About the opportunity
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is inviting applications for the position of Senior Technical Specialist in Fire Culture, Appropriation, and Differential Approaches in Bogota, Colombia. Supervised by the FAO Representative in Colombia, the Programme Officer, the Senior Specialist for Risk Management and Livelihoods Rehabilitation, and the Project Coordinator, the specialist will coordinate, formulate, and structure the sociocultural component of the Social Appropriation Guide for Forest Fire Prevention. The role incorporates fire culture, knowledge dialogue, community participation, and citizen science within the Integrated Fire Management (MIF) framework, while ensuring territorial, differential, intercultural, gender, and intergenerational approaches.
Salary and benefits
- Temporary employment contract under the National Project Personnel (NPP) category.
- Initial contract duration of 5 months, including a 2-month probationary period.
- Opportunity to lead technical and social components in forest fire prevention and integrated fire management in Colombia.
Who can apply?
- Must hold Colombian nationality.
- Professional degree in anthropology, sociology, social work, political science, social psychology, social sciences education, or related disciplines.
- Postgraduate degree in social sciences, education, communication, social appropriation of knowledge, territorial development, environmental management, disaster risk management, or related fields.
- At least 5 years of general post-graduation experience in social participation, social appropriation of knowledge, environmental education, community development, environmental management, or disaster risk management.
- Minimum 3 years of specific experience in projects related to social appropriation of knowledge, environmental education, forest fire prevention, Integrated Fire Management (MIF), disaster risk management, or community participatory processes.
- Working knowledge of Spanish (Level C).
- Experience in technical document writing, participatory methodologies, and working with rural communities, social organizations, and public/private institutions.
- Availability to undertake field trips and visits to remote rural areas.
Required documents
- Completed online candidate profile submitted via the official FAO recruitment portal.
- Academic credentials and degrees aligned with ISCED standards and issued by institutions listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).
When to apply
- Application deadline: September 9, 2026, at 23:59:00 (device local time).
- Candidates are strongly advised to submit their applications well before the closing time.
- Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
How to apply
- Visit the official FAO recruitment website (jobs.fao.org).
- Create or log in to your account and complete your online candidate profile.
- Search for job requisition number 2601829 and submit your application through the portal.
Additional information
- FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
- The position involves strict adherence to FAO's standards of integrity, gender equality policy, and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and discrimination.
- Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- You hold Colombian nationality and possess a professional degree in anthropology, sociology, social work, political science, or related social science disciplines.
- You have at least five years of general post-graduation experience and three years of specific experience in community participation, social appropriation of knowledge, or disaster risk management.
- You have a working knowledge of Spanish (Level C) and direct experience working with rural communities, social organizations, and public or private institutions.
- You are comfortable undertaking necessary field trips and visits to remote rural areas as part of your project responsibilities.
What should you think carefully about?
- The contract is temporary and limited to an initial duration of 5 months, which includes a 2-month probationary period.
- Specific remuneration details are not provided in the posting, so you should verify the compensation structure directly through the FAO portal.
- Applicants must be available to travel to remote rural areas for field visits, which may require flexible scheduling.
- You must hold the required academic credentials and degrees issued by institutions listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This short-term position fits professionals looking to contribute specialized expertise in sociocultural components, community participation, and integrated fire management to an established international organization like the FAO. It provides a structured environment to apply your background in social sciences to critical environmental and disaster risk management initiatives in Colombia over a five-month timeframe.
Our take
Colombian social science professionals with specific experience in environmental education, community development, and participatory methodologies should seriously consider applying before the September 2026 deadline. Those without the mandatory five years of experience, postgraduate credentials, or Colombian nationality will find this opportunity unsuitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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