Senior Land and Water Officer (Global Soil Partnership Secretary)

The Land and Water Division (NSL) of FAO foresees a future whereby governments, development partners, civil societies, academic institutions, and the private sector and farmers, all work together to ensure that land, soil, and water resources are wisely used, conserved, and restored for sustainable and resilient agri-food systems that support food security, nutrition, and human wellbeing. NSL provides policy guidance, technical and financial assistance to Members in developing policies, programmes, best practices and management tools for ensuring productive and efficient use of land, soil and water resources to meet present and future demands for agricultural products, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of these resources. It promotes equitable access to and sustainable management of these natural resources with a view to enhancing productivity, livelihoods, equity, health and ecosystem services.

Under the new Strategy, NSL will work towards a core set of five integrated and strategic Objectives and Action Areas that have been elaborated to cut across the thematic areas of land, water, soils, and geospatial areas of work of the Division: (1) Good governance; (2) Wise use and restoration; (3) Mitigation and resilience; (4) Integrated solutions; (5) Data, digitalization, technology and innovation.

The post is located in the Land and Water Division (NSL) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Land and Water Officer (Global Soil Partnership Secretary) reports to the Director, NSL.

Technical Focus

Under the overall guidance of the Director, NSL, the Senior Land and Water Officer (Global Soil Partnership Secretary) will lead all aspects related to the coordination and operationalization of meetings of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), coordinate the work of the technical secretariat of GSP and its technical networks on different soil subjects to ensure consistency and delivery, coordinate NSL’s inputs to FAO Statutory Bodies, and liaise with FAO Decentralized Offices in relation to global and regional agreements to promote global soil management and governance policies.

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans, manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams, leads, coordinates, and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams, and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies
• Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies;
• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies, and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks;
• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis’ activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services;
• Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes;
• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to, and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Members such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning, on-line tools;
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders;
• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions

• Provides effective leadership for the overall management of the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) Unit;
• Acts as Secretary to GSP, including the organization of the regular sessions of GSP, and its key technical conferences and meetings, and other related activities;
• Monitors the implementation of GSP’s programme of work, in particular the implementation of the GSP Global Action Plan 2022-2030;
• Coordinates, in liaison with Divisional teams, all inputs to relevant working documents of FAO’s Statutory Bodies (Conference, Council, FAO Regional Conferences, Programme Committee, Committee on Agriculture, and others); reports on GSP outcomes at meetings of these bodies and ensures appropriate follow-up actions are taken on decisions and recommendations made and monitors progress;
• Coordinates NSL’s inputs to international soil related conferences or consultations in cooperation with relevant teams;
• Coordinates NSL’s inputs to soil related United Nations (UN) processes, consultations and reporting, in collaboration with relevant Divisional teams;
• Promotes GSP at the international, regional and national levels and mobilizes resources to support GSP’s programme of work and that of its technical networks and regional partnerships;
• Liaises with FAO Decentralized Offices and Secretaries of the Regional Fishery Bodies established within the FAO legal framework in order to facilitate appropriate support to activities as well as efficient cooperation in the implementation of the respective programmes of work;
• Coordinates the liaison between FAO and global, regional and national institutions, including government, non-governmental organizations, academia and the private sector, concerned with specific aspects of soil;
• Contributes to information and awareness raising products (including for policy briefs, flagship publications, key messages, talking points, presentations, opinion pieces, and social media) to highlight FAO priorities and achievements in work related to promoting global and regional coordination, international collaboration, implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management (VGSSM) and International Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers;
• Leads the development of the project monitoring and evaluation (M-E) framework and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, to support the planning, implementation and delivery of the projects; leads the project technical reporting on regular basis and supports project financial monitoring and reporting;
• Manages risks and challenges through a systemic approach from identification, evaluation to management actions;
• Develops and implements quality assurance processes and ensures full compliance with FAO rules, regulations, standards, donor requirements;
• Performs other related duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agricultural and/or soil science, land and natural resources management, or related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in agricultural soil science, digital soil mapping, agriculture and natural resources management, or related field.
• Working knowledge of English (proficient – level C) and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
• Extent of experience of leadership, project coordination and management, and collaboration with resource partners, national and/or regional authorities.
• Extensive knowledge of soil resources assessment/management tools and methods.
• Extent and relevance of experience in analysing land/soil and water management and soil mapping related issues.
• Extent and relevance of experience in leading and ensuring the coherence and effectively overseeing the planning and implementation of dynamic and multidisciplinary programmes of work.
• Demonstrated results-based management capabilities with an ability to manage complex programmes, budgets and human resources efficiently under shifting priorities.
• Extent and relevance of experience in multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary work and in facilitating collaboration and managing diverse partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability in organizing and leading international meetings, seminars, workshops and training courses.
• Knowledge of soil resources assessment/management tools and methods.
• Relevance of academic background.
• Extent and relevance of experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with other UN agencies, inter-governmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, as well as donors and government institutions and agencies.
• Ability to mobilize resources and partnerships for delivering programmatic initiatives at scale.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with senior government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders.
• Extent of oral and written communication and negotiation skills.

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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Job Posting

14/Dec/2023

Closure Date

14/Jan/2024, 11:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit

NSL

Job Type

Staff position

Type of Requisition

Professional

Grade Level

P-5

Primary Location

Italy-Rome

Duration

Fixed-term: two year with possibility of extension

Post Number

2003849

CCOG Code

1R

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production , better nutrition , a better environment, and a better life , leaving no one behind.