FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Professional Vacancy Announcement No: 2010-AGA
Deadline For Application: 1 May 2008
Position Title Animal Health Officer (Response Coordinator)
Duty Station Rome, Italy
Grade Level P-5
Duration 2 years
CCOG Code: 1H01
Organizational Unit Animal Health Service, AGAH Animal Production and Health Division, AGA Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, AG

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision and responsibility of the Chief, Animal Health Service and in close collaboration with counterparts in the Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division (TCE) and Divisional staff, the incumbent will be responsible for ensuring rapid response activities relating to crises in animal health. In particular, the incumbent will:

  • Organize, manage, provide leadership and directly supervise response unit staff and rapid deployment team members;
  • Decide on and implement rapid response activities in line with Divisional strategies on the prevention and control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs);
  • Contribute to the overall strategic orientation, methodologies and guidelines developed for FAO’s emergency animal health responses;
  • Ensure the dissemination of disease intelligence information through the Global Early Warning and Response System/Emergency Prevention System for TADs (GLEWS/EMPRES) prior to, during, and after rapid response missions;
  • Formulate action plans and emergency projects following in country rapid response missions for TADs;
  • Develop and ensure delivery of training programmes for rapid response teams on emergency response and contingency planning;
  • Coordinate missions and follow-up activities in close collaboration with FAO Representatives, Regional Animal Health Centres, OIE and WHO, and other organizations/agencies when appropriate;
  • Organize and participate in rapid response missions to member countries, providing technical advice on emergency response on outbreaks of TADs, elaboration of response action plans and the mobilisation of resources, etc.;
  • Work closely with the Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division (TCE) with a view to strengthening collaboration for emergency prevention;
  • Perform other related duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:

  • Advanced University Degree in Veterinary Science with a post-graduate specialization in Epidemiology
  • Ten years of relevant experience in epidemic/epizootic disease control, outbreak investigation and crisis management
  • Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two

SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be assessed against the following:

  • Relevance of academic qualifications
  • Extent of work experience in disease control and emergency response of transboundary animal diseases
  • Extent of familiarity with the work of relevant international institutions such as FAO, OIE, WHO, etc.
  • Level of interpersonal and both oral and written communication skills on technical issues
  • Relevance of experience in technical assistance in or for developing countries
  • Extent of familiarity with the Incident Command System

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

Level P-5 carries a net salary per year (inclusive of a variable element for post adjustment) from US$ 126,349 US$ 148,882 (without dependants) and from US$ 136,005 to US$ 161,574 (with dependants)

TO APPLY: Carefully read and follow the Guidelines to applicants

Send your application to:

V.A 2010-AGA
Chief, Animal Health Service, AGAH
FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome ITALY
Fax No: +39 06 570 55749
E-mail: VA-2010-AGA@fao.org

This vacancy is open to male and female candidates. Applications from qualified women candidates and applications from qualified candidates from non/under-represented member states are encouraged. 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

  Post Number: C/