Senior Forestry Officer (Forest Foods, Nutrition and Wildlife)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations 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 organization also works to ensure that the livelihoods of rural populations are improved and that the natural resources on which food production depends are managed sustainably.

Job Overview:
The Senior Forestry Officer (Forest Foods, Nutrition and Wildlife) is a pivotal role within the Forestry Division (NFO) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This position focuses on the intersection of forest foods, sustainable wildlife management, and the contributions of forests and wild species to food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. The officer will be responsible for advancing evidence-based approaches for the sustainable use, conservation, and management of wild resources, which include wild meat, nuts, mushrooms, berries, and other forest-derived foods. The role is particularly important for supporting vulnerable and forest-dependent communities. The officer will also work on strengthening the connections between forestry, biodiversity, One Health, sustainable development, and international policy processes. This includes providing technical leadership, normative guidance, and support to FAO member countries. The position requires a strategic mindset to lead and implement divisional and cross-divisional programs that align with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Forestry Officer will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Planning, managing, or leading highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams and participating in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams, and working groups.
• Analyzing global and country-specific requirements to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework and Programme of Work.
• Implementing and monitoring programs of work that involve developing evidence-based strategies and related tools.
• Conducting and overseeing research and analysis to support the development of technical standards and international instruments.
• Providing technical and policy advice to FAO member countries and decentralized offices.
• Leading capacity development and knowledge-sharing activities within member nations.
• Representing FAO at international meetings and conferences, advocating for best practices and policy dialogue.
• Leading resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Providing global technical leadership for FAO’s normative work on forests and forest foods. 1
• Supporting FAO’s engagement in international policy processes related to sustainable wildlife management and food security. 1
• Promoting interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration across FAO technical units. 1
• Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data on forest foods, nutrition, and wildlife. 1
• Serving as Secretary of the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management (CPW). 1
• Leading the development of technical guidance and policy tools on sustainable wildlife management and forest foods.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields such as forestry, agriculture, natural resources management, ecosystem biodiversity management, or social sciences including political sciences or economics. Additionally, candidates should have at least ten years of relevant experience in areas such as forestry, sustainable wildlife management, biodiversity conservation, and forest-based food systems. Experience in developing countries or countries in transition is also required. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in English and have intermediate knowledge of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as forestry, agriculture, natural resources management, ecosystem biodiversity management, or social sciences. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of sustainable forest management and the interconnections between forests, food security, and nutrition.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of ten years of relevant experience in forestry, sustainable wildlife management, biodiversity conservation, and natural resources management. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in developing countries or countries in transition, demonstrating their ability to navigate the unique challenges faced in these regions. Experience in planning and implementing programs related to forest foods and wildlife management is also essential.

Languages:
Candidates must have a working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language, which could be Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. Proficiency in multiple languages is advantageous and may enhance communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Rome, Italy, at the FAO headquarters. Candidates should be prepared to adhere to FAO's values of commitment, respect for all, and integrity and transparency. The role may involve international travel for meetings and conferences, and candidates should be ready to engage with various stakeholders at different levels. The position is full-time and may involve resource mobilization activities to support sustainable forest foods and wildlife management initiatives.