Senior Technical Officer (Deputy Secretary - ITPGRFA)

Organizational Setting The Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture performs that tasks established under the Treaty, and arranges for and provides administrative support for sessions of the Treaty's Governing Body and for any subsidiary bodies, as may be established, and assist the Governing Body in carrying out its functions, including the performance of specific tasks that the Governing Body may decide to assign to it. The Deputy Secretary and Senior Technical Officer leads or supports a number of teams within the Secretariat to provide advice, technical support and guidance to the Secretary on the implementation of the International Treaty.

Reporting Lines The Senior Technical Officer reports to the Secretary, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), OCBT.

Technical Focus Support the Secretary to enhance policy coherence of the programmes and activities of the Secretariat and to strengthen the role of the Governing Body as a leading forum for policy development and implementation; support the implementation of the International Treaty and the work of Governing Body of the International Treaty and its intersessional bodies, especially to enhance the functioning of the Treaty's Multilateral System for Access and Benefit-sharing, the Funding Strategy as well as other operational mechanisms, programmes and strategies; support cooperation with other organizations, funds and treaty bodies in order to achieve the objectives of the Treaty.

Key Results Leadership and technical expertise for the planning, development and implementation of Programmes of work, projects, related-products, and services in accordance with FAO’s Strategic Objectives.

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 technical leadership for and overall coordination of the implementation of the Funding Strategy of the International Treaty and the work of the Standing Committee on the Funding Strategy and Resource Mobilization; • Coordinates the implementation of the Benefit-sharing Fund programme of the International Treaty; • Provides technical leadership to support negotiations amongst Contracting Parties to enhance the functioning of the Treaty global programmes, strategies and mechanisms, in particular the Multilateral System for Access and Benefit-sharing; • Leads and/or coordinates multidisciplinary teams to develop science-based/technical analyses to improve the implementation of the Treaty and the functioning of its mechanisms; • Leads the development of technical products and policy documents on the Funding Strategy, the Multilateral System, including for the Governing Body of the Treaty and its subsidiary bodies, and other relevant fora, instruments and processes; • Supports the Secretary in establishing, promoting and maintaining relationships with relevant FAO Strategic Programmes, Technical Units and Decentralized Offices in order to enhance the Organization's policies, plans and strategies related to the Treaty and to ensure synergies between policy and operational work in support to Contracting Parties; • Maintains a broad, strategic overview of international developments related to biological diversity, sustainable agriculture and food security, and supports the Secretary in elevating the profile and leadership of the International Treaty, including further efforts to strengthen the International Treaty as a leading forum for biodiversity policy and multilateral cooperation; • Supports the Secretary in ensuring policy coherence of the activities and programs delivered by the Secretariat and in developing effective governance mechanisms for the implementation of the International Treaty and for its cooperation with other international institutions; • 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; • Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy; • 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; • Acts for or on behalf of the Secretary at FAO headquarters in the absence of the Secretary and in other cases as may be decided by the Secretary; • Represents the Secretary at conferences, official functions and other occasions as may be decided by the Secretary.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in agronomy, biological sciences, law, international policy or related fields with specialization in plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; • Ten years of relevant experience in at international level in supporting development and implementation of policies and technical programmes for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge 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 facilitating intergovernmental negotiations for the development and implementation of international policies on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; • Extent and relevance of experience in leading or supporting the development and operation of global strategies and programmes on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; • Extent and relevance of experience in leading and participating in multidisciplinary teams to develop science-based/technical analysis to improve the implementation of the Treaty and the functioning of its mechanisms; • Extent of experience in developing, or participating in, cooperation programmes with the international institutions relevant to the International Treaty, such as the CBD, CGIAR, GCDT, CGRFA, and other international mechanisms, funds and bodies; • Demonstrated capacity to prepare documentation for intergovernmental bodies and processes in English; • Extent of experience in the provision of technical support and policy advice to countries and relevant stakeholders on Treaty implementation is considered an asset; • Working knowledge of a second FAO language, preferably French or Spanish, is desirable.