National Mechanization Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been operational in Bangladesh since 1973, focusing on transforming the food and agricultural sectors of the country. FAO's mission is to eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable, enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises, and promote sustainable management of natural resources. The organization operates in multiple countries worldwide, leveraging its Trust Funds to support member nations, including Bangladesh, through various funding modalities such as the Government Cooperative Programme (GCP) Fund and Unilateral Trust Funds (UTF).

Job Overview:
The National Mechanization Specialist is a critical role within FAO, focusing on precision agriculture initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability in Bangladesh. The incumbent will work closely with the National Senior Precision Agriculture and Technical Specialist and will be responsible for overseeing the establishment of precision agriculture model demonstration clusters and laboratories. This position requires a deep understanding of agricultural mechanization, climate resilience, and innovative agricultural practices. The specialist will also engage in participatory research to identify community needs and barriers to adopting precision agriculture, thereby contributing to the overall goal of improving food safety, entrepreneurship, and climate resilience in the agri-food systems of Bangladesh.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Mechanization Specialist include conducting a scoping study to identify relevant communities for participatory research, establishing precision irrigation model demonstration clusters, and setting up a precision agriculture laboratory. The specialist will collaborate with various stakeholders to identify and procure the best equipment for field and laboratory use, oversee training programs for personnel on precision irrigation practices, and coordinate the implementation of scaling-up strategies. Additionally, the incumbent will establish innovation policy labs to generate policy frameworks related to climate resilience in precision agriculture and assist in organizing multi-stakeholder policy dialogues to validate and advocate for effective policy options.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Agricultural Engineering or a related field, along with at least seven years of relevant experience in public or private sector work, research, and project implementation related to agricultural mechanization and precision agriculture. A strong working knowledge of English is required, and candidates must be nationals of Bangladesh. The role demands a comprehensive understanding of agricultural machinery, mechanization, and climate-resilient practices, as well as strong communication and documentation skills to liaise effectively with stakeholders and ensure proper project documentation.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in Agricultural Engineering or a closely related field is mandatory for this position. The FAO emphasizes the importance of higher educational qualifications obtained from accredited institutions recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in areas such as agricultural mechanization, precision agriculture, and climate resilience. This experience should encompass both public and private sector work, research, and the implementation of projects that involve sensor technologies, IoT, and renewable energy-based interventions.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English at Level C is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must also meet medical fitness requirements, residency or visa requirements, and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security clearances prior to appointment. For further employment opportunities, candidates are encouraged to visit the FAO employment website.