Food Policy and Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Job Description

Project/Proposal Summary:

The Transforming the Assessment and Inspection of Food Businesses in Egypt (TAIB) project is a five-year $8.5M project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will expand domestic and international trade of Egyptian food products through supporting the establishment and scale-out of a new government entity, the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA). TAIB will provide technical and financial support to NFSA that is responsive to the evolving needs of the nascent regulatory authority. Assistance will be aimed at harmonizing Egyptian food law and regulations and international standards, implementing robust inspection systems, managing outbreaks, conducting science-based risk assessments, monitoring Egyptian food safety systems, and reducing food borne illnesses.

This project will be based primarily in and around Cairo with the potential for technical assistance to NFSA branch offices and other key food industry stakeholders throughout the country.

Position Summary:

In February 2019, the Executive Regulations for the law establishing NFSA were issued by the Prime Minister of Egypt. Under these Executive Regulations, NFSA shall establish a modern Food Law and vertical and technical regulations that govern the safety of food in Egypt.

Under the leadership of the Technical Director, the Food Policy and Regulatory Affairs Specialist will be responsible for supporting NFSA to finalize the drafting of the Food Law and subsequent technical regulations to reduce barriers trade and promote improved food safety practices and compliance. This position will review NFSA’s proposed law and regulations, providing feedback based on international food laws, standards and best practices. The Food Policy and Regulatory Affairs Specialist will review the prepared technical content that communicate proposed technical regulations to the public and private sectors to promote feedback and stakeholder buy-in, supporting the coordination of and participating in workshops as necessary. The Food Policy and Regulatory Affairs Specialist will be responsible for monitoring the progress of NFSA’s drafting of food policies and recommending suggestive actions for support as required to Technical Director and Chief of Party. The Food Policy and Regulatory Affairs Specialist will participate in the review of and comment on polices, job description and administrative procedures supported by TAIB in relation to their conformity with the requirements of the Egyptian labor law and other relevant laws.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as the lead facilitator of technical assistance activities aimed to build the capacity of NFSA and related food safety sector stakeholders in promoting improved policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Coordinate with NFSA, international experts and other Government of Egypt Ministries to support the alignment of Egypt’s food safety laws and regulations with international food laws and standards. Provide translation of technical regulations as necessary.
• Support NFSA to prioritize technical regulations and develop a standardized process map for the complete promulgation process.
• Support NFSA to develop technical content to communicate the proposed Food Law and forthcoming technical regulations to public and private sector stakeholders.
• Coordinate with and support the Organizational Capacity Building Specialist to strengthen NFSA’s administrative policies and procedures.
• Serve as the project’s main contact point person for the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) and other donor projects aimed at supporting the policy and regulatory environment of NFSA.
• Coordinate technical assistance assignments to the project in close collaboration with in-country participants, core project implementation partners.
• Provide technical input into the development of project annual work plans and ensure achievement of project goals and targets.
• Participate in regular project management communications (teleconference, written monthly status updates, etc.) with Land O’Lakes HQ.
• Ensure project activities comply with LOL policies.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party or Technical Director.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in food policy and/or trade law.
• Master of Science degree in law, trade or equivalent fields.
• Demonstrated ability to adaptively manage technical implementation of project activities.
• Applied experience in food law and/or trade in Egypt.
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor tasks.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment and as a good communicator.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in taking initiative and resolving difficulties.
• Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Fluent in spoken and written English and Arabic.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Prior experience on a development program.
• Experience working with and knowledge of food safety regimes throughout the Gulf Region and Middle East; experience and knowledge of the food safety sector and food safety regime in the United States preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of the food safety sector in Egypt; demonstrated knowledge of National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) preferred.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted.

Land O’Lakes never requests money or payment from candidates for any position type. Please report any such requests to Land O’Lakes.

About the Organization

Since 1981, Land O’Lakes Venture37 has applied an integrated approach to international economic development that capitalizes on Land O'Lakes, Inc.'s nearly 100 years as a leading farm-to-market agribusiness. We use our practical experience and in-depth knowledge to facilitate market-driven business solutions that generate economic growth, improve health and nutrition, and alleviate poverty. We believe in the value of people and ensuring our work is rooted in honesty, integrity and respect.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our vision is to be a global leader in transforming lives by engaging in agriculture and enterprise partnerships that replace poverty with prosperity, and dependency with self-reliance. Since our inception, we have implemented nearly 300 programs and training initiatives in over 80 countries, which have enabled farmers and agribusinesses to become more profitable and to leverage economies of scale through well-functioning cooperatives and producer groups.