Live Food Specialist for Shrimp Larviculture

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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) is implementing the Technical Cooperation Programme project TCP/GUY/4101, which aims to strengthen national capacity for shrimp aquaculture production in Guyana through improved hatchery capabilities. The project is implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Department, and contributes to FAO’s Strategic Framework, particularly under Blue Transformation, Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture Production, and Gender Equality and Rural Women’s Empowerment.

The objective of this assignment is to ensure effective, timely, and results-based implementation of the TCP/GUY/4101 project by strengthening coordination, operational delivery, and stakeholder engagement across the shrimp aquaculture value chain, while supporting sustainable and inclusive sector development.

To support effective project delivery, FAO seeks a Live food Specialist for shrimp larviculture to implement the production, cultivation, management, and quality control of live feeds, specifically microalgae and Artemia, used in shrimp larviculture.

The assignment also contributes to strengthening public–private partnerships and enhancing value chain integration to support long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the shrimp aquaculture sector.

Reporting Lines

The Live Food Specialist for Shrimp Larviculture will work with the Hatchery Management Expert with overall supervision from the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO).

Technical Focus

The incumbent will work closely with the Shrimp Larviculture Specialist, to ensure alignment between live feed availability and larval production requirements, Maturation Specialist, Water Quality Specialist and the Production Team at the Hatchery and have the following technical focus.

• Ensure that all live feed production is always available and meets the minimum technical standards.
• Conduct various tests (Microalgae density targets etc), review and update SOPs, etc

Tasks and Responsibilities

Microalgae: The Specialist shall be responsible for all activities related to microalgae production, including:

• Establish and maintain pure strains of microalgae suitable for shrimp larval production, including species such as Chaetoceros and Thalassiosira.
• Prepare and manage agar and liquid culture media, including the formulation of macro- and micronutrients, vitamins, probiotics and other additives required for optimal algal growth.
• Operate and maintain batch and semi-continuous microalgae production systems, ensuring adequate culture redundancy and continuity of supply.
• Scale up microalgae cultures from stock strains through primary, secondary and mass culture stages to meet hatchery production requirements.
• Monitor algal culture performance through daily assessment of cell density, purity, physiological condition, growth rates and doubling times using microscopy and standard counting techniques.
• Monitor and maintain optimal environmental and water quality parameters, including temperature, salinity, pH, light intensity and nutrient concentrations.
• Conduct routine screening for contamination, including bacterial load, protozoa and potential pathogens such as Vibrio spp., and coordinate laboratory verification as required.
• Implement and enforce biosecurity, cleaning and disinfection protocols throughout all microalgae and live feed production systems.
• Ensure appropriate treatment and sterilization of water used in microalgae and Artemia production through filtration, UV sterilization, chlorination and other approved methods.
• Verify the effectiveness of sterilization and disinfection measures through routine monitoring and record keeping.
• Harvest microalgae cultures at appropriate growth stages to maximize nutritional quality and production efficiency.
• Manage Artemia production systems, including hatching, enrichment, harvesting, production monitoring and quality control activities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on production, consumption, mortality, water quality, biosecurity measures and operational performance.
• Identify operational risks and implement corrective measures to ensure consistent production, resource optimization and compliance with established hatchery protocols.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of microalgae and Artemia production systems through data analysis, quality assurance and adoption of best management practices.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING:

Minimum Requirements

• For Consultants:
Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in aquaculture, fisheries, biology, marine science, or related field; Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
For PSAs:
Technical degree/certificate in aquaculture, fisheries, biology, marine science, or related field.
• 1 year of relevant work experience in aquaculture hatcheries, especially live food is preferred.
• Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Highly technical knowledge with live feeds production (Artemia cysts, nauplii hatchery, enrichment) and formulated feeds.
• Knowledge of water quality management and equipment (Incubators, aerators, filtration, pumps, heaters, salinity controllers).
• Basic record-keeping, data entry, and reporting skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot equipment and environmental issues.
• Familiarity with hatchery biosecurity zoning (clean/dirty areas), pathogen exclusion protocols, and disinfection procedures.
• Compliance with safety protocols for handling chemicals (e.g., chlorine, iodine), live cultures, and hatchery equipment.
• Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Immediate reporting of hazards or incidents.

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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