Senior Field Programme Officer

The Regional Office Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) 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 oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Offices for Mesoamerica and the Caribbean. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region, and, in collaboration with Divisions, Offices and Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the Organization’s strategies through programmes and projects across the region.

The Regional Office supports the formulation and implementation of the Country Programmes and Projects, including Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) and their contribution to the FAO Strategic Framework as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at the country level, advising Decentralized Offices on corporate priorities such as the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget.

The Regional Office leads, formulates, implements, monitors and reports on the Organization’s programmes and budget in the region and draws management attention to problems, deficiencies and risks.

The Regional Office leads the preparation of the Regional Conferences and the Statutory Bodies in the region

The Regional Office develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions, including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs), and participates in the United Nations Regional Architecture, such as UN Regional Forums on Sustainable Development and UN Regional Collaborative Platforms and related mechanisms

The Regional Office delivers an improved, integrated and collaborative business model to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, consistency, innovation, agility and responsiveness in logistical, operational, financial and other support services at all levels to accelerate the achievement of the Organization’s programme in the region and ensure compliance with the Internal Control Framework.

The post is located in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) in Santiago, Chile.

The Senior Field Programme Officer reports to the Assistant Director-General /Regional Representative (ADG/RR) for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Leadership of results-based field programme management, implementation and coordination throughout the region; support to regional resource mobilization efforts; operational support and capacity building to budget holders/project formulators and operators throughout the region; field project/programme implementation as Budget Holder; project cycle management, forecasting, monitoring and reporting on results.

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

Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.

• Coordinates programmes and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops and seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.

Specific Functions:

• Leads the Regional Field Programme Team for the development, management and coordination of the field programme throughout the region, towards the achievement of regional/country results and impacts contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Manages and supervises (as Budget Holder) the implementation of regional projects.
• Supports Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries and subregions in projects operational management. This includes daily support in project management and implementation of FAO policies and procedures as well as assessment and strengthening of Country Offices capacities for project implementation.
• Oversees FAO project cycle for all projects of the region, ensuring results-based focus and adherence to FAO procedures and processes.
• Ensures proactive monitoring of the region’s delivery and project implementation, supporting early action to address critical situations.
• Supervises the management of the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) in the region.
• Provides guidance and orientation as required to ensure countries’ preparation for the implementation of large-scale projects.
• Collaborates with the Regional Programme Leader and the Planning Officer on the strengthening of technical capacity development and knowledge management.
• Collaborates with the Resource Mobilization Unit to provide guidance and support to the Country Offices in achieving their targets.
• Supervises and monitors the performance of assigned staff and supports capacity development of the team.
• Measures, monitors and reports on the implementation of the field programme in countries and in the region and provides forecasts and trend analysis to management to support strategy development.

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree in economics, business administration, management or related technical fields of FAO’s mandate.
• Ten years of relevant experience in results-based project/programme planning, implementation and monitoring including systems/appraisal.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
• Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project management, in the management/operation of small-, medium and/or large-scale projects at country and regional levels, including in-depth knowledge of related administrative, operational and financial procedures.
• Extent and relevance of experience and skills in project identification, programme and project formulation, analysis, planning and implementation.
• Level of knowledge of results-based management methods and experience in their application.
• Knowledge of field programme issues in the region is considered a strong asset.
• Knowledge of global issues, trends and constraints in development cooperation with particular reference to agrifood systems, natural resources management, food security and nutrition, hunger and poverty reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals agenda.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of Spanish is highly desirable.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500994