Deputy Director (Operations and Resourcing) At Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Organizational Setting

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.

The Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) is responsible for ensuring FAO’s efforts to support countries and partners in preparing for, and effectively responding to, food and agricultural threats and crises. It is responsible for coordinating the development and maintenance of corporate tools and standards to enable Decentralized Offices to assist FAO Members to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies. OER ensures humanitarian policy coordination and knowledge, liaison with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee as well as with humanitarian resource partners, co-leadership with the World Food Programme (WFP) of the global Food Security Cluster, organizational preparedness, surge capacity and response to large-scale emergencies. OER supports food security and nutrition assessment and early warning activities related to emergency and humanitarian analysis and responses. OER plays a major role in the development and leadership of the Organization’s programme to increase the resilience of livelihoods to food and agriculture threats and crises.

The position is located in the Office of the Director OER at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Deputy Director (Operations and Resourcing) reports to the Director OER. This position is a peer position to the Deputy Director (Policy and Practice)and collaborates closely with this latter role, jointly supporting the Director OER in providing day-to-day oversight to teams in OER.

Summary of Duties and Functions

The Deputy Director (Operations and Resourcing) will assist with the day-to-day management of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience. He/she will support the Director OER in providing strategic, managerial and technical leadership of the work of the Office and in facilitating the management of corporate divisional, intradivisional and interagency activities with a particular focus on the oversight of functions dedicated to assisting FAO Country Offices with the resource mobilization, programming and delivery of emergency and resilience interventions. In particular, the incumbent will:

• Support the Director OER in the overall management responsibility including planning, strategic vision, advice, quality control, and ensuring the implementation of the Office’s approved workplan, as well as the cost-effective use of financial and human resources (staff and affiliated workforce) based on Results Based Management principles.
• Support the Director OER in enhancing collaboration with support and operational functions at FAO headquarters, including but not limited to Procurement, Finance, Digitalization and Informatics, and Human Resources.
• Ensure effective linkages between the work of the Office and the Regional, Subregional, and Country Offices, with a focus on ensuring an enabling environment for Country Offices to deliver successful emergency and rehabilitation activities, including through the management and oversight of the OER teams providing operational support to countries.
• Coordinate OER’s resource mobilization activities in support of FAO’s emergencies and resilience interventions.
• Coordinate actions to strengthen accountability and compliance in the management of emergency and resilience activities.
• Oversee OER’s contributions to internal and external audits and ensure that recommendations and agreed actions arising from these inspections are acted upon in a timely manner.
• Provide advice on, and contribute to the preparation of OER’s biennial Programme of Work and Budget, including the development of appropriate strategies, planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Support the Director OER by providing day-to-day engagement with the global Food Security Cluster.
• Identify, analyse and make recommendations regarding opportunities to support FAO Members in the areas of work of the Office.
• Enable a motivated and effective work force by ensuring the recruitment of highly qualified staff, mentoring, and coaching.
• Represent the Organization in internal and external meetings relevant to the Office’s field of activity, and serve as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Director OER.
• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Economics, Agriculture, Social Sciences, International or Business Administration, International Development, or any other discipline related to the work of FAO.
• Minimum twelve years of relevant experience including in emergencies and resilience work related to agriculture and food security.
• Extensive experience in results-based management, strategic planning, implementation, and delivery of large programme/project portfolios across multiple geographical locations.
• Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization, including coordinating project proposals for funding and interacting with donors and funding agencies.
• Proven analytical abilities and excellent writing skills as demonstrated in past work products (analytical reports, quantitative analysis, operational models, and/or published papers).
• Ability to lead and work effectively with a diverse team of people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international UN setting.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Leadership Competencies

Results focus: Takes accountability for the delivery of agreed results in service of FAO’s strategic framework – Leading, engaging and empowering others: Coordinates, directs, facilitates and recognizes team efforts; creates an enabling environment and assists others to realize and develop their potential – Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication – Partnering and Advocating: Promotes ideas and develops partnerships to advance the Organization’s work – Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement: Continually seeks to improve the knowledge, skills and work processes of oneself and others – Strategic thinking: Makes informed and coherent decisions aligned with broader goals and strategies.

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

GENERAL INFORMATION

• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.

• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits,

click on the following link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm

Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

– Dependency allowances

– Rental subsidy

– Education grant for children

– Home leave travel

– 30 working days of annual leave per year

– Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

– International health insurance; optional life insurance

– Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies

measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization.

This includes:

– elements of family-friendly policies

– flexible working arrangements

– standards of conduct.