Livestock Nutritionist

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the transformation to efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems to improve production, nutrition, the environment, and livelihoods, leaving no one behind. As a specialized UN agency, FAO leads global efforts to achieve food security for all. FAO Country Offices provide policy advice and technical assistance, facilitate partnerships, and mobilize resources to support national agrifood systems transformation. They aim to assist governments in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural sectors, and promoting sustainable natural resource use.

Job Purpose

The Livestock Nutritionist will provide technical and operational support to enhance feed efficiency, nutritional management, and productivity of endangered indigenous livestock breeds. This role focuses on developing and implementing optimized feeding strategies that are aligned with sustainable rangeland management practices. The objective is to contribute to the conservation of these breeds while improving their overall health, productivity, and resilience. The position plays a crucial part in integrating nutritional considerations into broader conservation and breeding programs within the project's scope.

Responsibilities

The incumbent will support the technical assessment of the nutritional status and feeding practices of target breeds, identifying seasonal feed gaps and constraints affecting productivity and reproductive performance. Responsibilities include supporting the development of practical feeding approaches aligned with rangeland carrying capacity and conservation objectives, and assisting in the formulation of balanced rations using locally available feed resources. The role involves providing technical input on supplementary feeding during critical seasons and integrating nutrition planning into breeding and reproductive strategies. Additionally, the incumbent will support the design of feed monitoring systems, deliver training sessions for herders and technicians on nutrition management, and contribute to grazing management planning. Technical contributions to the comprehensive conservation strategy by integrating nutritional sustainability aspects are also required, along with preparing technical and mission reports.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience is required in livestock nutrition planning and ration formulation. Experience in feed resource assessment, seasonal feed gap analysis, and linking nutrition strategies with reproductive and productivity performance is highly desirable. Familiarity with rangeland-based and pastoral feeding systems, along with practical, field-oriented nutrition solutions for smallholders, is also beneficial.

Skills

Key skills include results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing. Experience in more than one livestock production environment is desirable. Demonstrated experience in practical, field-oriented nutrition solutions for smallholders and experience in training and capacity building are essential. The ability to integrate nutrition planning into broader conservation and breeding strategies is crucial. Familiarity with local languages (Turkish or Kurdish) is an asset. Preference may be given to candidates based in target provinces and willing to travel.

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