Irrigation Specialist

The Specialists will report to the Project's Technical Advisor, work in close cooperation with the Senior Water Resources Management Officer at FAO-SNG, and under the overall guidance of the FAO Programme Director in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Technical Focus

Supporting the implementation of related activities under the different outputs in accordance with workplan through the provision of expertise in relevant technical areas to support project implementation.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Collect, analyze and document data and information relating to irrigation systems, technologies and practices for different types of water sources and farming systems in the targeted regions, report strengths, identify gaps and opportunities.
• Examine, describe, and categorize the primary agricultural systems, irrigation systems and technologies, practices, study current irrigation systems efficiency enabling environment, and water usage that are currently used in the targeted regions.
• Conduct field measurements “when needed” (based on the request of project technical team).
• Contribute to the development of crop-specific irrigation plans by providing data on factors like water requirements, soil moisture levels, and climate conditions.
• Provide input to facilitate the balancing of water resource availability and demand across different regions.
• Contribute to stakeholder mapping and analysis for irrigation, drainage, and their management systems, as well as for various farming systems in the targeted regions.
• Support for developing and implementing a method to assess the efficiency of the irrigation systems, technologies, and practices currently used by Saudi farmers.
• Contribute to the preparation of the irrigation performance assessment, Saudi irrigation code, and full master plan as will be agreed upon by the team leader.
• Contribute to organization of workshops and working sessions with stakeholders for the validation of results.
• Conduct training sessions and capacity-building workshops for local farmers, water managers, and stakeholders to enhance their understanding of efficient irrigation systems, technologies, and best practices.
• Conduct other tasks when needed.

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following

• University degree in irrigation management, irrigation engineering, data management, water law, water resources, agriculture-economics, management or any related subjects. Knowledge of irrigation systems, technologies, and best practices.
• Five years of relevant experience in technical cooperation-related activities, policy analysis, and advice relating to water resources / irrigation management, as well as monitoring and evaluation.
• Working knowledge (full proficiency – level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical / Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one region and particularly in field positions with the ability to provide technical and advisory services.
• International work experience in technical cooperation projects including familiarity with results frameworks, project work planning and budgeting.
• Demonstrated communication skills, including the ability to convey and present sensitive issues / positions.
• Analytical skills and the ability to write clear and concise reports is considered a strong asset.
• Proficiency in English is essential and familiarity with Arabic language is desirable.
• Experience working with irrigation and water resources and familiarity with water resources sector in Saudi Arabia or NENA region is desirable.

Selection Criteria

• An intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) will be an added advantage.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

Additional Information

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing).
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU / UNESCO list.
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited / recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.