Chief, Sustainable Animal Production, Feed and Genetics Group (NSAP)

• 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 persons 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.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) promotes the sustainable livestock transformation towards greater efficiency, inclusiveness and resilience. NSA integrates scientific and technical expertise and policy advice in the areas of animal production and animal health. NSA facilitates policy dialogue through intergovernmental bodies and multi-stakeholders partnerships, manages knowledge and provides information, analysis and technical assistance for the sustainable development of the livestock sector and the optimization of its contribution to the United Nations 2030 Agenda, with particular focus on food security and nutrition and inclusive economic growth; animal, public and environmental health; and natural resource use, climate change and biodiversity.

The Sustainable Animal Production, Feed and Genetics Group (NSAP) covers all production systems, from pastoralism to intensive systems, including crop-livestock integrated systems, and aims to enhance their sustainability in its three pillars\: environmental, economic and social.

The position is located in the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) at FAO headquarters in Rome Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Chief of the Sustainable Animal Production, Feed and Genetics Group (NSAP) reports to the Director, Animal Production and Health Division (NSA).

Summary of Duties and Functions

Under the overall guidance of the Director NSA, and as a member of the NSA Management Team, the Chief of NSAP\:

• Provides vision, strategic thinking and technical leadership to FAO’s work on sustainable animal production with particular emphasis on small-scale dairy, poultry and small-ruminant production systems and pastoralism; feed resources management and feed safety; and climate change adaptation and mitigation;
• Provides advice to Members on the development of strategies and action plans for increased investment in the sustainable transformation of the livestock sector;
• Provides advice to Members in implementing the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and developing policies and regulations on the use and management of animal genetic resources including diversity assessments, breeding and conservation, in line with relevant international instruments;
• Acts as Secretary of the Sub-Committee on Livestock, under the Committee on Agriculture;
• Oversees the work of the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources, under the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA);
• Manages the human and financial resources of NSAP, including the staff development, and assist in the management and planning of the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA);
• Ensures effective integration and linkages between the work and staff of NSAP with other NSA and headquarters units as well as Decentralized Offices;
• Supports resource mobilization consistent with NSA’s work plan and strategic vision and the FAO Strategic Framework;
• Represents the Organization in external meetings and handles day-to-day matters in the absence of the Director, when necessary;
• Advocates and promotes the work of NSAP and NSA with governments and partners and seeks to establish and strengthen partnerships with relevant partners in support of the work of the Group and the Division;
• Performs other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in animal science, with specialization in livestock production systems and/or management of animal genetic resources;
• <--[endif]-->At least twelve years of relevant experience in animal production and animal genetic resources management and related policy and strategy development, in intergovernmental processes, and in identification, formulation, implementation of projects and programmes in developing and/or transition countries;
• Extensive and relevant professional experience related to the functioning of multilateral and multi-stakeholder processes;
• Ability to cooperate with and/or lead effectively people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international setting;
• Experience in resource mobilization and partnership building, including at the highest level of government;
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Leadership Competencies