Organizational Setting

The project GCP/GLO/086/ROK: Smart and Sustainable Aquaculture through Effective Biosecurity and Digital Technology has an overall objective of supporting countries in the sustainable development of systems and practices using smart/digital technologies to reduce biosecurity shocks and risks, leading to effective aquatic animal health management, sustainable production practices within environmental carrying capacities, enhancing protection, and ensuring food safety. At the end of project implementation, the expected impact is that the country and stakeholder beneficiaries will adapt and effectively implement biosecurity governance, systems, and practices to support a sustainable, responsible, healthy, and safe aquaculture that contributes to food security, improved nutrition, decent work, and economic growth.

Reporting Lines

The IT Specialist directly reports to the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and will work closely with the Fisheries Specialist and Project Lead Technical Officers.

Technical Focus

In line with our mission to digitize the monitoring system of the Shrimp sector through technology, this project endeavours to map data flow, identify key data registries, and ensure a monitoring system through a big data system. The IT Specialist plays a pivotal role in assessing the current IT landscape, guiding the IT service provider to follow interoperability standards, and providing oversight throughout the project lifecycle, including all cross-cutting IT work, especially where IoT, data, and other IT systems intersect. Conceptualize, deploy, and manage IoT solutions tailored for the Shrimp sector, ensuring real-time data capture, transmission, and integration into overarching IT and data science systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

•   Sector Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the shrimp sector, mapping the data flow, identifying key data registries, and understanding the IT infrastructure landscape.
•    Guidance on Interoperability: Advise the IT service provider on existing data dictionaries for the sector and ensure adherence to interoperability standards throughout the development phase.
•    Tender Document Development: Oversee and guide the creation of tender documents and other relevant supporting documents, ensuring they meet the project’s specifications and the sector’s requirements.
•    Oversight of IT Service Providers: Act as the primary liaison between the project team and the IT service provider(s). Ensure that the developed IT systems align with the sector’s needs, are scalable, and comply with interoperability standards.
•    Feedback and Iteration: Regularly gather feedback from stakeholders on the IT systems developed and guide the service provider(s) in implementing changes based on this feedback.
•    Training and Workshops: Organize and conduct training sessions for stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition and adoption of the new IT systems.
•    Cross-cutting IT Work: Attend and manage any cross-cutting IT-related tasks within the project scope, especially tasks involving IoT, mobile app, data analytics, and any other IT systems that intersect with the project’s primary objectives.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    Bachelor’s/master’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
•    Minimum five years of experience in IT sector with special skills in establishing big data system.
•    Solid understanding of the fisheries sector, its data needs, and the existing IT landscape.
•    Proven experience in IT project management, especially in the public or semi-public sectors.
•    Working knowledge of English and Sinhala/Tamil.
•    Must be a national of Sri Lanka.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience particularly in the field is essential.
•    Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of and in the provision of digitization in fisheries/aquaculture management and conservation bodies is desirable.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in organizing training courses for the stakeholders to provide detailed insights into Digital Technology.

Selection Criteria

•    Extent of experience in establishing big data systems including formulation of work planning, budgeting, implementation, and reporting.
•    Managing and implementing big data-related projects which include stakeholder requirement identification, development of SRS documents.
•    Familiarity with interoperability standards and data dictionaries relevant to the fisheries sector.
•    Experience in coordinating and liaising with industry, academia, national authorities, UN agencies, donors, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
•    Familiarity with the UN System and /or development sector is an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION