FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Professional Vacancy Announcement No: AGAH-249-08-PRJ
Deadline For Application:  
Position Title Animal Health Officer (Deputy Wildlife Coordinator for Avian Influenza)
Duty Station Rome, Italy
Grade Level P-4
Duration 12 months
CCOG Code: 1H01
Organizational Unit Animal Health Service, AGAHAnimal Production & Health Division, AGAAgriculture and Consumer Protection Department, AG

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the general supervision of the Chief, AGAH (Chief Veterinary Officer-FAO) and the Senior Officer (Infectious Diseases-EMPRES), working in close collaboration with the International Wildlife Coordinator, the incumbent will provide technical support to and participate in the EMPRES/ECTAD programmes and policy initiatives related to transboundary animal diseases with particular emphasis on avian influenza (AI) disease intelligence and emergencies for improved understanding of the role of wild birds in maintenance and transmission of AI among poultry and wild birds. In particular, the incumbent will:

  • coordinate with collaborating organisations the global wild bird disease surveillance efforts of FAO and partner institutions with particular emphases on surveillance in endemic countries and at the domestic-wild bird interface;
  • in collaboration with others, assist in preparing, monitoring, implementing activities under Letters of Agreements and other collaborative agreements needed for the implementation of wild bird disease surveillance efforts deemed necessary by FAO;
  • plan capacity building and training activities, to include participants from Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Forestry, NGO’s, and Universities with emphasis on cross training on topics of importance to veterinarians, wildlife biologists, ecologists, conservationists, and ornithologists;
  • prepare concept notes, proposals, and identify and pursue external funding to support activities related to capacity building and operational research;
  • facilitate partnerships with other UN agencies , migratory flyway groups, ornithology NGO’s, and ornithological researchers to promote an extensive network of resource personnel to help with outbreak investigations, capacity building, operational research, migration ecology studies;
  • provide technical expertise to FAO projects, regional or national programmes to ensure that information on the FAO-AGAH website regarding AI and wild bird facts, current knowledge and EMPRES wildlife programme activities is up-to-date, and that the EMPRES-I database contains the most detailed information available regarding AI and other avian disease surveillance and outbreak information in wild birds
  • develop and provide advice on strategies, policies, technical requirements, methods and guidelines on the prevention, surveillance and control of AI and other avian diseases and the integration of environmental information that can influence the occurrence or spread of selected diseases;
  • develop and participate in field studies to better understand specific pathogen ecology and disease epidemiological situations – including climatic changes, marketing and trade practices, socio economic and institutional contexts, or potential pathogen reservoir hosts;
  • perform other related duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:

  • Advanced University Degree in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with emphasis on wildlife or free ranging avian species or an Advanced University Degree in Philosophy in Ecology, Field Ecology, Ornithology, or Wildlife Biology
  • Seven years of relevant international working experience conducting field work, or in management, conservation or disease issues related to free-ranging wild bird populations, migratory species, wetland and land-use management activities
  • 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:

  • Extent of experience in working with free-ranging wild bird populations and issues related to their health
  • Relevance of experience in facilitating and leading international collaborations amongst individuals from multiple organisations, NGOs, Universities, and government bodies in multi-nation programmes related to migratory waterbird species, populations, migration and habitats
  • Extent of familiarity of the work of UN agencies or International Conventions
  • Extent of experience in organizing and coordinating international meetings, workshops, and training activities
  • Extent of experience working on health or disease issues in free ranging waterbirds at international level
  • Quality of both oral and written communication skills on technical issues
  • Demonstrated ability to develop/design proposals, manage projects, track budgets, monitor progress, review and approve final reports at the completion of projects
  • Proven initiative and ability to organize/plan work independently and as a team member

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 AGAH-249-08-PRJ
J. Domenech, Chief, AGAH
FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome ITALY
Fax No: +39 06 570055749
E-mail: VA-249-PRJ-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

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