Consultant/PSA

Job Posting Organization:
The Markets and Trade Division (EST) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is dedicated to monitoring and analyzing developments in agricultural commodity markets globally. Established to provide comprehensive market and policy information, the division plays a crucial role in ensuring security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security by conducting forward-looking studies and analyses. It operates through various initiatives, including the Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS), and produces key publications such as The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) and the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook. The division collaborates with FAO members to provide technical support and capacity development in trade policies and agreements, making it a vital player in the global agricultural landscape.

Job Overview:
The Consultant/PSA position within the Medium-term Outlook and Market Analyses Team (MTO) of FAO’s Markets and Trade Division (EST) focuses on producing forward-looking assessments of global agricultural markets. The role involves developing and applying quantitative modeling frameworks, particularly the COSIMO economic model, to generate consistent market outlooks and scenario analyses. The consultant will work closely with internal FAO units and external partners to support evidence-based policy dialogue by analyzing structural trends, market risks, and uncertainties. This position requires a strong technical focus on model architecture, codebase migration, and data governance, ensuring that the outputs are reliable and relevant for policy-making.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Consultant/PSA include reviewing the current structure of TROLL-based forward-looking simulation models, proposing a modular architecture optimized for GAMS, translating TROLL syntax into GAMS models, and standardizing naming conventions. The consultant will also build Python utilities for orchestrating end-to-end runs, implement data ingestion and validation pipelines, and develop R/Python notebooks for analytics and visualization. Additional responsibilities include creating a scenario manager for varying macro paths and policies, profiling and optimizing model performance, setting up CI/CD for models, and preparing comprehensive guides for users and developers. The consultant will also deliver training sessions for FAO staff and establish a change control process for the modeling system.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Economics, Applied Econometrics, Agricultural Economics, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or Data Science. For those with a bachelor's degree, two additional years of relevant professional experience are required. A minimum of five years of professional experience with large quantitative models used for market or policy analysis is essential. Candidates must also demonstrate a working knowledge of English and possess core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, and knowledge sharing.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in fields related to economics and data science. For PSAs, a university degree in the same fields is acceptable. The emphasis is on candidates who have a strong foundation in quantitative analysis and modeling techniques relevant to agricultural markets.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least five years of professional experience working with large quantitative models, particularly in the context of market outlook or policy analysis. Experience in migrating models or analytics pipelines from legacy systems to modern frameworks is highly valued. Familiarity with agricultural market economics and policy scenario analysis is also beneficial, as is a proven track record in software engineering practices and model optimization.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if it enhances communication within the diverse international context of FAO's operations.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve a contract of unspecified duration, and candidates should be prepared for potential international recruitment. The role is expected to be full-time, and compensation details will be discussed during the hiring process. The consultant will be expected to engage in hands-on training and knowledge transfer, ensuring that FAO staff are equipped with the necessary skills to utilize the developed models and tools effectively.