Technical Process Specialist in Nature-based Solutions and Planning Instruments at FAO

About the opportunity

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Partnership and Liaison Office in Colombia is seeking a Technical Process Specialist in Nature-based Solutions and Planning Instruments. Under the general supervision of the FAO Representative in Colombia, program officers, the senior risk management and livelihood rehabilitation specialist, and the project coordinator, the specialist provides specialized technical assistance. Key responsibilities include leading the dissemination of capacity-building roadmaps for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the agricultural sector and formulating and integrating Integrated Fire Management (MIF) guidelines into disaster risk management and territorial climate change planning instruments (PTGRD, ETRE, and PIGCCT) through participatory, intersectoral processes.

Salary and benefits

• Competitive National Project Personnel (NPP) remuneration commensurate with United Nations standards for temporary contracts in Colombia.
• Opportunity to collaborate directly with national ministries, local governments, and UN agencies on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.

Who can apply?

• University degree in environmental engineering, environmental administration, or environmental management.
• Postgraduate degree in environmental management, environment, climate change, disaster risk management, or related fields.
• At least 7 years of post-graduation professional experience in environmental management, climate change, disaster risk management, biodiversity, Nature-based Solutions, or territorial sustainability.
• Working knowledge of Spanish at a proficient level (Level C).
• Colombian nationality or legal residency in Colombia with a valid work permit.
• Demonstrated experience in project or public policy formulation, implementation, or evaluation relating to Nature-based Solutions (NbS), Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), or nature-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR).
• Experience in institutional coordination with national and territorial entities in Colombia (e.g., DNP, MinAmbiente, UNGRD, MADR, CARs) and working with rural or ethnic communities.
• Knowledge of Integrated Fire Management, fire ecology, and Colombian environmental and climate regulatory frameworks (such as Law 1523 of 2012).

Required documents

• Completed online candidate profile submitted via the official FAO recruitment portal.
• Documentation of university and postgraduate academic credentials from recognized institutions listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).
• Proof of Colombian citizenship or valid Colombian work permit (for resident foreign nationals).

When to apply

• Application opening date: September 30, 2026.
• Application closing deadline: October 14, 2026, at 21:59:00 UTC.
• Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the deadline.

How to apply

• Visit the official FAO career portal and create or log in to your candidate account.
• Complete all mandatory sections of your online profile, including employment history and academic qualifications aligned with ISCED standards.
• Search for vacancy announcement 2602037 and submit your application online before the closing deadline.
• Incomplete applications or applications submitted outside the online portal will not be considered.

Additional information

• The initial contract duration is 3 months, which includes a 2-month probationary period.
• The position is based in Bogota, Colombia, and requires availability for official field travel.
• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
• Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background verification checks.