🇸🇱 Job Vacancies @ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Freetown | Sierra Leone Posted 5 months ago Posted on Administration / Office / Operations, Medical/ Healthcare / Pharmaceutical

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is recruiting to fill the following positions:

1.) National Laboratory Specialist
2.) Assistant FAO Representative (Administration)

See job details and how to apply below.

1.) National Laboratory Specialist

2402298

National Laboratory Specialist

Job Posting: 31/Jul/2024

Closure Date: 14/Aug/2024, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : FRSIL - FAO Representation in Sierra Leone

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : NPP (National Project Personnel)

Grade Level : N/A

Primary Location: Sierra Leone-Freetown

Duration : 12 months

Post Number : N/A

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 person 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

Organizational Setting

FAO Representation in Sierra Leone implements an integrated food security programme, focusing on diversification of livelihoods, managing natural resources and building resilience. The office employs diverse team of experts locally, but also attracts the available technical experts from the region and the Head Quarters (HQ). FAO works in close partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, farmers and other stakeholders, supporting plans and policies that affect the food and nutrition security in the country; our work is a part of the corporate commitment to support countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, especially SDG 2 on Zero Hunger.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Sierra Leone, this position will be directly supervised by the ECTAD Country Team Leader - Sierra Leone.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will contribute to implementation of activities under the National Laboratory Systems and Biosafety and Biosecurity technical areas of the FAO Global Health Security (GHS) programme which aims to build sustainable animal health and One Health capacities to mitigate risks and threats caused by emerging and re-emerging zoonoses, endemic zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Tasks and responsibilities

Within the framework of the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease programme (ECTAD), the overall policy and technical guidance of the Senior Animal Health Officer/ECTAD Global Programme Coordinator, in line with the programme management guidance from the Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer/ECTAD Global Programme Budget Holder (OER), the functional and administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in Sierra Leone, the direct supervision of the ECTAD Country Team Leader in Sierra Leone, the technical guidance of Regional Laboratory Expert for ECTAD Western and Central Africa, and in close collaboration with the ECTAD team in Sierra Leone, the National Laboratory Specialist with two support from the international laboratory expert in Sierra Leone will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

Contribute to the preparation of country strategies and programme for the management of high impact priority zoonotic diseases (PZDs), as well as emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic disease in line with the national priorities and FAO's Strategic framework 2022-2031
Contribute to the design, coordination, and implementation of national strategies and programmes/projects, in line with the FAO/WOAH Global Framework for the Progressive Control of TADs, PZDs and Regional priorities.
Contribute to the implementation of activities relevant to laboratory aspects of the USAID GHS, Fleming Fund and other ECTAD projects as a basis to mitigate the high (current/potential) impact of PZDs, emerging and re-emerging zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases and AMR in Sierra Leone. These include:
Contribute to the framing and the implementation of diagnostic protocols for PZDs, TADs and AMR to support surveillance plans.
Supervise the assessment of national laboratory veterinary capacity for pathogen testing of samples from livestock and livestock products.
Contribute to improved skills in sample collection from livestock in targeted livestock farming systems, and at critical points along the value chains and at domestic animals-wildlife interfaces using appropriate biosafety/biosecurity measures.
Support maintenance and calibration of essential laboratory equipment.
Support development of technical capacity and building competence of in-service laboratory technicians and other professionals working at the CVL through in-service on bench training and mentorship.
Contribute to development and implementation of laboratory diagnostic and surveillance protocols for livestock in targeted livestock farming systems, value chains and at domestic-wildlife-human interface.
Contribute to publications and or publish in peer reviewed journals results of capacity assessments and/or any other interesting findings/joint epidemiology and laboratory efforts following GHSP and Fleming Fund interventions.
Support capacity development of national laboratories through; o Facilitation of training programs for laboratory personnel on new laboratory techniques, Quality Assurance, Biosafety and Biosecurity and tools such as Laboratory Mapping Tool (LMT), FAO Assessment Tool for Laboratories and Antimicrobial resistance Surveillance Systems (FAO-ATLASS), Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)/SILAB. o Assist in the organization of planned training workshops, simulation exercise and meetings and other technical meetings, as needed. o Support country participation to Proficiency Tests (PTs). o Contribute to Laboratory capacity assessments using the FAO laboratory mapping tools (LMT). o Contribute to strengthening of national laboratory networks and information management systems. o Participate in animal health emergency preparedness and contingency planning exercises, or tabletop scenarios.
Contribute to: o Preparation of technical specifications for the procurement of laboratory consumables and related non-expendable equipment in consultation with relevant national partners, o Organization of stakeholders' meetings and development of animal health and other related policy instruments in Sierra Leone. o Provision of regular weekly updates of laboratory activities and reports in the country, monthly project activities, and prepare draft web/newsletter articles on technical accomplishments as needed in collaboration with International Laboratory Expert and CVL Manager. o Provision of regular updates of TADs epidemiology situation and immediate notification to the ECTAD CTL and International Laboratory Expert of any significant laboratory/epidemiological events. o Preparation of regular reports on the progress of the implementation of projects implemented by ECTAD Sierra Leone for FAO, donors, or other stakeholders. o ECTAD resource mobilization efforts to support sustainability of diagnostic laboratory work.
Submit a final technical report upon completion of the assignment to ECTAD CTL and FAOR.
Perform other related duties as required by the CTL and FAOR.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

University degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences/Microbiology/Virology/Biological Sciences with a post-graduate training in laboratory sciences or related field eUIG3qR C0zl6T
At least five years' experience working in a veterinary or research laboratory
Working knowledge of English
National of Sierra Leone

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

Good knowledge of laboratory diagnostic techniques applicable to TADs and PZDs.
Knowledge of the Sierra Leone animal health system

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
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/
For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

HOW TO APPLY

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
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.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO's client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

2.) Assistant FAO Representative (Administration)

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT : 2402474

Assistant FAO Representative (Administration)

Job Posting: 02/Aug/2024

Closure Date: 16/Aug/2024, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : FLSIR

Job Type: Staff position

Type of Requisition : General Service

Grade Level : N-1

Primary Location: Sierra Leone-Freetown

Duration : Fixed-term: two years with possibility of extension

Post Number : 1075241

CCOG Code : 1A12

Staff in the General Service category are recruited locally from the Primary Location area, which is where the office is located.

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.

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. FAO Representation in Sierra Leone implements an integrated food security programme, focusing on diversification of livelihoods, managing natural resources and building resilience. The Office employs a diverse team of experts locally, but also attracts the available technical experts from the region and the headquarters. FAO works in close partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, farmers and other stakeholders, supporting plans and policies that affect the food and nutrition security in the country; our work is a part of the corporate commitment to support countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, especially SDG 2 on Zero Hunger. The post is located in the FAO Representation in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Reporting Lines

The Assistant FAO Representative (Administration) reports to the FAO Representative.

Technical Focus

Programme administration and financial management, including accounting and personnel administration.

Key Results

Effective and efficient provision of administrative support to programme and project activities of the FAO Representation.

Key Functions

Provides support in the areas of administration, finance and budgetary control.
Maintains all financial records and monitoring systems of the office and assists with monitoring of various accounts; supervises and/or maintains imprest accounts; ensures that operational expenditures are in accordance with approved budgets and that all committing documents are complete and consistent; and reports variations from budgets.
Supervises the administrative team, assisting with organizing and/or retrieving, entering, selecting and analysing data from a wide variety of sources, including FAO's corporate systems.
Prepares financial and administrative correspondence for the office, including the processing of payments in accordance with established rules; maintains a filing system; and ensures that an appropriate paper trail with key documentation is archived.
Assists with the preparation of recurring reports on programme, project and office accounts; provides support in the preparation of reports for budget planning, audits and other related requests; and liaises with local banks and financial institutions.
Monitors the receipt of Government contributions and ensures that all procurement and custom clearances for programmes, projects and the office are properly requested and obtained.
Ensures the compliance with the Organization's security guidelines (Minimum Operational Security Standards - MOSS).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

National of the country of assignment.
Advanced university degree in a field related to business or public administration.
One year of relevant experience in office management, administration, accounting and/or audit, budget or finance.
Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English.
Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of the local.

Competencies

Results Focus
Teamwork eUTwrT8 C0zl6T
Communication
Building effective relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
Extent and relevance of experience in the field of office management and administration including supervisory experience.
Extent of knowledge of UN or standard operational rules and procedures and project/programme administrative management procedures.
Extent of knowledge of FAO's corporate systems and database, or knowledge of other accounting or financial modules or applications relevant to accounting procedures or project budget management would be considered an asset.
Demonstrated analytical and judgment skills and ability to apply rules and regulations in the subject field.

Assistant FAO Representatives shall be granted fixed-term appointments for such period or periods as the Organization may determine and having an expiration date specified in the letter of appointment or extension. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total length of service shall not exceed five years. Appointments, including extensions, do not carry any expectation of renewal or of conversion to another type of appointment. However, this does not preclude the incumbents from applying to other positions in the Organization.

FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO,

Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
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/
The length of the appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to extension of appointments
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit, and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application."Commuting distance" means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.
No international benefits will be payable as selected candidates are recruited locally and paid in the local currency of the office location
For additional information visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/

REMUNERATION A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://onehr.un.org/salary-survey/#/salary scale

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Once completed, please apply and submit your application, with language certificates as attachments. Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications. FAO reserves the right to request candidates to undertake a language test in the future, as appropriate
Incomplete applications will not be considered
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 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.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO's client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT