Senior Land and Water Officer (Head of the Land Unit)

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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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 persons 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 staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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.

Organizational Setting
FAO's Land and Water Division (NSL) foresees a future whereby governments, development partners, civil society, academic institutions as well as the private sector and farmers, all work together to ensure that land, soil and water resources are wisely used, conserved and restored for sustainable and resilient agrifood systems that support food security, nutrition and human wellbeing. NSL provides policy guidance, technical and financial assistance to Member Nations in developing policies, programmes, best practices and management tools for ensuring productive and efficient use of land, soil and water resources to meet present and future demands for agricultural products, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of these resources. It promotes equitable access to and sustainable management of these natural resources with a view to enhancing productivity, livelihoods, equity, health and ecosystem services.
Under the new FAO Conceptual Framework for Integrated Land and Water Resources Management, NSL will work towards a core set of five outcomes that have been elaborated to cut across the thematic areas of land, water, soils and geospatial areas of work of the Division\: (1) Good governance; (2) Wise use and restoration; (3) Mitigation and resilience; (4) Integrated solutions; (5) Data, digitalization, technology and innovation.
The post is located in the Land and Water Division (NSL) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Senior Land and Water Officer (Head of the Land Unit) reports to the Director, Land and Water Division.

Technical Focus
Integrated agricultural land management, including data, information and assessment, land use planning, governance, financing, knowledge management, policy and practice.

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

Key Functions
• Plans, manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams; leads, coordinates and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work and Budget, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks.
• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.
• Provides technical and policy advice to Member Nations and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes.
• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to, and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations, such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning and on-line tools.
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.
• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions
• Manages the NSL Land Unit, including the overall coordination and operations, human and financial resources management, Unit planning and budgeting, implementation and reporting of related projects and activities.
• Leads the development of policy and guidance on key agricultural land use potentials and natural resource issues, such as integrated land resources management, competition over resources and issues related to sustainable land use, land resources assessment, planning and decision support for sustainable agricultural and rural development.
• Coordinates the formulation of multi-sectoral approaches and tools to integrated land management for food production and facilitates the mobilization of extra-budgetary resources for implementation of Land Unit's strategic vision and work plans.
• Provides support and guides process with partners and concerned technical divisions across FAO to review and update guidelines for land evaluation and planning, in particular arable lands for sustainable agriculture, at national and decentralized levels building on existing tools.
• Advises and formulates projects for integrated agricultural lands assessment, planning and sustainable use, including application of FAO geospatial tools at national and decentralized levels and the assessment of ecosystem services and restoration, land tenure and governance.
• Engages with FAO Divisions/Offices/Centres and coordinates with external partners, UN Conventions, governments, donors, etc., in the development and implementation of agricultural land management innovations and solutions, and supports integrated solutions to agrifood systems transformation.
• Supports interdivisional collaboration through task forces and ad hoc working groups, as necessary, and provides NSL's expertise on land management in internal and external processes.
• Performs other related duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in agriculture and natural resources management, with focus on land and soil, agronomy or related field;
• Ten years of relevant experience in national and international experience in sustainable land and soil planning and management, and other natural resources and environmental related activities, including land resources/ecosystem assessment and management;
• Working knowledge of English (proficient - level C) and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential;
• Extent and relevance of experience in land resources assessment, planning and management at global, national and local levels, particularly with integrated land management approaches;
• Expertise on land resources census, assessment, restoration, ecosystem services, governance, financing and related areas;
• Extent and relevance of experience in leading and ensuring the coherence and effectively oversight of the planning and implementation of a dynamic and multidisciplinary programme of work, while effectively engaging with other technical units and Decentralized Offices;
• Demonstrated results-based management capabilities with an ability to manage complex programmes, budgets and human resources efficiently under shifting priorities;
• Extent and relevance of experience in multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary work and in facilitating collaboration and managing diverse partnerships;
• Demonstrated ability in organizing and leading international meetings, seminars, workshops and training courses;
• Ability to mobilize resources and partnerships for delivering programmatic initiatives at scale;
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with senior government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders;
• Demonstrated capacity to write comprehensive technical reports in English.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• 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

• 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.

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