DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the operational supervision of the FAO Representative, the overall supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and the technical supervision of the Food Quality and Standards Service (AGNS), Lead Technical Unit, working in close collaboration with members of the Technical Assistance Team (TAT) as well as relevant local authorities and other relevant units in FAO, the incumbent will perform duties related to Output 4 “Strengthening national food safety analytical services” of the project “Improving food safety, quality and food control in Bangladesh”. In particular, will:

• assess the capacities of existing food laboratories in Bangladesh, covering public and private sector services, and the efficiency/ sustainability of the services provided;
• make recommendations for the selection of laboratories to be the focus of capacity building efforts during the project and develop a detailed plan of implementation covering:
• identification, procurement and installation of new equipment, spare parts and other materials;
• repair/ refurbishment of equipment and facilities as appropriate;
• training of laboratory personnel on selected analytical methods (food microbiology and food chemistry), theory of key techniques, analytical quality assurance;
• review and updating of existing laboratory procedures;
• improvement of administrative and management procedures to improve efficiency of laboratory services including mechanisms for coordination with the food inspection services to facilitate work planning;
• development of documentation supporting the implementation of laboratory quality assurance programmes;
• improved information management systems within the laboratories;
• external training / study tours for senior laboratory staff, as appropriate; and
• participation in inter-laboratory proficiency testing schemes for key methods.
• ensure that the laboratories establish systems of results based management including establishment of annual/quarterly targets and monitoring of their achievement;
• develop a medium term plan for the further development and rationalisation of food laboratories in Bangladesh that meets the needs for analytical services in all parts of the country and that takes consideration of sustainability issues;
• advise on a plan for assisting selected laboratories to achieve international accreditation for selected methods and provide assistance and support as required to achieve this target;
• review and assess current activities related to food-borne illness surveillance in Bangladesh and participate in the development of a plan of action for strengthening of an epidemiological surveillance, covering:
• strengthening of analytical capacities to support the food borne disease surveillance programme;
• development of procedures and protocols as required;
• training of staff (in country and external); and
• information management.
• make recommendations, in collaboration with the Technical Officer on Food Safety Management, on improving communication between agencies concerned with food borne disease surveillance and food safety management so as to optimise use of data from disease surveillance to improve food safety programme planning;
• perform other related duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:

SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be assessed against the following:

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.

TO APPLY: Carefully read and follow the Guidelines to applicants

Send your application to:

V.A AGN-404-09-PRJ
Director, Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division (AGN)
FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome ITALY
Fax No: +39 06 570 5 4593
E-mail: VA-404-09-PRJ-AGN@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.

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