Soil Specialist

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Position Title: Soil Specialist
Location: Rome
Country: Italy
Deadline Date:

Job Details

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 works in over 130 countries worldwide, employing approximately 12,000 staff members. The organization's mission is 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 Land and Water Division (NSL) focuses on the sustainable management of land, soil, and water resources, promoting policies and practices that enhance agricultural productivity while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Job Overview:
The Soil Specialist position is situated within the Land and Water Division (NSL) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The role is pivotal in supporting the implementation of activities related to the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) and the SoilFER Projects. The specialist will work under the supervision of the Director of the Land and Water Division and the Soil Information and Data Team Lead. The primary focus of this role is to enhance soil health and sustainable soil management through effective laboratory practices, capacity building, and collaboration with various stakeholders. The specialist will be responsible for developing technical guidelines, overseeing laboratory operations, and ensuring the quality of soil analysis processes, thereby contributing to the overall mission of FAO in promoting sustainable agrifood systems.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Soil Specialist will undertake a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Supporting the implementation of activities within the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) of the Global Soil Partnership.
• Overseeing the development of technical guidelines for interpreting analyzed soil properties related to soil health and sustainable soil management (SSM).
• Organizing meetings and training workshops for the Eurasian Soil Laboratory Network.
• Leading the development of the GLOSOLAN Global Assessment Report 202
• Processing soil samples for wet chemistry analysis and ensuring accurate results through collaboration with project partners and laboratories.
• Developing and implementing quality assurance and quality control measures for soil analysis processes, including establishing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Participating in capacity-building activities to enhance national capacities in soil analysis and data management.
• Supporting laboratory equipment procurement activities and improving national soil laboratories and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
• Tracking progress and assessing the quality of soil analysis and harmonization activities. 1
• Contributing to project monitoring and reporting frameworks, and communicating project outcomes and lessons learned to relevant audiences.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in soil science, agronomy, or related fields. A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in soil analysis and laboratory management is required. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate a working knowledge (level C) of English, as well as FAO core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in soil science, agronomy, or a closely related field. This advanced degree is essential for understanding the complexities of soil health, laboratory management, and sustainable agricultural practices.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in soil analysis and laboratory management. This experience should include leading soil laboratory operations and interpreting analyzed soil properties for soil health assessments and sustainable soil management. Familiarity with soil laboratory management and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) processes is also crucial.

Languages:
A working knowledge (level C) of English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages, such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian, is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Rome, Italy, at the FAO headquarters. The role is full-time and involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including governments, development partners, and civil society. The specialist will be engaged in international projects and may require travel to different locations for meetings and training workshops. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with FAO's policies and standards.