Job Description
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
PROFESSIONAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO: 2511-SFS
POSITION TITLE: Food Safety and Quality Officer GRADE LEVEL: P-4
DUTY STATION: Harare, Zimbabwe
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Multidisciplinary Team DURATION ∗: Fixed Term: 3 years
Subregional Office for Southern Africa POST CODE/NO: C/0792845
SFS CCOG CODE: 1I02
Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries are encouraged
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Subregional Coordinator, SFS, the functional guidance of the Director, Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division
(AGN), in close coordination with the Senior Regional Nutrition Officer in RAF, as part of a Multi-disciplinary Team, to provide guidance and
supervisory support for activities related to the improvement of food safety and quality management in the Region. Specifically to:
• Provide advice and support to countries to improve their policy, institutional and legal frameworks for national systems of food safety/quality
management and control that consider the entire food chain;
• Provide advice and support to national and regional authorities that enable them to adopt science-based food standards and to design and
effectively implement risk-based programmes of food safety/quality control, including assistance in strengthening: food analytical services;
food inspection and certification services; developing programmes of public information/education in food safety/quality; activities related to
food safety intelligence and prevention of food safety emergencies;
• Provide guidance and support to countries to improve adherence of food businesses with national/international food safety/quality
recommendations and target market requirements, including support for the development of: codes of practice and programmes of food
hygiene and HACCP training; national strategies for promoting implementation of effective industry food safety management programmes
and for developing specific quality programmes, as appropriate;
• Facilitate the identification of national and regional experts/expert institutions in areas related to food safety and quality that have an interest
and capacity to participate in FAO activities on capacity building or provision of scientific advice;
• Promote the development of knowledge networks to facilitate exchange of food safety/quality information to promote regional cooperation and
to optimize involvement of universities and research institutions in the network;
• Identify and outline priority issues for which guidance manuals, training materials or other food safety/quality capacity building tools and
scientific advice are considered priority for the region and liaise with the AGN/HQ staff to agree on a plan for their preparation;
• Develop project concept notes and formulate project proposals, using the logical framework approach, in support of food safety capacity
building; assist in mobilizing funds in support of capacity building activities;
• Prepare technical papers and reports related to food quality and safety for various meetings, including the FAO Regional Conference for
Africa and the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa;
• Perform other duties as required.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:
▪ Advanced university degree in food science, food technology, food microbiology, veterinary medicine, public health or other related field
▪ Seven years of relevant experience in food safety work at national, regional or international level, including experience in the formulation and/or
implementation of technical projects/activities in countries/institutions outside his/her own country aimed at developing capacities for
implementing food safety/ quality measures in line with international requirements
▪ Working knowledge of English and French
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be assessed against the following:
▪ Extent and relevance of experience in food safety and quality issues in the context of national food control services, in national, regional or
international institutions or in the private sector
▪ Length and relevance of experience in formulating, reviewing or evaluating projects providing technical assistance for strengthening capacities
for food safety/quality management and control
▪ Knowledge of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and familiarity with processes at national level that permit effective participation in the work
of Codex;
▪ Demonstrated ability to effectively design and implement training programmes
▪ Demonstrated ability in writing technical publications and reports and good oral communication skills
▪ Experience in Africa, in particular Southern Africa, and familiarity with subregional and regional institutions concerned with food safety and
quality control.
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.
* The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the
extension of appointments
REMUNERATION
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the
following link: http://icsc.un.org/
Please note that FAO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director-General and may be assigned to any
activities or office of the organization.
FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT
