Land and Water Officer

Organizational Setting

FAO's Subregional Office for Mesoamerica (SLM) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC).
The post is located in the Subregional Office for Mesoamerica (SLM) in Panama City, Panama.

Reporting Lines
The Land and Water Officer reports to the Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica.

Technical Focus
Monitoring, assessment, management and policies for the wise use, conservation, restoration and equitable access to land, water and soil resources. 

Key Results
Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of regional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with regional objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions
• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in internal committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical policy/specialist advice and expertise.
• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices; provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to, and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Members such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions
• Provides policy advice and technical backstopping to countries on the monitoring, assessment and wise management of landscapes, watersheds and transboundary rivers; land degradation neutrality (LDN), soil re-carbonization and health; water efficiency, reuse, quality and security; climate change adaptation and mitigation (National Determined Contribution (NDC), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)).
• Leads, supervises or gives support to the identification, formulation, implementation/execution of field projects or specific components/outputs, contributing to its technical quality and timely progress.
• Shares FAO's technical contributions on geospatial information, tools, standards, methods, technologies, best practices, approaches and/or strategies.
• Organizes, conducts and reports on missions, planned and coordinated with the FAO focal point and country counterparts.
• Conducts, facilitates and/or provides expertise at national/intergovernmental meetings, dialogues, fora, workshops and/or trainings (e.g. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators, water tenure, NDCs, NAPs, water roadmaps, good governance).
• Contributes to FAO/SLM communication in social networks and media.
• Contributes to the fulfillment of the work plan for the biennium, as part of the better environment and better production teams.
• Advocates and implements, when appropriate, solutions to land, soil and water management developed by FAO headquarters, and promotes knowledge and best practices of the region at regional and global fora.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in natural resources management, agricultural and environmental sciences, hydrology, soil or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in the assessment, management and policy development on water security, soil conservation, land degradation, and hydroclimatic extreme events. 
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of Spanish and English.

Competencies
•    Results Focus
•    Team Work
•    Communication
•    Building effective relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
•    Extent and relevance of knowledge of water and soil resources assessment/management tools and methods.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in analysing land and water management and policy related issues.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in the land use planning and territorial development tools and methods, and geo-statistical/spatial analysis.
•    Ability to mobilize resources.
•    Experience on policies, plans, national contributions and/or indicators linked to international conventions and SDGs.
•    Experience in project formulation, implementation/execution and report to international funds and/or banks.
•    Experience in technical coordination and supervision of teams, consultants and service providers.
•    Experience in reports/publications, trainings/workshops and communication/advocacy.
•    Extent and relevance of knowledge of water and soil resources assessment/management tools and methods.