Professional Vacancy Announcement No: 1588-AGP Deadline For Application: 9 February 2007 Position Title: Agricultural Officer (Horticulture/Vegetable Crops) Duty Station: Rome, Italy Grade Level: P-3 Duration Fixed Term: 3 years CCOG Code: 1H01a Organizational Unit: Crop and Grassland Service, AGPC Plant Production and Protection Division, AGP Agriculture, Biosecurity, Nutrition and Consumer Protection Department, AG
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the general supervision of the Chief, Crop and Grassland Service, the direct supervision of the Senior Officer (Horticultural Crops Group), and in close collaboration with other team members, will support activities and programmes to promote the development of improved and sustainable horticultural cropping systems in view of improved nutrition, food security and livelihoods, particularly for smallholders. In particular, will:
- assist member countries in determining needs and preparing plans and guidelines accordingly for capacity building and technology transfer on safe and sustainable practices for annual and short-duration horticultural crops including production for segmented markets (Good Agricultural Practices and Organic); - identify, formulate and backstop field projects in connection with technical assistance programmes for efficiency improvement in vegetable supply chains (open field and protected vegetable cultivation; soilless cultivation); - support networking and collaborative programmes on genetic and agronomic improvement of horticultural crops, including traditional and under-utilised species; - collaborate in promoting applied research and development activities at national, regional and global level on urban and peri-urban horticulture, and on household, community and school gardening within the context of interdisciplinary programmes; - contribute to development of knowledge management programmes: Fruit and Vegetable portal; information and decision-support resources on characterization and utilization of horticultural genetic resources (variety performance, information systems); organize and participate in technical meetings, seminars, workshops and training programmes; - prepare technical publications related to various aspects of integrated production and protection management for vegetables and other short-cycle horticultural crops; - perform other related duties as required.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:
- University Degree in Agriculture or Horticulture with post-graduate specialisation in a horticulture-related field - Five years of relevant experience in programmes for horticultural development, dealing with aspects such as agronomic and genetic improvement of vegetable and short-cycle crops, technology development and transfer for sustainable and safe practices, and supply chain approaches, for developing countries. - Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be assessed against the following:
- Level of academic qualifications related to horticulture - Extent of international experience in planning and implementing programme activities related to capacity building for horticulture in developing and transition countries - Extent of knowledge of sustainable agricultural development criteria and of horticultural production technologies and diversification issues, and level of familiarity with horticultural development problems in both the rural and the urban/peri-urban context - Relevance of experience in promoting and supporting inter-country collaboration for horticultural research and development - Quality of written and oral communication on technical issues - Level of organizational skills and extent of experience in development of information platforms and products
Please note that all candidates should possess computer/word processing skills and should be capable of working with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
REMUNERATION
Level P-3 carries a net salary per year (inclusive of a variable element for post adjustment) from US$ 79,228 US$ 101,959 (without dependants) and from US$ 84,878 to US$ 109,616 (with dependants)
TO APPLY: Carefully read and follow the Guidelines to applicants
Send your application to:
V.A 1588-AGP Chief, Crop and Grassland Service (AGPC) FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome ITALY Fax No: +39 06 570 56347 E-mail:
