Organizational Setting 

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The FAO Representation in South Sudan is organized around three main units: Programme, Operations and Administration. The current portfolio of projects in South Sudan includes activities related to Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Natural Resource Management, and is implemented with humanitarian, transitional and development funding. The incumbent will contribute to the country’s programme and portfolio as foreseen in the projects.

Reporting Lines

The National Laboratory Specialist works within the framework of the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTA, under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in South Sudan and Head of Programmes, and the direct supervision of the Livestock Development Officer, with technical backstopping of the ECTAD Regional Laboratory Specialist for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Technical Focus

The National Laboratory Specialist provides required technical support to National Laboratory Systems development under the Global Health Security Programme, working closely with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and One Health partners.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support the implementation of activities relevant to laboratory aspects of the ECTAD Country approved work plan
•    Supervise the assessment of national laboratory veterinary capacity for pathogen testing of samples
•    Prepare lists of appropriate laboratory items for procurement along with draft technical specifications, taking into account laboratory requests when needed and monitor their good delivery to beneficiary laboratories
•    Develop a laboratory inventory sheet to enable realtime monitoring of expendable supplies used in diagnostic testing
•    Plan, organize, conduct and/or support/supervise incountry expert missions for trainings, troubleshooting or installation of equipment
•    Lead the preparation of a proposal for laboratory renovation to comply with the WOAH recommended laboratory standards on quality assurance, biosecurity, and biosafety
•    Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPfor AMR (surveillance and diagnosi
•    Supervise and facilitate handson trainings for key laboratory staff on core tests for Priority Zoonotic Diseases (PZDand AMR
•    Lead development of a harmonized data base management system in the laboratories to facilitate information sharing and storage using the Laboratory Information Management System (LIM
•    Support development of a Laboratory Quality Management system (QMfor the CVL in compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements
•    Support country participation to Proficiency Tests
•    Support the establishment and strengthening of a functional laboratory network in South Sudan
•    Participate in weekly epilab weekly coordination call, provide regular updates of TADs epidemiology situation with immediate notification of any significant diagnostic test results
•    Support networking/linkages with regional and international laboratories for international sample shipment, confirmatory diagnosis
•    Participate in country expert missions on field outbreak investigations
•    Contribute to enhanced collaboration with Public Health laboratories under the One Health approach
•    Support the animal health sector in advocating for and supporting initiatives to streamline the existing laboratory network and improve laboratory workflow as well as stronger collaboration with the public health laboratories
•    Assist the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&FAO GHSP team in collecting laboratory data
•    Contribute to the preparation of project reports as required by the Government, FAO and donors
•    Submit a final technical report upon completion of the assignment
•    Perform other related duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in laboratory sciences, biotechnology, biochemistry, microbiology, parasitology, or related laboratory science degree program
•    3 years of relevant experience in laboratory analysis, quality control, biosafety and biosecurity management in a laboratory setting
•    Working knowledge of English (level . Working knowledge (level of Arabic is an advantage
•    National of South Sudan

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Excellent interpersonal skills
•    Strong analytical, written and verbal skills
•    Ability to work independently under minimal supervision and under high pressure and tight deadlines
•    Flexibility and teamwork spirit
•    Ability to interact and engage with different stakeholders of multiple socioeconomic backgrounds
•    Ability to work independently

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION