Junior Professional Officer (Land Tenure)

Job Posting: 14/May/2026 Closure Date: 26/Jun/2026, 4:59:00 PM Organizational Unit: ESP Job Type: Staff position Type of Requisition: APO (Associate Professional Programme) Grade Level: P-2 Primary Location: Italy-Rome Duration: Fixed-term: one year with possibility of extension Post Number: TBD IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture * Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply * Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. * All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks * All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality * The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization.*

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) coordinates FAO’s work on land tenure, social protection, gender equality, decent rural employment, rural institutions, people’s empowerment and the right to food (RTF).

Through the Land Tenure Team, FAO promotes inclusive, equitable and secure access to land and natural resources to achieve inclusive rural and agri-food systems transformation. FAO’s work on land tenure and its governance advocates for the realization of the tenure rights the poor and marginalized at scale.

The position is located in Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Junior Professional Officer (Land Tenure) will report to the Senior Land Tenure Officer, ESP.

Technical Focus

The Junior Professional Officer (Land Tenure) will support FAO’s work in support of national and local inclusive land reform processes; in particular i) building capacities of specific stakeholders (women, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, small farmers and landholders under customary tenure) based on the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT); ii) knowledge management for mainstreaming VGGT and positioning land tenure for environmental, poverty eradication and rural development initiatives.

Key Results

Capacity building and knowledge management in support of programme projects, products and services strengthening national and local inclusive land reform processes.

Key Functions

• Collects and analyses relevant technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related information, data and/or statistics to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.
• Undertakes analysis, provides technical input for plans and reports and edits/revises technical/scientific documents.
• Participates in the development of improved work methods, tools and systems.
• Updates databases and web pages.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary project/work teams.
• Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars etc.
• Participates in the organization, conduct and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the development/production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.

Specific Functions

• Supports the implementation of the Land Tenure Team (LTT)’s work plan, in particular with regards knowledge management and capacity building, guided by the principles of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT), focusing on thematic priority areas including securing tenure rights for women, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, small farmers and landholders under customary tenure and the thematic priority on Promoting VGGT-based policies.
• Contributes to the development of high-quality training materials and modules, ensuring alignment with project objectives and best practices based on VGGT. Provide technical support in designing content, structure, and implementation of effective trainings at global, regional, or national levels., mainly in support of women, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, small farmers and landholders under customary tenure.
• Supports capitalization, documentation of good practices, lessons learnt and writing of success stories (and other communication products, as needed). Liaise with FAO country offices and partners for dissemination of articles, training packages, innovative communication products.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture, natural resources economics, rural sociology, business or public administration, a discipline relevant to land tenure and land administration, or a closely related field.
• Three years of relevant experience in rural development, including knowledge management, capacity building, data.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

IMPORTANT: Please note the following mandatory requirements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of Korea:

• Korean citizenship
• Fluency in Korean and English

• Certificate of English language proficiency. Applicants should score a minimum of (i) TOEFL iBT 100 or (ii) TEPS 430 or (iii) IELTS 7 or (iv) TOEIC 900

  • TOEFL ‘Home Edition’ score is accepted; while ‘MyBest Scores’ are not accepted
  • IELTS General Training or Academic are both accepted
  • English test scores are valid for two years after the test date
  • Not older than 32 years of age as of 31 December 2026 (born on or after 1 January 1994)
  • The maximum age limit for applicants who have completed military service will be extended accordingly: one year will be extended for those who served for less than one year; two years will be extended for those who served for more than one year and less than two years; three years will be extended for those who served for two years or more.
  • Male applicants shall have completed the Korean military service or be exempted from it. Those who will be discharged from military service during the year of application may also apply.
  • Applicants can apply for a maximum of two JPO positions sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea during the year of application.

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Previous experience in land tenure is desired.
• Extent and relevance of experience of at least 2 years in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.

Required application documents by MOFA of the Republic of Korea

• Completed FAO Personal Profile Form (PPF) and motivation letter in English
• Scanned copy of applicant’s Resident Register in English, issued by the Korean Government
• Copy of university degree certificate in English (Master's Degree)
• Copy of English proficiency test certificate
• Scanned copies of Certificate of Employment, including information such as the period of employment, organization, department/unit, position/title, and duties/responsibilities, in English

Note: Applicants are required to submit supporting documents for all professional experience listed in the application.

• Only for male applicants who have completed the national military service: A certificate of Korean Military Service in English. The maximum age limit for those who served in the military will be extended in accordance with the Support for Discharged Soldiers Act and the Military Service Law.
• Only for low-income applicants: A scanned copy of a certificate of National Basic Livelihood Security Recipients issued in Korean and its unofficial translation in English
• Only for persons with disability: A scanned copy of a certificate of person with disability issued in Korean and English

GENERAL INFORMATION

For general information on the JPO Programme of the Republic of Korea, please visit the website of the International Organizations Recruitment Center, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea at https://unrecruit.mofa.go.kr

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, June 26, 2026 at 11:59 PM KST

_________________________________________________________________ FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

_________________________________________________________________

GENERAL INFORMATION

• All candidates should possess computer/word processing skills
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment or to make an appointment at a lower grade
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:

• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct

_________________________________________________________________ HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills.
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile;
• Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application;
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile;

• 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). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications;

• Incomplete applications will not be considered;
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered;
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: [email protected]

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT