Young Professional Officer (Agricultural Biotechnologies)

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.

Job Overview:
The Young Professional Officer (Agricultural Biotechnologies) position is situated within the Office of Innovation (OIN) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This role is pivotal in assisting with the development and implementation of programs and activities that focus on agricultural biotechnologies, which are essential for transforming agrifood systems and enhancing food security. The officer will work closely with the Senior Agricultural Officer and other relevant teams to ensure that innovation is integrated into FAO's programs. The position requires a proactive approach to research, analysis" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">technical analysis, and project-related services to support the delivery of assigned projects, products, and services. The officer will be expected to analyze technical, social, economic, environmental, and technological information to inform various documents and maintain records and databases. Additionally, the role involves providing technical support to various projects and collaborating in the development of training tools and materials, as well as organizing workshops and seminars.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Young Professional Officer will have a diverse set of responsibilities, including collating, reviewing, and analyzing information and documents related to agricultural biotechnologies and initiatives at global, regional, and country levels. The officer will support assessments of gaps and opportunities for scaling up biotechnological solutions that align with FAO's priorities. Responsibilities also include assisting in the implementation of projects and activities related to agricultural biotechnologies, monitoring and reporting on FAO's work in this area, and mobilizing resources through the development of concept notes and project documents. The officer will contribute to organizing meetings, conferences, and workshops focused on science and innovation, particularly in agricultural biotechnologies. Furthermore, the role involves preparing and disseminating FAO messaging on priority areas through policy briefs and technical knowledge products, strengthening partnerships with national and international institutions, and generating knowledge by drafting articles, statements, and briefing notes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in biotechnology, with a focus on agricultural biotechnology, genetics, breeding, or genomics, particularly as it relates to food security and international development. Additionally, candidates should have at least one year of relevant experience in agrifood biotechnologies programs and projects that are pertinent to agrifood systems and food security. A working knowledge of English at proficiency level C and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) at level B is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree, specifically a Master's degree or equivalent, in a field related to biotechnology. This should encompass areas such as agricultural biotechnology, genetics, breeding, or genomics, with a specific emphasis on applications that address food security and international development issues rather than purely fundamental scientific research.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of one year of relevant experience in agrifood biotechnologies programs and projects. This experience should be directly related to agrifood systems and food security, demonstrating the candidate's ability to contribute effectively to the organization's goals and initiatives.

Languages:
Candidates must have a working knowledge of English at proficiency level C, along with intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) at level B. Proficiency in additional FAO languages would be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to international collaboration.

Additional Notes:
Candidates applying for this position should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application. The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative aimed at attracting talented and qualified professionals, particularly from non- and under-represented countries. Priority consideration will be given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and other developing nations, as part of FAO's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within its workforce.