FAO
Organizational Setting
The Land and Water Division aims at enhancing agricultural productivity and advancing the sustainable use of land, soil and water resources through improved governance, development, management and restoration.
It addresses challenges faced by member countries in ensuring productive and efficient land and water use to meet present and future demands for agricultural products, while ensuring long‑term sustainability of land, soils and water quantity and quality. It promotes equitable access to these natural resources to enhance productivity, livelihoods and ecosystem services. It provides technical assistance to member nations in developing policies and programmes and adopting best practices and tools in irrigation, drainage, soil and water conservation, drought mitigation, water rights and natural resource access.
In Central America and sub‑Saharan Africa, the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) project stands out as a unique framework that unearths valuable information from soils to guide policymaking and fertilizer recommendations at national and field scale. The project’s emphasis on strengthening capacities and empowering stakeholders with full ownership of data and tools underpins its long‑term ambition to sustainably equip both participating governmental institutions and farmers.
The purpose of this call is to provide FAO’s Land And Water Division (NSL) with a list of qualified candidates for a number of profiles with different specializations to support the implementation of relevant projects in 7 beneficiary countries (Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mozambique, Tunisia and Zambia).
Soil Spectroscopy and Proximal Sensing
Soil Laboratories (Wet Chemistry)
Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
Reporting Lines The incumbent reports to the Land and Water Officer.
Technical Focus Support the development and the effective implementation of FAO’s soils related portfolio through the provision of expertise in relevant technical areas including project formulation and implementation to support member countries.
Tasks and Responsibilities Soil Spectroscopy and Proximal Sensing Specialist
Support the implementation of activities related to the Global Soil Laboratory Network’s initiative on soil spectroscopy (GLOSOLAN‑Spec).
Provide technical support for developing calibration models based on existing soil spectral (Vis‑NIR‑MIR) library for estimating soil properties.
Support soil spectroscopy and proximal sensing related capacity development programme (training sessions, development of training material).
Soil Laboratory Specialist
Oversee the processing of soil samples for wet and dry chemistry analysis.
Collaborate with project partners and laboratories to ensure accurate and timely soil analysis results.
Develop and implement quality assurance and quality control measures for soil analysis processes, including the establishment of SOPs.
Participate in capacity‑building activities, such as workshops and trainings, to enhance national capacities in soil analysis and data management.
Support laboratory equipment procurement activities of the project.
Support the establishment and improvement of national soil laboratories and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
Track progress and assess the quality of soil analysis and harmonization activities.
Provide input to project monitoring and reporting frameworks to ensure effective implementation of soil analysis and harmonization efforts.
Contribute to regular progress reports on soil analysis and harmonization activities.
Communicate project outcomes and lessons learned related to soil analysis and harmonization to relevant audiences.
Establish and maintain relationships with project stakeholders, particularly national soil laboratories.
Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among project partners related to soil analysis and harmonization.
Support the implementation of activities in the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) work plan.
Soil and Fertilizer Management Specialist
Identify locally adapted soil management practices, including fertilizer use efficiency and formula fertilization.
Promote adoption of identified practices at the national and local levels.
Collaborate with other project team members to develop and implement integrated soil fertility management strategies.
Support the establishment of field trials to test and validate prioritized soil management practices and fertilizer recommendations.
Contribute to the development of national decision support systems that incorporate soil management and fertility data.
Assist in creating farmer applications (mobile/desktop) for sustainable soil management and integrated soil fertility management at the farm scale.
Participate in capacity‑building activities, such as workshops and trainings, to enhance national capacities in soil management and fertility.
Support the development of national capacities for fertilizer analysis, alternative nutrient sources and fertilizer use policy.
Track progress and assess the quality of soil management and fertility initiatives.
Provide input to project monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure effective implementation of soil management and fertility practices.
Contribute to regular progress reports on soil management and fertility activities for funding agencies and stakeholders.
Communicate project outcomes and lessons learned related to soil management and fertility to relevant audiences.
Establish and maintain relationships with project stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations and local communities.
Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among project partners related to soil management and fertility.
Collaborate with local partners, including extension services, farmer organizations and educational institutions.
Support improvement of national extension services on soil fertility and fertilizer recommendation in the project target countries.
Minimum Requirements
Consultants: Master’s level degree in soil science, agriculture, environmental sciences or a related field with specialization in soil science from an institution recognized on the IAU/UNESCO list. A bachelor’s level degree and 2 years of relevant experience may be considered equivalent in certain circumstances.
PSA: University degree in soil science, agriculture, environmental sciences or a related field with specialization in soil science or specific technical specialization.
Working knowledge (Level C) of one of FAO languages is required.
One to four years of relevant experience for category C; five to nine years for category B; at least 10 years for category A relevant to sustainable soil management, soil fertility, laboratory analyses, soil information and data.
FAO Core Competencies
Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
Demonstrated experience working with member countries in terms of normative and technical work on soils.
Demonstrated ability to deliver results within deadlines.
Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
Understanding of FAO policies and programmes and familiarity with UN policy agendas.
Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of issues related to soil laboratory functioning and soil sample analyses or statistical analyses or sustainable soil management and agriculture (including forestry) and natural resources management in developing countries, particularly in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable agriculture and forestry.
Extent and relevance of experience in formulation and implementation of projects related to sustainable soil management and knowledge of the Healthy Soils Facility will be an asset.
Extent and relevance of experience in preparation of technical and policy reports and capacity development materials.
Extent of experience in organizing medium to large scale international technical meetings and conferences.
Experience in the development of teaching/training materials is an asset.
Experience in the establishment and facilitation of technical networks.
Job Posting Job Posting
03/Nov/2025
Closure Date
17/Nov/2025, 10:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit
NSL
Job Type
Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition
Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
Grade Level
N/A
Primary Location
Home-Based
Duration
Up to 11 months
Post Number
N/A
Important Notice
Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non‑and under‑represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values.
FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero‑tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
It addresses challenges faced by member countries in ensuring productive and efficient land and water use to meet present and future demands for agricultural products, while ensuring long‑term sustainability of land, soils and water quantity and quality. It promotes equitable access to these natural resources to enhance productivity, livelihoods and ecosystem services. It provides technical assistance to member nations in developing policies and programmes and adopting best practices and tools in irrigation, drainage, soil and water conservation, drought mitigation, water rights and natural resource access.
In Central America and sub‑Saharan Africa, the Soil Mapping for Resilient Agrifood Systems (SoilFER) project stands out as a unique framework that unearths valuable information from soils to guide policymaking and fertilizer recommendations at national and field scale. The project’s emphasis on strengthening capacities and empowering stakeholders with full ownership of data and tools underpins its long‑term ambition to sustainably equip both participating governmental institutions and farmers.
The purpose of this call is to provide FAO’s Land And Water Division (NSL) with a list of qualified candidates for a number of profiles with different specializations to support the implementation of relevant projects in 7 beneficiary countries (Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mozambique, Tunisia and Zambia).
Soil Spectroscopy and Proximal Sensing
Soil Laboratories (Wet Chemistry)
Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
Reporting Lines The incumbent reports to the Land and Water Officer.
Technical Focus Support the development and the effective implementation of FAO’s soils related portfolio through the provision of expertise in relevant technical areas including project formulation and implementation to support member countries.
Tasks and Responsibilities Soil Spectroscopy and Proximal Sensing Specialist
Support the implementation of activities related to the Global Soil Laboratory Network’s initiative on soil spectroscopy (GLOSOLAN‑Spec).
Provide technical support for developing calibration models based on existing soil spectral (Vis‑NIR‑MIR) library for estimating soil properties.
Support soil spectroscopy and proximal sensing related capacity development programme (training sessions, development of training material).
Soil Laboratory Specialist
Oversee the processing of soil samples for wet and dry chemistry analysis.
Collaborate with project partners and laboratories to ensure accurate and timely soil analysis results.
Develop and implement quality assurance and quality control measures for soil analysis processes, including the establishment of SOPs.
Participate in capacity‑building activities, such as workshops and trainings, to enhance national capacities in soil analysis and data management.
Support laboratory equipment procurement activities of the project.
Support the establishment and improvement of national soil laboratories and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
Track progress and assess the quality of soil analysis and harmonization activities.
Provide input to project monitoring and reporting frameworks to ensure effective implementation of soil analysis and harmonization efforts.
Contribute to regular progress reports on soil analysis and harmonization activities.
Communicate project outcomes and lessons learned related to soil analysis and harmonization to relevant audiences.
Establish and maintain relationships with project stakeholders, particularly national soil laboratories.
Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among project partners related to soil analysis and harmonization.
Support the implementation of activities in the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) work plan.
Soil and Fertilizer Management Specialist
Identify locally adapted soil management practices, including fertilizer use efficiency and formula fertilization.
Promote adoption of identified practices at the national and local levels.
Collaborate with other project team members to develop and implement integrated soil fertility management strategies.
Support the establishment of field trials to test and validate prioritized soil management practices and fertilizer recommendations.
Contribute to the development of national decision support systems that incorporate soil management and fertility data.
Assist in creating farmer applications (mobile/desktop) for sustainable soil management and integrated soil fertility management at the farm scale.
Participate in capacity‑building activities, such as workshops and trainings, to enhance national capacities in soil management and fertility.
Support the development of national capacities for fertilizer analysis, alternative nutrient sources and fertilizer use policy.
Track progress and assess the quality of soil management and fertility initiatives.
Provide input to project monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure effective implementation of soil management and fertility practices.
Contribute to regular progress reports on soil management and fertility activities for funding agencies and stakeholders.
Communicate project outcomes and lessons learned related to soil management and fertility to relevant audiences.
Establish and maintain relationships with project stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations and local communities.
Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among project partners related to soil management and fertility.
Collaborate with local partners, including extension services, farmer organizations and educational institutions.
Support improvement of national extension services on soil fertility and fertilizer recommendation in the project target countries.
Minimum Requirements
Consultants: Master’s level degree in soil science, agriculture, environmental sciences or a related field with specialization in soil science from an institution recognized on the IAU/UNESCO list. A bachelor’s level degree and 2 years of relevant experience may be considered equivalent in certain circumstances.
PSA: University degree in soil science, agriculture, environmental sciences or a related field with specialization in soil science or specific technical specialization.
Working knowledge (Level C) of one of FAO languages is required.
One to four years of relevant experience for category C; five to nine years for category B; at least 10 years for category A relevant to sustainable soil management, soil fertility, laboratory analyses, soil information and data.
FAO Core Competencies
Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
Demonstrated experience working with member countries in terms of normative and technical work on soils.
Demonstrated ability to deliver results within deadlines.
Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
Understanding of FAO policies and programmes and familiarity with UN policy agendas.
Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of issues related to soil laboratory functioning and soil sample analyses or statistical analyses or sustainable soil management and agriculture (including forestry) and natural resources management in developing countries, particularly in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable agriculture and forestry.
Extent and relevance of experience in formulation and implementation of projects related to sustainable soil management and knowledge of the Healthy Soils Facility will be an asset.
Extent and relevance of experience in preparation of technical and policy reports and capacity development materials.
Extent of experience in organizing medium to large scale international technical meetings and conferences.
Experience in the development of teaching/training materials is an asset.
Experience in the establishment and facilitation of technical networks.
Job Posting Job Posting
03/Nov/2025
Closure Date
17/Nov/2025, 10:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit
NSL
Job Type
Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition
Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
Grade Level
N/A
Primary Location
Home-Based
Duration
Up to 11 months
Post Number
N/A
Important Notice
Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non‑and under‑represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values.
FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero‑tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
#J-18808-Ljbffr