Director, Food and Nutrition Division

Rome

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Rome
Grade: Senior Executive level - D-2, Director - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Nutrition
- Food Security, Livestock and Livelihoods
- Managerial positions
- ESN
Closing Date: Closed

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

• People with disabilities are protected from any type of discrimination during any stage of employment, including the recruitment phase

• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

• FAO does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment and discrimination. All selected candidates, will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks

• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

The Food and Nutrition Division assists FAO’s Members to improve diets and raise levels of nutrition, as well as support with appropriate policies, strategies and methodologies for improving the efficiency and inclusiveness of their food and agricultural systems. As a knowledge leader, areas addressed include dietary assessment, support on nutrition-sensitive food and agriculture policies and programmes, effective nutrition promotion programmes, food value chains, market linkages, post-harvest handling and agro-processing. FAO is committed to support Members in their efforts to improve nutritional outcomes through food systems policies as stated in the Rome Declaration on Nutrition (November 2014) and to mainstream nutrition into FAO’s strategic objectives.

Reporting Lines

The Director, Food and Nutrition Division (ESN), works under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief Economist.

Summary of Duties and Functions

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief Economist and as a member of the Economic and Social Stream Management team, the Director will:

provide strategic vision and leadership to FAO’s work on nutrition and the work of the Division in contributing towards the achievement of the relevant Sustainable Development Goals;
provide guidance in the Division’s contribution to FAO’s Strategic Framework and ensuring nutrition is mainstreamed in the Organization’s Strategic Framework;
lead the implementation of FAO’s Vision and Strategy on Nutrition embedded in food systems approach;
prioritize and manage the planning, implementation and monitoring of divisional work plans and be accountable for the delivery of products;
support and advise the Chief Economist, as necessary, on areas related to the Division’s areas of work;
provide overall guidance and technical quality assurance for the Division’s work on food systems contributing to healthy diets and improved nutrition;
maintain a motivated and effective workforce by supporting the recruitment of highly qualified staff, mentoring, coaching and supporting their career development;
represent the Organization at high-level meetings and fora of relevance to the Division’s work and negotiate effective working relationships with international and national partners;
support the mobilization of extrabudgetary resources for work in priority areas for the Division;
provide overall guidance and technical quality assurance for the Division’s work on nutrition and food systems;
provide related policy and technical advice to FAO’s Members and to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes of work; and
perform other duties and functions as required.

Minimum Requirements

Advanced University degree in nutrition, food science, agriculture (with specialization in nutrition) or a closely related field.
Over 15 years of relevant experience in planning, organizing and coordinating interdisciplinary work programmes relevant to the areas of work of the Division, and in management and provision of budgetary oversight for programme delivery.
Demonstrated technical leadership and experience in nutrition policy issues with emphasis on issues of concern to developing countries.
International experience in providing policy advice to high-level decision-makers, including in intergovernmental settings.
Analytical skills and ability to express and synthesize ideas clearly and concisely and demonstrated communication skills.
Experience in resource mobilization, including coordinating project proposals for funding and interacting with donors and funding agencies.
Working knowledge of English and a limited knowledge of one of the other FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).