Expert on Microbial Bio-Control Agents

Position details

• Vacancy number: 2601894
• Opportunity type: Non-staff opportunities
• Grade / contract type: PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
• Organizational unit: FASRL - FAO Representation in Sri Lanka
• Duration: 25 WAE days
• Application deadline: 22/Sep/2026, 3%5C:44%5C:00 AM

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 and Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations 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 and has started working in Sri Lanka since 1979 with its Representation (Country Office) opened in Colombo.  
The FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, and through four Betters (Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life) - leaving no one behind.

The project, “Community-Based Bio-Control Agents (BCA) and Bio-Pesticides Production and Utilization System for Eco-Friendly Pest Management Programmes in Sri Lankan Agriculture,” aims to identify effective bio-control agents (BCAs), develop protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for mass rearing, upgrade selected production and rearing facilities, and promote the adoption of BCAs as sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides in Sri Lankan agriculture.
The Expert on Bio-Control Agents will provide technical expertise and operational support towards the successful implementation of project activities and achievement of the expected outputs under the project.

The expert will support delivering the following key activities:

•    Baseline Assessment and Situation Analysis
•    Technical Support for the Development of the SOPs on Identification and Evaluation of Biological Control Agents
•    Technical Support for Production, Field Validation and Demonstration
•    Capacity Building and Technology Transfer
•    Scaling-Up and Commercialization Support

Reporting Lines

The Expert on Bio-Control Agents will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes), and technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer of the project. 
The incumbent will work closely with the relevant technical team at the Horticultural Crops Research and Development Institute (HORDI) and other selected facilities.

Technical/Functional Skills

The objective of this assignment is to provide technical support for the identification, evaluation, efficacy assessment, mass rearing, field application, and popularization of microbial biological control agents (including EPN) for sustainable pest management in food crop production systems in Sri Lanka.
The assignment will contribute to strengthening environmentally sustainable and economically viable pest management approaches aimed at reducing dependence on synthetic chemical pesticides while enhancing crop productivity, food safety, and ecosystem health.

Tasks and responsibilities

Baseline Assessment and Situation Analysis

•    Support the assessment of the current status of biological control agents, products, technologies, production systems, and commercial availability in Sri Lanka. 
•    Contribute to identifying technical, institutional, regulatory, commercial, and adoption-related gaps. 
•    Support the prioritization of key horticultural pests and diseases for biological control interventions.

Technical Support for the Development of the SOPs on Identification and Evaluation of Biological Control Agents

•    Provide technical support in identifying and prioritizing suitable microbial biological control agents, including EPNs. 
•    Assist relevant institutions with the isolation, identification, characterization, and maintenance of promising indigenous biological control agents. 
•    Provide technical guidance on assessing the efficacy, adaptability, persistence, environmental safety, and compatibility of biological control agents with IPM. 
•    Support laboratory, greenhouse, and field-level evaluation and validation of selected biological control agents. 
•    Contribute technical inputs to the identification of promising agents for further development, formulation, registration, mass production, and commercialization.

Technical Support for Production, Field Validation and Demonstration

•    Provide technical inputs to the development and standardization of protocols for production, formulation, quality control, storage, handling, and application of biological control agents. 
•    Support the development and implementation of laboratory, greenhouse, and field efficacy trials. 
•    Assist in establishing appropriate pest and disease monitoring and evaluation approaches. 
•    Provide technical support for field demonstrations under different agro-ecological and cropping conditions. 
•    Contribute to the assessment of field performance, application methods, rates, timing, and persistence. 
•    Support the documentation of results, best practices, challenges, and lessons learned, and provide technical recommendations for further scaling-up.

Capacity Building and Technology Transfer

•    Support capacity-building activities for researchers and technical personnel on biological control research, evaluation, and production. 
•    Provide technical guidance on the establishment and maintenance of biological control agent cultures. 
•    Contributes to the preparation and review of SOPs, technical manuals, training materials, field guides, and extension materials. 
•    Support the delivery of Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes for relevant technical personnel. 
•    Contribute to strengthening institutional capacity for sustainable production and utilization of biological control agents. 
•    Facilitate consideration of community-based or decentralized production approaches where technically and economically feasible...

Scaling-Up and Commercialization Support

•    Provide technical support in identifying biological control agents and technologies with potential for large-scale production and commercialization. 
•    Contribute technical recommendations on scaling up production, formulation, packaging, storage, shelf life, and application of selected biological control products. 
•    . 
•    Provide technical input to the development of sustainable production and delivery mechanisms to improve farmers’ access to quality biological control products. 
•    Contribute to the development of a roadmap for strengthening national capacity in production, quality assurance, commercialization, and wider adoption of microbial biological control agents.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

 
•    Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Plant Genetics, or any related field. 
•    Postgraduate training and specialized expertise in Plant Protection, with demonstrated knowledge of microbial biological control and sustainable plant protection practices. 
•    At least 5 years of research experience and professional exposure in microbial biological control (entomopathogenic fungi/bacteria/NPV and nematodes), Plant Protection, microbial bio pesticide formulations, molecular biology and related areas. 
•    Working knowledge of English. Working knowledge of Sinhala and/or Tamil is required.
•    National of Sri Lanka or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

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

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