Wheat/Barley Double Cropping 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 main aim of the FAO country office, which is headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food and nutrition security and to reduce malnutrition, to help develop the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, the direct supervision of the Deputy FAO Representative, the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer, in close coordination with the FAO DPRK team, the International Consultant, will perform the tasks described below.

Technical Focus

The Wheat/barley double cropping systems Specialist supports in developing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in promoting wheat-barley double cropping system in DPRK, including capacity development of the key technicians and farmers.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Prepare a draft of Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) standards and technical guidelines for wheat/barley double cropping systems and irrigation/water management in both paddy and upland ecosystems, including agricultural mechanization in the country context, that will be used as a reference and guidance for the DPRK.
• Prepare a draft training manual on wheat/barley double cropping systems and irrigation/water management in paddy and upland ecosystems.
• Finalize the GAP standard, technical guidelines, and training manual by incorporating inputs from national consultants.
• 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).
• Conduct a field mission to the country if feasible.
• Facilitate the identification of high-yielding and climate-smart wheat/barley varieties for field adaptation demonstration in double cropping systems.
• Develop a standard protocol for on-farm Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) of high-yielding and imported wheat and barley varieties.
• Coordinate the transfer of the HYV and climate-smart wheat/barley varieties through SMTA (Standard Material Transfer Agreement) with international research centers outside DPRK.
• Facilitate the study tour to foreign countries with advanced technologies and good practices in wheat/barley double cropping systems with similar agroecological zones.
• Provide advice on the project implementation as requested.
• Perform other tasks as necessary.
• Prepare and submit an end-of-assignment report in English according to FAO’s guidelines.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agronomy, plant breeding, and plant genetics
• Minimum 5 years of work experience in rice, maize, wheat, and barley double cropping systems research and development program
• Working knowledge (level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• 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, 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.

Selection Criteria

• Experience working with a wide range of partners, including international and national organizations, government counterparts, research institutions, UN organizations, and the private sector.
• Knowledge of a second FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) will be considered an asset.

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.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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