The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is recruiting a Senior Animal Production Officer (P-5) to serve as Team Leader for sustainable animal production systems and Secretary of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) Sub-Committee on Livestock (SCL). The post is based at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy, within the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA).
This vacancy is a reopening of a previous announcement; candidates who have already applied do not need to reapply.
At a glance
- Position title: Senior Animal Production Officer (Team Leader and Secretary of COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock)
- Grade: P-5 (Professional Staff Position)
- Duty station: Rome, Italy
- Organizational Unit: NSA (Animal Production and Health Division)
- Branch: NSAP — Sustainable Animal Production, Feed and Genetics Branch
- Post Number: 2002353
- Job Posting date: 08 December 2025
- Application deadline: 30 December 2025 (time displayed may depend on device settings)
- Contract type: Fixed-term two years, with possibility of extension
- Reopening notice: Prior applicants do not need to reapply
Why this role matters
FAO’s livestock work is central to the transformation of agrifood systems—towards systems that are more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, aligned with the FAO Strategic Framework and the 2030 Agenda. Within this agenda, the Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) provides global leadership at the intersection of science, technical standards and policy dialogue for sustainable livestock development.
This post sits at the heart of that mandate: it combines technical leadership on sustainable animal production systems with a high-level intergovernmental coordination function, supporting the COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock as a key global platform for livestock policy dialogue.
Organizational context
The position is located in the Sustainable Animal Production, Feed and Genetics Branch (NSAP). NSAP’s work is structured around five clusters:
- Intergovernmental fora and outreach (including international years/days)
- Sustainable animal production systems
- Feed and feeding systems
- Pastoralism
- Animal genetic resources management
The incumbent will report to the Chief of NSAP, under the overall supervision of the Director of NSA.
Technical focus
The Senior Animal Production Officer will:
- Lead the sustainable animal production systems cluster as Team Leader; and
- Serve as Secretary of the COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock, providing technical and policy guidance and ensuring effective delivery of the Sub-Committee’s programme of work.
Core responsibilities (summary)
1) Strategic leadership and policy expertise (FAO-wide functions)
The role includes:
- Leading multidisciplinary workstreams and contributing to cross-divisional initiatives.
- Providing technical leadership and secretariat services to international technical and policy-setting bodies.
- Integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment across FAO work (including sex- and age-disaggregated data where appropriate).
- Analysing global and country needs to inform FAO’s strategies, work plans, budgets and resourcing approaches.
- Supporting members and decentralized offices with technical and policy advice.
- Representing FAO in international meetings; building partnerships; advocating best practices; negotiating consensus with stakeholders.
- Participating in resource mobilization and mentoring junior staff.
2) Role-specific functions (COAG SCL + sustainable production systems)
Key deliverables include:
- Providing strategic leadership for FAO’s work on sustainable animal production systems, with emphasis on:
- small-scale dairy
- poultry
- small ruminants
- feed resource management
- climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Acting as Secretary of the COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock (SCL):
- planning and delivering biennial sessions
- organizing intersessional Bureau meetings
- monitoring implementation of the SCL programme of work
- Leading the FAO Strategic Framework Programme Priority Area focused on small-scale producers’ equitable access to resources.
- Ensuring coherence between sustainable production systems work and other NSA clusters, HQ units, and decentralized offices.
- Supporting Member Nations in developing strategies and investment plans for sustainable livestock transformation, reflecting diverse production systems and the three pillars of sustainability (economic, social, environmental).
Minimum requirements
Candidates will be assessed against FAO’s standards, including:
- Advanced university degree in agriculture or animal science/production.
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in:
- animal production and related policy/strategy development,
- intergovernmental processes,
- planning/implementation/evaluation of projects and programmes,
- with emphasis on developing and/or transition countries.
- Languages:
- English: working knowledge (Level C)
- Second FAO official language: intermediate knowledge (Level B) in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish
Desired profile (technical/functional strengths)
FAO highlights the following as particularly relevant:
- Experience in more than one location/area of work (field experience is essential).
- Ability to facilitate collaboration and partnerships with international livestock/agricultural research and innovation organizations and networks.
- Strong results-based management skills (programmes, budgets, HR management under shifting priorities).
- Proven capacity to mobilize resources and deliver to deadlines.
- Track record in organizing international meetings, seminars and training activities.
- Experience in developing countries is an asset.
- Familiarity with gender issues as required.
Conditions of service (what FAO offers)
FAO provides a competitive compensation and benefits package under the UN common system. Subject to eligibility, benefits may include:
- Dependency allowances
- Rental subsidy
- Education grant for children
- Home leave travel
- 30 working days of annual leave per year
- UN Joint Staff Pension Fund entitlements
- International health insurance (optional life insurance)
- Disability protection
Extensions of fixed-term appointments are based on performance certification and availability of funds.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through the FAO recruitment portal (Jobs at FAO):
- Create or update your online profile (employment history, academic qualifications, language skills).
- Attach a motivation letter.
- Submit the application before 30 December 2025 (early submission is encouraged).
Important notes:
- FAO only recognizes higher education qualifications from institutions listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).
- FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of recruitment.
- Only applications submitted through the FAO portal will be considered.
- Candidates may be asked to provide performance assessments and authorize verification checks.
For technical support, candidates can use FAO’s client support portal (ServiceNow).
