Deputy Director (Policy and Practice) 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 productionbetter nutritiona 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, Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

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

Summary of Duties and Functions

The Deputy Director (Policy and Practice) will assist with the day-to-day management of the Office. 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 to functions related to analysis, policy development, and sectoral capacity. 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.
  • Ensure effective linkages between the work of the Office and the FAO Strategic Framework from planning, monitoring, and reporting.
  • Oversee the generation of data in, and information for, emergencies and resilience intervention and ensure the quality standards and linkages to the wider FAO and other relevant organizations, including through the oversight of the engagement with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), Data in Emergencies (DIEM), the Global Network Against Food Crises, and other similar initiatives.
  • Coordinate the operational research agenda of OER.
  • Provide guidance and oversight to the integrated programmatic approach of the thematic areas of OER work including but not limited to: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Resilience, Famine Prevention and Response, and conflict-sensitive programming approaches.
  • Support the Director OER in enhancing programmatic and policy collaboration with FAO technical divisions.
  • Oversee the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) function in OER, fostering the set-up of the corporate approach and wide dissemination of lessons learned.
  • 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.
  • 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 in emergencies and resilience work related to agriculture and food security.
  • Extensive experience in policy advice and analysis relating to food security and nutrition , agriculture and rural emergency and resilience response, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
  • 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.

How to apply

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/
• 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 contact: Careers@fao.org

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