Food Safety and Nutrition 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

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advances the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. This effort promotes better production, improved nutrition, a healthier environment, and enhanced livelihoods, ensuring no one is left behind.

The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) was established in 1996 in Samoa to coordinate the FAO work in 14 member countries in the Pacific subregion - Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and one Associate Member, Tokelau. SAP is responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing programmes and projects to address food security, nutrition, agriculture, and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion wide institutions and entities.

The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Nutrition and Food Systems Officer at the FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP), and in close coordination with the colleagues in the relevant areas (one-health, livestock and animal health, environmental health, pandemic fund, etc.), SAP national consultants, government counterparts in Pacific Island countries, and the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

Technical Focus

Strengthen food safety systems, food control frameworks, surveillance mechanisms, and emergency preparedness in Pacific Island countries through a One Health approach. Support sub-regional and national food system assessments, capacity building, technical advisory services, and the development of food safety and nutrition initiatives.

Tasks and responsibilities

Strengthening Food Safety Systems

• Assess and strengthen sub-regional and national food control systems, surveillance, and regulatory frameworks, and prepare technical reports.
• Deliver training, capacity-building workshops, study tours, and provide laboratory strengthening guidance.
• Support MACG establishment and develop the National Food Safety Emergency Response Plan (NFSER).
• Provide technical guidance on emergency preparedness, risk classification, and One Health initiatives.
• Support the development and review of food safety legislation, standards, guidelines, and standard operating procedures in line with Codex Alimentarius and international good practices.
• Facilitate multi-sectoral coordination among public health, agriculture, livestock, environment, quarantine, and border control authorities to strengthen food safety governance.
• Support hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk communication related to biological, chemical, and physical food safety hazards across priority food value chains.
• Provide technical support for the design and implementation of foodborne disease surveillance, data collection, analysis, and reporting systems.
• Contribute to the development of inspection, audit, and compliance monitoring tools for food businesses, markets, import controls, and processing facilities.
• Support the preparation of technical briefs, policy notes, and recommendations to inform national and subregional food safety strategies and investment priorities.

Project Management

• Plan project activities, procurement and staffing over a project timeframe.
• Facilitate and support all aspects of the project implementation.
• Ensure the preparation, monitoring and updating of workplans.
• Ensure that relevant data is collected for effective monitoring against a performance measurement framework.
• Develop Terms of Reference and Letters of Agreement for project affiliate personnel and service providers.
• Participate in interview panels for the recruitment of affiliate personnel (but not staff members).
• Liaise, and maintain positive working relations with stakeholders.
• Develop a Project Task Force (PTF) and liaise with, provide reports to and receive guidance from the PTF.
• Identify, mitigate and manage potential risks, report and escalate issues when necessary.
• Monitor the progress and quality of deliverables from contracted experts.
• Draft concept notes, project proposals, and funding applications.
• Complete the food safety relevant tasks assigned

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Food Safety, Food Science, Nutrition, Public Health, Agriculture, or related field. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in food safety, nutrition, food systems, food science, or public health.
• Working knowledge (C level) of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Efficiency, competence and integrity as well as negotiating skills, tact and diplomacy are essential.
• Able to work with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural project partners at regional and international level
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with experience liaising between diverse project stakeholders
• Demonstrated effective writing and critical analysis skills

Selection Criteria

• Familiarity with the Asian and Pacific context
• Established relationships with relevant institutions in one or more of the project countries / region
• Proven experience of managing a global team of researchers and / or consultants

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 any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
• 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 more information, visit the FAO employment website
• 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

• 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/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.

• 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

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