Senior Natural Resources Officer (Climate Change)

• Senior Natural Resources Officer (Climate Change)
• Job Posting: 26/Jun/2026
• Organizational Setting

The Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) is responsible for coordinating FAO’s response to climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

It acts as the focal point for major multilateral environmental agreements, supports FAO members in achieving food security, climate resilience, and sustainable use of natural resources, and hosts the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Programme, the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The position is located in the Climate Change team at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

Reports to the Director, OCB.

Technical Focus

Climate action and mainstreaming of climate change across agricultural sectors, including crop and livestock agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and forestry.

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for planning, developing, and implementing departmental or divisional programmes, projects, products, services, and budgets in alignment with the FAO Strategic Framework.

• Key Functions
• Plan, manage, or lead highly-specialised or multi‑disciplinary teams; coordinate or participate in organization‑wide, cross‑departmental committees, project teams, and working groups; provide technical leadership or secretariat services on technical networks and international technical policy and standard‑setting bodies.
• Analyse global and country‑specific requirements and technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans, and supporting budgets.
• Implement and monitor programmes of work, developing approaches, evidence‑based strategies, tools, methodologies, and supporting systems or databases, and establishing monitoring and reporting frameworks.
• Conduct, design, and oversee research and analytical activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications, and ongoing programme development.
• Provide technical and policy advice to member countries and technical support to decentralized offices in developing and implementing their programmes.
• Lead or collaborate on capacity‑development and knowledge‑sharing activities within members, including policy support, organizational development, and individual learning events, preparing related information, learning, and online tools.
• Represent FAO at international meetings and conferences; identify and implement strategic partnerships; advocate best practices and policy dialogue; develop and negotiate effective working relationships, consensus, and agreements with international and national stakeholders.
• Lead or participate in resource‑mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Specific Functions
• Coordinate the implementation of the FAO Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and develop and operationalise climate‑related frameworks, methodologies, and approaches for agri‑food systems.
• Coordinate planning, monitoring, and reporting of climate action under OCB’s biannual workplan and the Programme Priority Area on Climate Change, ensuring alignment with corporate strategies and global agendas.
• Strengthen FAO’s institutional capacity on climate change through knowledge management, cross‑sectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration, and technical support to headquarters, regional, and country offices.
• Coordinate and support FAO’s institutional engagement in the international climate change agenda, including UNFCCC COPs and other relevant global processes.
• Translate global climate policy frameworks and processes, such as those under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, into operational guidance, tools, and methodologies for country‑level implementation in agri‑food systems.
• Represent FAO in international climate fora and negotiations, providing substantive technical inputs and contributing to the Organization’s strategic positioning.
• Lead and oversee the preparation of technical and policy documents, analytical frameworks, technical guidelines, and flagship knowledge products on climate change and agri‑food systems.
• Strengthen FAO’s global partnerships and cooperation on climate action, including high‑level dialogues, ministerial engagements, technical workshops, and policy fora.
• Ensure the technical quality and coherence of climate‑related programmes and support members in integrating climate change into national policies and plans (e. g., National Adaptation Plans, Nationally Determined Contributions), in line with FAO priorities and country contexts.
• Support the design and implementation of climate‑related initiatives, including project formulation, resource mobilisation, development of guidelines and best practices, and delivery of capacity‑development activities, and contribute to the design and positioning of large‑scale, multidisciplinary programme and project portfolios aligned with donor and investment frameworks.
• HAWA Academic and Professional Qualifications
• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in natural resources management, environment, climate change, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, or a related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in international organisations, public or private sector institutions on climate action and natural resources management.
• Proficiency (level C) in English and intermediate proficiency (level B) in another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).
• Core Competencies
• Results focus.
• Leading, engaging and empowering.
• Communication.
• Partnering and advocating.
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Strategic thinking.
• Technical/Functional Skills
• Experience in multiple locations or areas of work, particularly in field positions.
• Proven ability to produce high‑quality climate‑change technical or policy outputs, such as guidance notes, tools, or manuals.
• Strong knowledge of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and their alignment with UNFCCC and Paris Agreement processes.
• Demonstrated capacity to integrate climate action across agri‑food systems (agriculture, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and/or food systems) and link these to environment and natural resources priorities.
• Demonstrated success in resource mobilisation, including large‑scale project proposals and engagement with international funding partners.
• Strong leadership experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex, cross‑sector analytical work and programmes, including budget and human resource management.
• Demonstrated results‑based management capacity to formulate, implement, and oversee multi‑partner and multi‑country programmes or projects.
• Proven ability to design, organise, and manage consultative multi‑stakeholder processes and intergovernmental or technical meetings, including high‑level international processes and technical consultations.
• Desirable: working knowledge of a second language, preferably French or Spanish.
• Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture.

Qualified women, qualified nationals of non‑ and under‑represented members, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

• General Information
• Extension of fixed‑term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds.
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• The appointment is subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
• Conditions of Service
• A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.
• Benefits include dependency allowances, rental subsidy, education grant for children, home leave travel, 30 working days of annual leave per year, pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, international health insurance; optional life insurance; and disability protection.
• FAO Values

FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO values of commitment to FAO, respect for all, and integrity and transparency.

#J-18808-Ljbffr