Senior Digital Agriculture and Innovation Specialist

Overview

Senior Digital Agriculture and Innovation Specialist provides senior‑level technical expertise to support FAO’s Digital Agriculture programme across Europe and Central Asia. The role oversees the Digital Villages Initiative, Hand-in-Hand initiative and related projects, developing strategies, tools and capacity to promote digital transformation of agriculture.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the digital agriculture programme and project portfolio across the region, ensuring technical supervision, reporting and monitoring.
• Develop analytical frameworks, methodologies and diagnostic tools to assess digital agriculture readiness and innovation systems.
• Supervise implementation of the Digital Villages Initiative and Hand-in-Hand initiative, ensuring successful delivery and outreach.
• Embed digitalisation in regional priority programmes and Country Programme Frameworks, ensuring synergies with cross‑programmes (youth, gender).
• Mainstream innovation and technology across the region to support Science and Innovation strategy.
• Act as Lead Technical Officer on large‑scale multi‑partner projects and technical cooperation projects.
• Build strategic partnerships with organisations such as ITU, UNDP, WTO and private sector, representing REU at high‑level forums.
• Lead outreach, dissemination and capacity‑development events on digital agriculture.
• Allocate resources and manage budgets and technological assets to achieve programme goals.
• Mobilise resources to grow the digitalisation, innovation and HiH investment portfolio.
• Provide technical inputs and supervise publications on digital agriculture.
• Prepare technical background documents and organise panels for governing body meetings.
• Manage the REU Digital Agriculture Team, identifying expertise gaps and mentoring staff and consultants.
• Scale the FAO AgriTech Observatory as a data‑driven knowledge platform.
• Perform other related duties as required by the Regional Office.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in Agricultural Science, Economics, Computer Science or related discipline recognised by IAU/UNESCO (consultants with bachelor’s degree require two additional years of experience).< /li>
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in digital agriculture, IT, project management, innovation, research and analysis.< /li>
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (Level B) of a second FAO language.< /li>

FAO Core Competencies / Selection Criteria

• Strong applied knowledge of digital technologies for agriculture and rural development.< /li>
• Ability to conduct digital agriculture assessments and research.< /li>
• Skills in drafting national strategies and action plans on digitalisation.< /li>
• Experience coordinating technical digital agriculture projects and managing people.< /li>
• High organisational, problem‑solving, time‑management and communication skills.< /li>
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).< /li>
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders and work independently.< /li>
• Strong attention to detail and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.< /li>

EEO Statement

• FAO is committed to workforce diversity and encourages qualified female applicants, nationals from non‑and under‑represented Members and persons with disabilities to apply.< /li>
• All selected candidates will undergo reference and background checks and applications will be treated confidentially.< /li>

Compliance and Standards

Recruiters will maintain OCC compliance. All communication materials must follow FAO clearance processes and adhere to FAO Strategic Framework 2022‑31, FAO social media policy, FAO terminology and branding guidelines.