Emergency Project Operations Specialist
Organizational Context
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the transformation to efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. The Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) provides technical, operational, and administrative support to FAO country offices in fragile contexts. OER empowers rural populations to anticipate agricultural threats, respond to food crises, reduce risks, and build lasting resilience. It develops and maintains corporate tools and standards to assist Members in preparing for and responding to food crises, strengthening national and subnational capacities for resilience and risk-informed development.
Job Purpose
The Consultant will support the implementation of FAO's emergency and resilience agenda at global, regional, sub-regional, and/or country levels. Reporting to the Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer, this role focuses on providing technical support to ensure the effective execution of emergency and resilience initiatives. The position requires a proactive approach to contribute to FAO's mission of fostering sustainable agrifood systems and enhancing resilience in vulnerable regions, aligning with the organization's strategic framework and objectives.
Responsibilities
Provide operational management and programmatic support for emergency projects and programmes, including budget management and expenditure monitoring. Handle daily operational aspects of emergency response projects from initiation to closure, adhering to the project management cycle. Assist the Budget Holder with portfolio management, including budget allocations and revisions. Liaise with programme and procurement units to ensure timely delivery of assistance to beneficiaries, aligning with workplans and budget availability. Oversee recruitment, contract renewals, and travel arrangements for deployed personnel in coordination with the admin unit. Coordinate the production and clearance of supporting documents such as concept notes, project documents, and reports. Ensure country office preparedness for scaling up responses to emerging needs or emergencies. Support capacity development of country-level operations units through participation in relevant meetings and trainings. Research, input, and analyze data related to food security, emergency response, and project funding to support programme development. Participate in the design of emergency and resilience projects, including proposal and budget preparation. Liaise with government, UN, cluster/sector, NGO, and donor partners to ensure effective preparation and implementation of activities. Maintain and update country-level food security information systems and databases. Undertake travel and field visits to provide support for project implementation. Perform other duties as required.
Work Experience
A minimum of 1 year (Category C), 5 years (Category B), or 10 years (Category A) of experience in humanitarian and agricultural/rural development sectors is required. This experience should include working with national and international NGOs, UN agencies, governments, and donors. Experience in more than one location or area of work is also beneficial.
Skills
Excellent organizational skills. Good communication skills, particularly in emergency settings. Demonstrated ability to analyze problems, make effective recommendations, and decisions, especially in emergency contexts. Strong foundation in programme formulation, planning, implementation, evaluation, and budget management. Working knowledge of English or French (level C) is essential. Limited knowledge (level B) of a second FAO language is an asset.