Job Description & How to Apply Below
Job Title
Innovation Officer (Science, Technology and Innovation)
Position Details
Job Type: Staff position
Requisition Type:
Professional Project
Duration: 11 months (Short‑term)
Location
Rome, Italy
Organizational Setting
Office of Innovation (OIN) at FAO headquarters. OIN provides strategic direction and coordinates innovation across the organization, consolidating and strengthening FAO’s innovative spirit, including the innovation of approaches and cooperation models.
Reporting Lines
Reports to the Senior Innovation Officer, who leads the Digital Agriculture Unit and the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) portal development team and works closely with other staff across OIN.
Technical Focus
Apply science, technology and innovation (STI) concepts and tools, including digital platforms and AI‑enabled knowledge systems, to support the development and enhancement of the FAO STI portal and its integration within the global innovation ecosystem for sustainable agri‑food systems. Tasks include user‑centred design, knowledge integration and data‑driven insights.
Key Results
Implementation of coherent, integrated and effective innovation‑related work, combining research with practical application within FAO projects and developing/maintaining networks of external organizations with expertise for engagement with the Office’s initiatives.
Key Functions
Participates in specialized or multidisciplinary teams supporting FAO’s innovative spirit, including the innovation of approaches and cooperation models.
Supports analytical work and collaboration with stakeholders to adopt and implement cross‑sectoral policies and strategies concerning innovation‑related activities.
Promotes best practices and policy dialogue in support of innovation of approaches and cooperation models.
Supports the analysis of organizational‑level innovation‑related issues.
Organises and participates in capacity‑development activities and develops related materials, online tools and information kits.
Identifies and assesses opportunities for technical divisions, offices and centres to engage in projects related to OIN.
Performs any other duties as required.
Specific Functions
Serves as project manager for the STI portal project.
Aligns with FAO IT and communication procedures and guidance.
Continuously monitors and enhances AI integration within the portal.
Proactively identifies, relates and incorporates similar initiatives from both within and outside FAO.
Ensures the portal’s relevance to a wide variety of stakeholders, including the private sector.
Guides STI portal development based on key user personas, innovation of approaches and new cooperation models.
Develops materials, online tools and information kits for federated inclusion in the STI portal.
Identifies and assesses opportunities for technical centres, offices and divisions to engage in the STI portal.
Ensures federation of the ATIO Knowledge Base in the STI portal.
Promotes the use of digital public goods within the portal ecosystem.
Encourages adoption of open‑source large language models and explores the use of small language models.
Maintains active engagement with FAO members and key partners.
Defines a clear role for the portal in relation to the ATIO and Agrifood Innovation Systems (AIS) initiatives.
Supports ongoing monitoring of global science, technology and innovation trends relevant to OIN’s mission and integrates them into the STI portal.
Participates in FAO and inter‑agency missions, working groups and meetings focused on science, technology and innovation, assessing situations and making recommendations to enhance the STI portal.
Collaborates with other technical centres, offices and divisions at FAO headquarters and regional offices to develop technical and financial partnerships with international organizations on STI in agriculture.
Reviews and analyses project proposals and technical documents related to STI, as per the FAO Strategic Framework.
Develops publications on STI, synthesising research findings and field experiences.
Performs any other duties as required.
Candidate Assessment and Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master’s level or equivalent) in information…
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