IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

  • 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
  • FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.


Organizational Setting

FAO has secured funding from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) to implement the project UNJP/SRL/009/UNJ “Prevention and Control of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) for Enhanced Biosecurity in Sri Lanka.” The project aims to drive transformational change by addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss associated with IAS. Its primary objective is to establish a comprehensive and institutionalized national biosecurity framework that prevents future invasions, mitigates existing impacts, and enhances ecosystem resilience. This will be achieved through updates to policy, legal, operational, and institutional mechanisms for effective IAS management, thereby accelerating Sri Lanka’s implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) with scalable, sustainable solutions.

To support this work, FAO Sri Lanka is recruiting a National Expert on Knowledge Management to compile ongoing work and lessons learnt with best practices in IAS management. The incumbent will systematically collate, synthesize, and document information from ongoing initiatives, previous experiences, and internationally recognized best practices, supporting capacity-building, policy development, and operational improvements in IAS management.


Reporting Lines

The National Expert on Knowledge Management will operate under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme). The incumbent will work in close coordination with the Project Management Unit (PMU), IAS Management Specialist, Protocol Development Specialist, IAS Monitoring & Reporting Specialist, and Policy and Legal Framework Specialist, while receiving technical guidance from the Environment and Climate Change Specialist and the Lead Technical Officer.


Technical Focus

• Compile ongoing IAS management initiatives and lessons learnt
• Identify and synthesize best practices and tools
• Develop knowledge products for capacity-building and policy support
• Integrate gender, community, and ecosystem considerations
• Support dissemination of knowledge through workshops and consultations
• Ensure alignment with national priorities and international standards


Tasks and responsibilities

• Review and document ongoing and recently completed IAS management programs, projects and activities with geographic information at national and sub-national levels
• Collect, collate, and analyze reports, data, and lessons learnt from IAS initiatives
• Identify and synthesize best practices, tools, and methodologies
• Develop structured knowledge products for capacity-building, training, and policy support
• Support the PMU in the dissemination of knowledge through workshops, consultations, and stakeholder engagement
• Ensure integration of gender, community engagement, and ecosystem resilience considerations
• Align compiled knowledge with national priorities and international standards
• Provide technical inputs and recommendations to strengthen IAS management
• Work in close coordination with LTO of the project and obtain clearance as necessary.
• Undertake any other tasks as requested by the FAOR / AFAOR (Programme).


CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING


Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level or higher) in Environmental Science, Biodiversity, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management, or related environmental programmes.
• Working knowledge of English and fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil.
• National of Sri Lanka or resident of the country with a valid work permit.


FAO Core Competencies

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


Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong expertise in knowledge management for IAS, biodiversity, and environmental programmes.
• Skilled in reviewing, synthesizing, and developing technical reports, policy briefs, and training materials.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills to identify gaps and provide practical recommendations.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, able to coordinate effectively with stakeholders and work independently.


Selection Criteria

• Strong knowledge of knowledge management methodologies and tools for organizing, synthesizing, and sharing technical knowledge to support policy and programme implementation.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing knowledge management strategies and programmes in environmental, biodiversity, or invasive alien species (IAS) contexts.
• Proven expertise in reviewing, synthesizing, and producing technical knowledge products, policy briefs, and training materials to support capacity-building and policy development.
• Experience in facilitating capacity-building, knowledge dissemination, and the use of technical knowledge to guide planning and implementation of environmental or biodiversity programmes.
• Familiarity with the UN System and /or development sector 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.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http\://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website\: http\://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

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

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.