Antimicrobial Residues Monitoring 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

FAO plays an essential role in supporting governments, producers, traders and other stakeholder groups to use antimicrobials responsibly to keep antimicrobials working and to protect food and agriculture sectors from the harms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Currently, AMR activities in FAO are carried out under the umbrella of the FAO Action Plan on AMR 2021-2025 that sets out the five objectives to guide the programming of FAO activities. The five key objectives to help focus efforts and accelerate progress are: 1. Increasing stakeholder awareness and engagement; 2. Strengthening surveillance and research; 3. Enabling good practices; 4. Promoting responsible use of antimicrobials; 5. Strengthening governance and allocating resources sustainably.

The ACT (AMR Codex Texts) project (GCP/GLO/505/ROK) is working at both the global and local levels to support the implementation of Codex standards, especially those directly related to the containment and reduction of foodborne AMR. Other Codex texts on veterinary drugs and their residues, food hygiene, animal feed, also contribute to tackle AMR by preventing the development and minimizing the transmission of AMR through the food chain.

Reporting Lines

The Antimicrobial Residues Monitoring Specialist reports to Food Safety Officer, ESF, under the overall policy, technical guidance and operational supervision of Senior Food Safety Officer, ESF and the Technical officer dealing with integrated monitoring and surveillance of foodborne AMR (Animal Health Officer), CJW.

Technical Focus

Veterinary drugs, including antimicrobial (AM) residues in food can lead to food safety issues as well as potential environmental issues at the global level. Countries need support to build their capacities to detect, monitor and control AM residues in food. Following the framework of the FAO Assessment Tool for Laboratories and AMR Surveillance Systems (FAO-ATLASS), a tool for assessing capacities for monitoring residues of veterinary drug in food (FAO-RVDF) was developed in 2021 with the goal of providing guidance to countries towards a stepwise, progressive improvement of their capacities monitoring AM residues in food.
The consultant will support the technical development, refinement, validation and deployment of the FAO-RVDF tool, as well as the handbook that goes with the tool, to make it available for deployment in project beneficiary countries.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Develop a work plan based on the objectives of the agreed conceptual framework for the FAO-RVDF tool
• Coordinate the technical review of the FAO-RVDF tool and consolidate the inputs/feedback
• Incorporate the feedback into the FAO-RVDF tool, in collaboration with tool developers
• Contribute to the development, review and finalization of the assessor’s handbook that will be published together with the tool.
• Considering the follow-up actions to pilot-test the tool and handbook, develop a mission simulation plan
• Finalize the tool based on the suggestions and support the publication process
• Integrate elements for compliance with Codex Texts to minimize and control AMR, and with other relevant Codex Standards
• Coordinate and deploy trainings (online and/or onsite) on the application of the FAO-RVDF tool
• Conduct country assessments using the FAO-RVDF
• Collaborate with the network of FAO Reference Centers on AMR and key implementing partners in activities related to the monitoring of AM residues in food
• Submit a concise consultancy report
• Perform other duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in veterinary medicine, public health, food, food science, biotechnology, biology, chemistry or a related field;
• At least one year of relevant experience in food safety;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian. For PSA, working knowledge of English, French or Spanish.

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
• Extent and relevance of experience in monitoring AM residues and other chemical contaminants in food
• Extent and relevance of experience of capacity development activities in monitoring of AM residues and other chemical contaminants in food
• Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation, editing and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing meetings and workshops
• Ability to write clearly and concisely, prepare technical reports, protocols, papers for publication and deliver effective oral presentations

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency