Deputy Director, Aquaculture

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) is responsible for all FAO activities related to the environmental, economic, social, institutional, governance and policy issues in fisheries and aquaculture, including their sustainable development with particular emphasis on human well-being, food security and poverty reduction. The Division is responsible for the collection, compilation, validation, trend analysis and dissemination of the best available and up-to-date global, regional and national statistics on production, consumption, trade and livelihoods, including sustainability status. The Division is also responsible for FAO's activities related to the management and conservation of the living aquatic resources used by fisheries and aquaculture, including biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance, with particular emphasis on most vulnerable and threatened species and habitats; management of responsible fisheries and aquaculture in accordance with modern management standards and best practices with due regard for the protection of the environment and the well-being of fishing communities; and the development of fisheries technology, including the safety of fishers and fishing vessels. It also conducts analysis and promotes post-harvest utilization, marketing and use of fisheries and aquaculture products in the context of FAO’s mandate to eliminate hunger and poverty. The Division also develops normative guidelines and has a varied and extensive field programme around the world.

Reporting Lines

The Deputy Director, Aquaculture reports to the Director, NFI.

Summary of Duties and Functions

The Deputy Director, Aquaculture will be responsible for providing strategic steering, coordination and management of the Sustainable Aquaculture area in NFI, including the management of three aquaculture teams and their staff. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of projects and products, and leading efforts to mobilize resources for the area. The incumbent will be a full member of the Senior Management Team of NFI, and thus would be expected to contribute to the management and leadership of NFI, and will be expected to represent NFI at internal and external meetings and processes. Cross-cutting and soft skills, as well as management experience, would be expected for this complex technical and management post.

Under the general guidance of the Director, NFI, the Deputy Director, Aquaculture will provide technical and managerial leadership in the planning, development, implementation and delivery of Divisional Programmes of work related to all aspects of Sustainable Aquaculture, in accordance with FAO Strategic Framework. In particular to:

• Provide Intellectual leadership, strategic vision and promotion of the Sustainable Aquaculture area of NFI;
• Take management responsibility for staff, operations and processes of the area’s Teams: Global and Regional Processes, Technology and Production, and National Planning and development support;
• Empower Sustainable Aquaculture Team Leaders with planning, managing and monitoring the results of their respective teams in line with the divisional results; provide budgetary oversight for programme delivery and foster cross-divisional work under the overall umbrella provided by FAO’s Strategic Framework, Medium-Term Plan and biennial Programme of Work and Budget, delegating budget holding responsibilities to Team Leaders, as appropriate;
• Coordinate the provision of technical and policy advice to Member countries and technical support to decentralized offices in the development and implementation of their Sustainable Aquaculture programmes, including Blue Transformation;
• Support the Director, NFI, in the overall management responsibility including strategic vision, planning, advice, technical programming and quality control and implementation of the Division’s work in the area of fisheries and aquaculture, and related areas;
• Coordinate and promote communication and collaboration within and across units/teams and foster a work environment conducive to efficient results-based unit/team work; ensure technical, administrative and financial support to divisional units and cross-divisional teams to deliver against results;
• Enable a motivated and effective Sustainable Aquaculture work force by ensuring the recruitment of highly qualified staff, mentoring, coaching and supporting career development and staff capacity development strategy;
• Identify, implement and enhance strategic partnerships within FAO for collaborative work in the areas of work of the Division;
• Advocate for and promote the work of the Division and the building of partnerships with Member Nations, international and national organizations, as well as the private sector, as appropriate;
• Contribute to and provide leadership in the Division’s resource mobilization efforts, in accordance with FAO’s Corporate Strategy;
• Represent the Sustainable Aquaculture area at NFI Senior Management Team meetings and NFI Senior Operation Team meetings; represent NFI in FAO internal and external meetings; serve as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Director and Deputy Directors.