National Soil Fertility and Management Specialist

Kenya

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Kenya
Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Biology and Chemistry
- Agriculture and Forestry
Closing Date: 2025-05-22

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

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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 is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices\:

•advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate.

•provide technical assistance and deliver core services.

•assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation.

•position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and

•ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Kenya.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Kenya, and the direct supervision of the Programme Manager for Resilient Livelihoods and Climate Change.

Technical focus

The National Soil Fertility and Management Specialist will undertake the day-to-day implementation of and follow-ups on Programme/project activities at the national level.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Soil Fertility and Management Specialist will perform the following key functions\:

•Conduct soil fertility analysis and support the development of nutrient and nutrient budget maps, using both field data and auxiliary data.

•Support the development of the methodology for fertilizer recommendations in line with the Decision Support Tool, taking into account the local soil conditions, crop requirements, and nutrient management practices.

•Establish and coordinate field trials to test the effectiveness of different fertilizer treatments and management practices and monitor and evaluate the results.

•Work closely with the National Consultant (Digital Soil Mapping) to integrate the soil fertility data and maps into the digital soil mapping process.

•Collaborate with the Soil Analysis (Labs) Consultant to ensure the accuracy and quality of the soil fertility data and analysis.

•Provide technical support and advice to local extension agents and farmers on soil fertility management practices and fertilizer use.

•Implement the activities of the Soil Doctor Programme,

•Coordinate fertilizer quality analysis activities and capacity building training.

•Perform any other duties as assigned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science, Soil Science, Crop Science, Agricultural Economics or any related fields.

•A minimum of three (8) years of progressive work experience in sustainable soil management, soil fertility building and/or establishment of field trials is required.

•Working knowledge (level C) of English and Kiswahili

•Must be a National of Kenya 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

Technical/Functional Skills

•Familiarity with soil fertility management practices.

•Experience in conducting soil fertility analysis.

•Experience in setting up and managing field trials i.e. both at on-station and farm levels.

Selection Criteria

•Prior experience working with National Public Agricultural Research organizations, International Agricultural Research Centres, and similar work affiliated with FAO or any other UN agency.

•An Advanced Degree from a recognized university in the same fields is an added advantage.

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

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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