Deputy Director, CSI Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division

Overview

The Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division (CSI) is responsible for all Information Technology (IT) activities within the Organization. CSI defines FAO IT policies, strategy, IT architecture and standards and provides digital products and services to deliver the Organization's mandate and support its operations worldwide. The Division manages and supports a set of corporate digital products and services which comprise the FAO Digital Workplace used by personnel worldwide to access and use organizational digital resources and data securely. The position is located in the Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division (CSI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Deputy Director, CSI reports to the Director, CSI.

Summary Of Duties And Functions

Under the overall guidance of the Director, CSI, the Deputy Director will assist the Director with strategic and operational delivery of the Digital Workplace Stream (Global Corporate IT Services). He/she will also support the Director in providing strategic, managerial and technical leadership for the work of the Division and facilitating the management of corporate, divisional and interdivisional activities. In particular, the incumbent responsibilities include:

• Lead day-to-day delivery and operations of FAO Digital Workplace (Global Corporate IT systems), applications and services (including ERP ecosystem, Business Efficiencies Applications, Platforms Services, Global Support Services, meetings/events and collaboration platforms, web platforms, digital ways of working).
• Lead portfolio of projects related to delivery of Corporate IT systems, including capital expenditure and ad-hoc modernization and digital transformation projects globally.
• Support the Director in exercising overall management responsibility and technical leadership for the Division, including strategic vision, planning, advice, quality control and implementation of the Division's programme of work as well as the cost.
• Effective use of financial and human resources (staff and non-staff).
• Advise the Director on IT strategies, governance and standards including their impact on the Organization's ability to deliver its programmes.
• Empower Unit Leaders with planning, managing and monitoring the results of their respective team in line with divisional results; provide budgetary oversight for initiatives/ongoing activities/projects delivery and foster cross-divisional work under the overall umbrella provided by the IT/Digital Strategy.
• Coordinate and promote communication and collaboration within and across units/teams and foster a work environment conducive to efficient results-based work.
• Ensure a fit-for-purpose organization, sourcing and value-for-money approach for delivering and operating Corporate IT services.
• Enable a motivated and effective workforce by ensuring the recruitment of highly qualified staff, mentoring, coaching and supporting career development and staff capacity development strategy.
• Enhance partnerships within FAO for collaborative work in the areas of work of the Division.
• Advocate and promote the work of the Division and the building of partnerships with international and national organizations, as well as the private sector, as appropriate.
• Represent the Organization in internal and external meetings and serve as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Director.
• Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in management or information technology management, as well as computer science, information systems, or information technology or related field.
• Minimum twelve years of relevant experience in management and operational aspects of delivering information and communications technology (ICT) in large organizations (both technical and managerial experience).
• Extensive professional experience in delivering complex IT projects in global context.
• Extensive experience in globally decentralized organizations, including field support.
• Understanding of digital economy and digital transformation of agrifood systems and rural development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, and collaborate with specialists, in other related disciplines (e.g. IT infrastructure, software development, IT services, IT architecture, IT innovation and IT strategy).
• Demonstrated skills and experience in participatory strategic planning, managing results, and in providing budgetary oversight for programme delivery.
• Proven negotiation skills and diplomacy.
• Analytical skills and ability to express ideas and concepts clearly, both orally and in writing.
• Experience in managing large teams, including mentoring and staff development.
• Experience in working in fast-paced working environment with short deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds in an international setting.
• 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).

Job Details

• Posting: 13/Mar/2026
• Closure Date: 10/Apr/2026, 9:59:00 PM
• Organizational Unit: Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division, CSI
• Job Type: Staff position
• Type of Requisition: Senior-level
• Grade Level: D-1
• Primary Location: Italy-Rome
• Duration: Fixed term: two years with possibility of extension
• Post Number:
• CCOG Code: 1A

Diversity and Compliance

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of under-represented Members and persons 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 FAO's values
• FAO, as a United Nations Specialized Agency, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, 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
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

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