Senior Technical Officer (GEF International Waters & Chemicals And Waste Lead)

Position details

• Vacancy number: 2601788
• Opportunity type: Staff position
• Grade / contract type: Professional Project
• Organizational unit: OCBDD
• Duration: Fixed-term%5C: one year with possibility of extension
• Application deadline: 08/Sep/2026, 11%5C:59%5C:00 PM

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments

• 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 persons 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.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the 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.

Organizational Setting 
FAO is one of the top Global Environment Facility (GEF) partner implementing agencies worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 400 projects valued at more than USD 1.9 billion in grant financing. FAO supports eligible countries in accessing resources from the GEF family of funds comprised of: GEF Trust Fund (TF), the Least Development Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF). OCB leads FAO's engagement and collaboration with the GEF Secretariat and across the 18 GEF Agencies and environmental conventions. The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) works to ensure that countries and stakeholders respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. OCB provides a cross organizational coordination role on these issues and is the focal point to major multilateral environmental agreements including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Office also assists FAO Members in their responses towards the interlinked challenges of food security, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation including through facilitating access to climate and environmental financing such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In addition, OCB hosts the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture as well as FAO's work on environmental safeguards and leads the Programme Priority Areas on Climate Change (PPA BE1) and Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture (PPA BE2). FAO brings to the GEF partnership extensive knowledge and expertise in the role sustainable agri-food systems transformations play in achieving global environmental goals, including through work on transboundary water resources management, climate action, sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, land and ecosystems restoration, and sustainable management of areas and biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. OCB is the coordinating unit in FAO for the UNFCCC and the UN CBD for which the GEF serves as a financing instrument and, as such, it draws on FAO's strong field presence, technical expertise and in-depth understanding of GEF policies and procedures to assist member Nations in accessing GEF financing. The OCB GEF Coordination Unit provides specialized technical and strategic expertise in the GEF International Waters (IW) and Chemicals and Waste (C-W) focal area, strengthening FAO's institutional capacity to support Member Countries in addressing complex transboundary water and pollution challenges with global environmental benefits. This position is located in the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines 
The Senior Technical Officer (International Waters - Chemicals and Waste) for GEF Global Focal Areas reports to the Senior Coordinator, OCB-GEF Team.

Technical Focus 
Leadership of FAO GEF programming and engagement across two global GEF Focal Areas International Waters and Chemicals and Waste providing strategic oversight and technical leadership to support global, regional and national action for resource mobilization and implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements. The position leads FAO's GEF programming on International Waters priorities, including transboundary water management, surface and groundwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, Large Marine Ecosystems, source-to-sea approaches and areas beyond national jurisdiction; and on Chemicals and Waste, including pollution prevention and reduction, life-cycle management of chemicals and waste, plastics, hazardous substances, land and sea sources of pollution and pollution in supply chains.

Key Results 
Leadership and technical expertise for the planning, development and implementation of programmes of work, projects, related products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions 
• Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of technical issues of assigned programmes/projects; directs the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions. 
• Coordinates programmes and reviews the assessment of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects, as well as the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies. 
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports, as well as studies, and inputs to publications. 
• Directs substantive support to consultative meetings and conferences, to include the proposition of agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations. 
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops and seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. 
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties. 
• Provides advice to develop policies and strategies, as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO's work.

Specific Functions 

Global Lead for IW and C-W Focal Areas 
• Advises the OCB-GEF Unit and the FAO-GEF community on the strategic development and financing of a robust and coherent portfolio of projects and programmes under the IW and C-W focal areas, including defining portfolio priorities, supporting resource mobilization approaches, and guiding global, regional, national and multi-focal area programming under GEF-9 and subsequent replenishment cycles. 
• Serves as the primary technical focal point within FAO for the International Waters (IW) and Chemicals and Waste (C-W) focal areas, liaising regularly with the relevant GEF Secretariat teams and key partners to ensure a strategic and programmatic approach to FAO's engagement in these globally managed focal areas. 
• Leads the planning, organization and coordination of FAO's responsibilities at the global level under the GEF International Waters (IW) and Chemicals and Waste (C-W) focal areas, including supervision of the expert team, coordination with the relevant FAO GEF community and guidance to Integrated Programmes led of with the participation of FAO. 
• Works closely with the FAO-GEF Executive Coordinator and the OCB-GEF team to strengthen quality assurance, technical coherence and strategic alignment of FAO-GEF proposals, ensuring consistency with GEF policies, guidance and best practices. 
• Leads the formulation and implementation of complex GEF programmes and projects, ensuring operational viability, compliance with FAO policies and standards, and alignment with GEF requirements and priorities, with emphasis on funding under the GEF IW and C-W focal areas. 
• Supports the FAO-GEF Executive Coordinator and the OCB-GEF Team and leads specific interventions to contribute to GEF Integrated Programme approaches and to define and strengthen FAO's role in both global coordination platforms and country child projects. 
• Provides regular updates and briefings to the FAO-GEF community, tracks developments in FAO's engagement with countries and the GEF, and advises on best practices, tools and approaches for project design and implementation. 
• Engages with FAO lead technical experts and divisional focal points to ensure strong synergies with FAO strategic priorities, including, but not limited to, the FAO Climate Change Strategy, the FAO Biodiversity Strategy and related corporate frameworks. 
• Engages and establishes effective working relationships with partners, including governments, regional and sub-regional bodies, the private sector and civil society, to support the development of innovative and impactful IW and C-W programmes and projects. 
• Supports the FAO-GEF Executive Coordinator and the OCB-GEF Team in formulating and implementing strategies to consolidate and further expand the FAO-GEF portfolio, including contributing to the effective use of human and technical resources. 
• Provides critical technical inputs to portfolio management, including oversight of programme and project pipelines, portfolio information, and FAO project information systems. 
• Provides high-quality technical products, inputs and support to meet the standards and requirements of Project Implementation Reviews, Mid-Term Reviews and Terminal Evaluations. 
• Provides strategic and technical support to the FAO-GEF Executive Coordinator, the FAO GEF team and OCB, as required.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING 

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, water resources management, natural resources management, agriculture, economics, or a related field, with a strong focus on integrated freshwater marine systems, pollution management, and/or environmental sustainability. 
• Ten years of relevant experience in applying integrated approaches for the sustainable management of water systems and/or aquatic ecosystems, environmental sustainability, pollution prevention and control, and/or climate resilience, including programme and portfolio management, design, implementation and monitoring of development cooperation projects. 
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies 
• Results Focus 
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering 
• Communication 
• Partnering and Advocating 
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement 
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills 
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential. 
• Proven work across multiple duty stations and/or at regional/global levels, with demonstrated exposure to multi-country and transboundary contexts (including international waters, climate water programming, and/or freshwater marine pollution interfaces). 
• Strong, relevant experience designing/formulating projects for transboundary freshwater and marine systems, including source-to-sea interactions, land-based sources of pollution, Areaas Beyond National Jurisdiction considerations, and chemicals/waste dimensions. 
• Solid applied knowledge of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), fisheries assessment/management, pollution prevention/control, chemicals and waste reduction, and/or analysis of water quantity/quality challenges (including groundwater and climate-related water risks). 
• Demonstrated understanding of multilateral environment and climate policy processes relevant to transboundary waters and pollution/chemicals and waste, and ability to align programming with national/regional instruments (e.g., Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), Sectoral Adaptation Plans (SAPs). 
• Proven application of cross-sectoral, participatory planning/management tools (e.g., MSP, ICZM, source-to-sea frameworks, and/or ecosystem- and biodiversity-based approaches) to strengthen climate-resilient resource management and reduce land-based pollution. 
• Strong track record in building partnerships (United Nations, International Financial Institutions, governments, Civil Society Organizations, regional bodies, private sector as relevant), solid familiarity with GEF IW/C-W operational modalities and demonstrated success mobilizing resources and scaling a diversified portfolio. 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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;
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile;
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.  
• 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