI:AQ and the Global Sustainable Aquaculture Advancement Partnership (GSAAP) at various levels, liaise with FAO Decentralized Offices and regional bodies, and contribute to awareness-raising products to highlight FAO's priorities in sustainable aquaculture. The role also involves resource mobilization and performing other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in aquaculture or related fields such as biology, zoology, ecology, marine science, agricultural science, political science, or international relations. A minimum of ten years of relevant experience in aquaculture development, particularly in international governance, is required. Proficiency in English and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is essential. Candidates should demonstrate strong competencies in results focus, leadership, communication, partnering, knowledge sharing, and strategic thinking.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in aquaculture or a closely related field. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of aquaculture and its governance on an international scale.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least ten years of relevant experience in aquaculture development, with a strong emphasis on international governance and collaboration with national and regional authorities. Experience in leadership, project coordination, and management is essential, as well as a demonstrated capacity for organizing international meetings and producing meeting reports.

Languages:
A working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English is mandatory, along with intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
The position is based at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, and involves full-time engagement. The role may require international travel for meetings and conferences. Candidates should be prepared for a dynamic work environment that emphasizes collaboration and resource mobilization in support of aquaculture initiatives.