Senior Forestry Officer (Forest Biodiversity and Drylands)

Organizational Context

The Forestry Division (NFO) leads FAO's work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of forestry. It focuses on poverty reduction, food security, and nutrition, liaising with members, civil society, and the private sector. The Division develops forest policies, promotes forestry and livelihoods, addresses conservation and management issues, and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. It also collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on global forest resources and forest products.

Job Purpose

This role provides leadership and technical policy expertise for planning, developing, and implementing divisional and cross-divisional programs, projects, products, and services aligned with the FAO Strategic Framework. The incumbent will lead and manage specialized or multidisciplinary teams, participate in organization-wide committees, and provide technical leadership for networks and policy bodies. Key responsibilities include analyzing global and country-specific requirements, developing evidence-based strategies, tools, and methodologies, and overseeing research for technical standards, publications, and advisory services. The position also involves providing technical and policy advice to Members and FAO Decentralized Offices, and leading capacity development and knowledge sharing activities.

Responsibilities

The Senior Forestry Officer will provide leadership and guidance for mainstreaming biodiversity in forestry, sustainable forest management, and sustainable dryland landscape management. This includes supporting the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Food and Agriculture Programme Priority Area (BE3) and coordinating support to countries in integrating biodiversity into forestry, particularly in dryland ecosystems. The role involves leading technical work with other FAO units to harmonize forest and dryland biodiversity conservation with sustainable production goals. Additionally, the officer will coordinate forestry inputs for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), as well as the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), aligning KM-GBF with Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. The position requires fostering and managing strategic partnerships, overseeing secretariat services for the COFO Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems, and mobilizing financial resources for programs and projects.

Work Experience

At least five years of relevant professional experience in forestry, with a focus on forest biodiversity, dryland management, and sustainable forest management. Experience in international policy development, program management, and working with intergovernmental bodies is essential.

Skills

Expertise in forest biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, and dryland ecosystem management. Strong knowledge of international environmental conventions (CBD, UNCCD) and frameworks (KM-GBF, LDN). Proven ability in policy analysis, program development, and implementation. Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership building. Proficiency in resource mobilization and project management. Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

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