Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.  The goal of FAO is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.  With over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.  FAO believes that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

The Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF) supports a coordinated approach to the development of agrifood systems, including inter alia; engagement in global and regional policy dialogues, platforms and initiatives; strengthening food safety and quality at national, regional and international levels; the development of sustainable food value chains and sustainable investments across value chains; reducing food loss and waste; controlling foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and implementing the urban food agenda.  It works to support FAO Members in their efforts to develop inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems in alignment with the SDGs. The Division works closely with internal FAO teams and external partners in integrating sustainability in its three dimensions (social, economic and environmental) across global, regional and local agrifood systems.

Reporting Lines

The Food Safety Specialist will report to the Food Safety Officer, ESF

Technical Focus 

This vacancy will be used to fill vacancies that support ongoing and upcoming workstreams on food safety risk analysis, including the assessment, management, and communication of food safety risks such as those related to microbiological and chemical hazards and antimicrobial resistant (AMR) organisms in food systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support knowledge exchange activities, networking and partnerships within and outside FAO;
•    Assist in the development and implementation of programmes to deliver global common goods on agrifood systems and field projects on agrifood systems transformation at national and regional levels;
•    The collection of food safety data;
•    Conduct analyses on technical and policy matters to inform decision-making on complex problems;
•    Prepare and edit technical guidance documents on AMR and risk analysis;
•    Develop communication and training materials related to food safety, AMR and risk analysis;
•    Help organise internal and external technical meetings, expert consultations, and workshops;
•    Contribute to the Division’s communications and resource mobilization efforts;
•    Provide any other support as required by ESF management.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in a field related to agrifood systems, AMR, risk analysis, or communication;
•    Five years of relevant experience working on issues related to agrifood systems, AMR, risk analysis, communication;
•    For consultants: working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of one other official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish. For PSAs: working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Knowledge of and experience engaging with a variety of stakeholders across the agrifood system;
•    Experience at a UN agency, research institute or non-state organization investigating challenges facing the agrifood system and/or AMR;
•    Demonstrated capacity to carry out research;
•    Strong writing skills;
•    Familiarity with FAO areas of work on agrifood systems, AMR and food safety;
•    Experience with remote working tools, namely, MS Teams, One Drive, MS Office, Zoom;
•    Capacity to work under stringent time pressure and prioritize tasks;
•    Five years of relevant experience in risk analysis, as a basis for risk assessment, management or risk communication;
•    Ability to analyse complex food safety and quality assessments, and address these from a One Health perspective.