Agronomy Specialist

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

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

• 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
• 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

In close collaboration with the Directorate-General of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture, FAO Indonesia is providing technical assistance through the TCP modality to revolutionize Indonesia’s banana industry with eco-friendly methods, modern GAP and GHP, improved nutritional value, resilient ecosystems, and sustainable prosperity for farmers and communities of the banana sector. The primary activities are empowering farmers through comprehensive training in sustainable farming practices for improved banana cultivation, enhancing post-harvest handling practices to preserve banana quality and minimize losses, and strengthening international market engagement to accelerate revenue growth and increase market diversification.

Sustainable farming practices will be enforced to enable strategic partnerships with export destination countries, particularly Singapore and China. These practices will focus on good agricultural practices (GAP) tailored to the requirements of the export destination countries. In addition, tissue culture facilities will be built for efficient banana plant propagation, enabling seed producers to multiply and maintain the mother plant’s quality.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will be responsible for empowering farmers to use sustainable farming practices under the overall supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative Programme (A-FAOR Programme), Lead Technical Officer at FAO-RAP, and OCOP secretariat and/or in consultation with the International Consultant.

Technical focus

The specialist will plan and implement project activities with a technical focus on empowering farmers through comprehensive training in sustainable farming practices for improved banana cultivation, enabling strategic partnerships with export destination countries, coordinating with the main counterparts, including the Directorate-General of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, and the International Consultant.

Tasks and responsibilities

• In collaboration with the International Consultant, conduct needs assessment to identify current farming practices and critical gaps to be filled regarding sustainable farming practices to be discussed and verified by the International Consultant;
• Develop training curriculum, module, and guiding booklet on comprehensive GAP for the beneficiaries and their association;
• Set up farmer field schools and deliver comprehensive theoretical and practical GAP training sessions, including banana nursery management, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and watering systems;
• Upon technical discussion with the International Consultant, supervise the development of tissue culture facilities, from producing proper tissue culture facility design to developing standard operational procedures (SOP) for seed production using tissue culture innovation;
• Collaborate with a service provider to produce learning videos demonstrating the successful implementation of GAP in banana production. These videos, featuring local farmers, experts, and extension workers, will showcase techniques and share experiences, ensuring relatability and accessibility to the target audience;
• Compile a comprehensive report based on the elements of the interventions for this project. Secure technical clearance on the reports from the LTO of the project;
• Conduct other relevant tasks upon consultation with FAO Indonesia

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agronomy, agricultural engineering, and/or related area.
• Five years of experience in sustainable horticulture farming practices.
• Full proficiency in written and spoken English.
• National of Indonesia or resident in the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

• Working experience in empowering farmers to adopt GAP.
• Working experience in utilizing tissue culture technology for seed propagation.
• Familiarity with banana cultivation and farming practices.
• Familiarity with tissue culture facility construction, including but not limited to the bio-safety design and level.

Please note that all candidates should 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 meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact\: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• 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.
• For other issues, 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.

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