Senior Animal Health Officer (EuFMD Executive Secretary), Animal Production and Health Division, NSA

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 production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD) is an Article XIV Body responsible for delivering an extensive work programme on Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) emergency preparedness, response and control, to its 39 Member Nations, to a further 20 European neighbourhood countries, and to other regions through its arrangement with FAO Decentralized Offices. The EuFMD has an Executive Committee, elected by its Member Nations, to which the Executive Secretary reports. It also has four technical committees. The EuFMD has a globally respected expertise in FMD management and an innovative and expanding training programme delivering a range of online interactive courses to thousands in over 80 countries, building capacity in emergency management and in progressive control of FMD and similar transboundary animal diseases (Foot-and-Mouth and Similar Transboundary Animal Diseases ('FAST diseases')). From 2019, the work of the EuFMD has been extended by decision of its Member Nations to encompass the wider range of threats from FAST diseases to the Member Nations, with an increased funding support agreed with the European Commission (DG-SANTE) in line with the expanded range of risk reduction actions needed in the European neighbourhood. The work programme is arranged in three Pillars (EuFMD Member Nations, neighbourhood and global) and the resource mobilization, technical input as well as operational delivery are entirely managed by the EuFMD Secretariat. The programme is supported by a team of over 50 technical, training and operational delivery experts, and is coordinated closely with the European Commission, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and FAO at global, and Regional and Country Office levels.

The position is located in the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines The Senior Animal Health Officer (EuFMD Executive Secretary) reports to the Chief, Zoonoses Centre, FAO, and to the Chairperson of the EuFMD Commission relating to the delivery of the agreed work programme.

Technical Focus Provides leadership, coordination, management and technical guidance for the implementation of the work programme of the EuFMD.

Key Results Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of the Commission’s 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, 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 ongoing 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 in Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning, and online 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 Corporate strategy.

Specific Functions

• Provides strategic, conceptual and programmatic orientation to the Executive Committee of the EuFMD, to guide the approach of the Commission and its Member Nations on international risk management of FMD and similar transboundary diseases, and on further, long-term development of the Commission as an effective partner and implementing body at the global level;
• Manages the development, implementation and monitoring of the programme of work of the Commission as agreed at the biennial General Session, leading the resource planning and resource mobilization, and ensuring that the Commission Chairperson, and the Director of Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) of FAO, receive regular briefings, not limited to the six-monthly Executive Committee Sessions;
• Provides technical guidance to the Commission, its Member Nations and partners on strategies for the progressive control of FAST diseases, including effective emergency management responses when required;
• Manages the secretariat, and ensures the development of the technical, operational and communications teams supporting the secretariat, leading, engaging and empowering the human resources under her/his supervision;
• Leads the engagement with the international, regional and global partners (European Commission, OIE, FAO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) and the development of partnerships and joint programmes with non-governmental organizations and the private sector, in accordance with the mandate of the Commission and the policies of FAO relating to the private sector;
• Represents the Commission at agency and inter-agency meetings, advisory boards, regional economic community meetings, or other consultations on sustainable livestock production to protect livestock assets and preserve/enhance related livelihoods, public health, and other venues from biological threats of animal origin following the inter-disciplinary outlook of a 'One Health' approach;
• Manages the trust funds of the Commission in accordance with the responsibilities of budget holders and in accordance with FAO procedures, and ensures the finalization of documents to be presented to the Executive Committee, EuFMD and FAO Governing Bodies;
• Represents the EuFMD, as needed, in the Global Programme – Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) Committees and working groups, relating to FMD and the FAST group of transboundary diseases and ensures a supportive role for the Commission in the international coordinated actions undertaken with or through GF-TADs and through regional coordination mechanisms including the Réseau méditerranéen de santé animale (REMESA);
• Collaborates with the FAO Chief, Zoonoses Centre and other relevant FAO staff to develop policies, strategies, knowledge products, capacity building and advocacy tools and materials;
• Ensures continuous improvement in the delivery and impact of the EuFMD training management system and training quality system, and continually strives to increase the scale and impact of its delivery (e.g. virtual learning resources, mobile phone based courses, e-learning, webinars);
• Develops concept notes and reviews projects for resource mobilization and advocacy.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in veterinary medicine or related field;
• Ten years of relevant experience in animal health and production, disease prevention and management, including regulatory aspects, standard setting, microbiology and/or epidemiology;
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO 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;
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in FMD or other FAST diseases, in infectious disease management and control, in multidisciplinary approaches (technical, economic and implementable as policies) to disease prevention, control and management, including socio-economic implications;
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of programmes related to animal health undertaken in the official veterinary services of Member Nations of the Commission, or in countries with similar health status relating to FMD;
• Relevant experience in analysing risks and drivers related to the introduction and spread of transboundary animal diseases and in planning of response to FAST diseases outbreaks, including laboratory diagnosis is considered an asset;
• Extent and relevance of strategic management experience, and of workforce development and continuous improvement of working practices;
• Extent and relevance of project formulation, implementation and management, including financial responsibility to deliver results on time and within budget allocations;
• Proven ability to develop project proposals and mobilize resources;
• Knowledge of international initiatives and programmes relating to the management, control and eradication of FMD and other FAST diseases is desirable;
• Good knowledge of how international organizations and the European Commission operate;
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training programmes;
• A PhD or post-graduate qualification relevant to animal health and production, epidemiology, public health, microbiology is considered an asset.