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

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, including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It liaises with Members, civil society and the private sector in aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to the promotion of forestry and livelihoods, forest conservation and management issues and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world’s forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

The post is located in the Forestry and Livelihoods Team of the Forestry Division (NFO) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Forestry Officer (Team Leader) reports to the Deputy Director, NFO.

Technical Focus
The Senior Forestry Officer (Team Leader) leads FAO Forestry work on enhancing sustainable production and building sustainable and resilient livelihoods. Work focuses on i) supporting countries to enhance the productivity and sustainable production of forestry and agroforestry systems; ii) providing policy, legislative, technical and resource mobilization support to create an enabling environment for small-scale producers, family farmers and local communities, including access to resources, information and finance; iii) supporting countries in efforts to strengthen equitable access by local communities, Indigenous Peoples and vulnerable and marginalized groups to secure ownership, tenure or user rights, promote gender-responsive actions, strengthen social protection and promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; and iv) strengthening forestry education, training and capacity development on forest-sector value-adding innovations and technologies, leaving no one behind.

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of divisional and cross-divisional programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans, manages, or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams, leads, coordinates, and/or participates on Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies. 
• Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies. 
• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks. 
• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programmes development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services. 
• Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes. 
• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning, on-line tools. 
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders. 
• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework. 

Specific Functions

• Leads NFO’s normative work on sustainable production of forestry and agroforestry systems, including the enhancement of productivity, the promotion of enabling environments for farmers, small scale enterprises and producer organizations and the development of value chains to strengthen resilient, equitable livelihoods and sustainable resource management. 
• Leads NFO’s normative work on forestry livelihood aspects, including community organization and collective action related to sustainable management, conservation and restoration of forests and trees; rights and equity related issues of local communities and Indigenous Peoples; gender and youth; land tenure and social security. 
• Provides normative support to NFO and FAO’s operational and field-level programmes on the above, including policy support, capacity development and training including on forest-sector value-adding innovations and technologies. 
• Leads resource mobilization efforts related to enhancing sustainable production and building sustainable and resilient livelihoods based on forest resources, including the preparation of new project proposals both in the contexts of country support and global normative work and their implementation. 
• Promotes innovation and interdisciplinary work within the team and strengthens synergies and collaboration with other teams inside and outside the Forestry Division and with Decentralized Offices in the context of the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework. 
• Fosters, strengthens and manages strategic partnerships and initiatives with relevant institutions at international, national and local levels, including the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donors. 
• Collects, analyses and disseminates data and information on issues related to forestry production and livelihoods. 
• Performs other duties as required. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• Advanced university degree in forestry, agroforestry, natural resources management, rural development or economics. 
• Ten years of relevant experience in sustainable forestry or natural resources production and building sustainable and resilient livelihoods, including in developing countries. 
• 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). 

Competences

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

Technical and Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in different countries and regions, especially in developing countries,  countries in transition and field positions. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in normative work on sustainable production in forestry, in particular related to producer organizations, small scale enterprises, agroforestry systems and value chains. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in normative work on forest livelihood issues, in particular on rights of access to resources; inclusiveness and equality; gender mainstreaming, Indigenous Peoples and local communities; as well as collective actions related to sustainable management and use of forests and trees. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of programmes and projects related to forestry production and livelihood issues, including policy support and capacity development at country and sub-national levels. 
• Extent and relevance of work on data, statistics and evidence related to forestry production and livelihood issues, including data collection and enhancing access to decision makers. 
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources, partnerships and initiatives. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, training and capacity development. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in the management of interdisciplinary teams and initiatives.