Senior Adviser

The Senior Adviser reports to Deputy Director-General, Natural Resources and Sustainable Production, DDCN.

Technical Focus

Provide overall management support and advice under the Programme Priority Areas and other key priorities of the Strategic Framework.

Key Results

Leadership and technical expertise for the planning, development and implementation of programmes of work, projects, related products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Leads the development, implementation and evaluation on technical issues of assigned programmes/projects; directs the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions;
• Coordinates programmes and reviews the assessment of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects as well as the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies;
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports as well as studies, and inputs to publications;
• Directs substantive support to consultative meetings and conferences, to include the proposition of agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations;
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars; and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities;
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties;
• Provides advice to develop policies and strategies as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO’s work.

Specific Functions:

• Provides substantive strategic and technical advice to the Deputy Director-General (DDG) and the Senior Management Team of the Stream on issues relating to and/or affecting the work of the Stream and assists the DDG to carry out leadership functions in policy development, strategy, and priority- and goal setting;
• Attends meetings both with and on behalf of the DDG drawing conclusions on the implications for the Stream and items which require the direct attention of the DDG or other Senior Managers;
• Prepares and/or revises reports, briefing notes and talking points for the DDG and other senior staff;
• Prepares and/or revises responses to comments, statements, and queries of parties, including from external stakeholders and Members;
• Provides general oversight and strategic coordination of work programmes in the divisions, offices and centres under the DDG-Magwenzi Stream
• Oversees and/or carries out the review of all outputs from the Office of the DDG to ensure quality control and high-quality standards in terms of substance, impact, coherence and compliance with relevant mandates, strategic vision and guidance of the  Senior Leadership of the Organization;
• Acts as second level (B Reporting Line) on the oversight and coordination of the Office of Emergency and Resilience (OER) and Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP);
• Acts as focal point for Foresight Exercise, Strategies development and implementation (i.e.  Biodiversity and Climate Change Strategies (OCB) and other cross-sectoral themes including water, agriculture and forestry linkages;
• Promotes and facilitates interactions and exchanges with other senior technical officers and technical focal points in technical divisions and Senior Officers/Advisors in other DDGs, Chief Scientist, Chief Economist, Office of the Director-General (ODG), to ensure coordination and coherence on common issues;
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff of the Office of the DDG, maintains a flexible way of working and is willing to perform varying duties depending on the shifting needs of the Office and the staff.

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following:

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree in natural resources, agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries), law, or related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in technical cooperation’s related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to natural resources, food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500246