Plant Breeding and Seed Systems Specialist

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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 person 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

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. RAP also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies.

The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture, and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

Reporting Lines

The Plant Breeding & Seed Systems Specialist will work under the overall direct supervision and guidance of the Agriculture Officer and the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the projects being implemented under the Plant Protection and Production Module at FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Technical Focus

The Plant Breeding & Seed Systems Specialist will provide support in developing project-related services to support the delivery of programmes, projects, products, and services implemented in the Plant Production and Protection Module framework. The technical focus of the projects to be backstopped will be in line with crop production and crop protection, including but not limited to food security, agriculture-based livelihood, climate resilient agriculture, capacity building of the government counterpart, and farming communities’ projects.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) Agriculture Officer (Plant Production), the incumbent will undertake the following duties:
• Facilitate identifying high-yielding and climate-smart quinoa, millets, and rapeseed varieties for the participating country to demonstrate field adaptation.
• Develop a standard protocol for on-farm Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) of high-yielding and climate-smart quinoa, millets, and rapeseed varieties by the participating country.
• Coordinate the transfer of the identified high-yielding and climate-smart varieties of quinoa, millet, and rape seed by the participating country through SMTA (Standard Material Transfer Agreement) with international research centers outside the country.
• Support in the seed preservation of climate-resilient and high-yielding quinoa, millet, and rapeseed germplasm for the short and long term.
• Support consultation meetings with stakeholders and provide input on quinoa, millet, and rapeseed seed supply chains.
• Prepare a draft of good agricultural practice (GAP) standards and technical guidelines for quinoa, millet, and rapeseed seed, including agricultural mechanization in the country context, to be used as a reference and guidance for the participating countries.
• Finalize the GAP standard, technical guidelines, and training manual by incorporating inputs from national consultants.
• Prepare a draft training manual of quinoa, millet, and rapeseed seed production and seed systems, including agricultural mechanization, in the country’s context.
• Oversee the preparation and implementation of training and workshops, including training modules and frameworks, pre-training and pre-workshop activities, program development, and post-training in collaboration with the training team and implementing partners (if any).
• Support the conduct of training workshops for farmers, researchers, and extension officers on climate-smart, innovative, and good agricultural production practices, seed supply chains, and post-harvest processing.
• Prepare and submit training reports and modules on climate-smart, innovative, and good agricultural production practices, processing, and storage.
• Lead the development of knowledge products and articles in refereed journals.
• Other relevant tasks.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agronomy, Plant Breeding, or Plant Genetics.
• At least five years of work experience in sustainable dryland agriculture and seed systems development programs is preferred.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English, French, or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, or Russian. For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in climate-smart and nutrient-dense crops and seed systems in favorable and dryland agriculture research and development programs.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly as field positions are desirable.
• Experience working with a wide range of partners, including international and national organizations, government counterparts, research institutions, UN organizations, and the private sector.
• Extended experience and knowledge in development work and institutional policy in the plant production and post-production sectors.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge associated with the development, implementation, and monitoring of international instruments and good practices and with the work of international organizations and national governments.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, collecting, and analyzing technical information and data.
• Experience preparing, editing, and revising technical/scientific documents and organizing meetings and workshops.

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

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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