State Agrarian Register (SAR) Development Coordinator

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.

The Project Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Ukraine (FAOUA) was created in 2014 with the increasing portfolio in Ukraine and formally established in November 2022 as an agreement between FAO and the Government of Ukraine.

FAOUA is responsible for leading FAO's response to the national priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities related to the impact of the war, as well as medium- and long-term effects for Ukraine under the overall guidance of the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) and in close collaboration with respective units in headquarters.

The State Agrarian Registry (SAR) is an automated electronic system created by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food (MAPF) with the technical assistance of the European Union, to effectively and transparently assign and administer all types of support for Ukrainian farmers, using funding either from the state budget, soft loans, grants made available by international partners and any other types of technical assistance. The SAR offers a convenient online platform that caters to all registered agricultural producers, regardless of their size, organization, or legal form. FAO will support the MAPF in bringing SAR into compliance with the basic requirements of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the Farmer's registry, namely separating the Farmer's portal from other administrative services, establishing automatic monitoring of sown areas, which is one of the main elements of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS).

The assignment will be homebased, with work being executed during the FAO Ukraine office hours.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Office/Designated Responsible Officer in Ukraine, the SAR Development Coordinator reports to the Project Manager, with close collaboration with relevant colleagues from the FAO Ukraine office, the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU), and FAO Headquarters.

Technical Focus

The Coordinator will support the technical operability of the system, including managing the development of functionality, servicing and administering servers, as well as handling user requests to the SAR hotline. The SAR Development Coordinator will organize and control the support processes, administration of the system and equipment, interaction processes with other registries, and control the fulfilment of contracts and obligations by contractors.

Tasks and responsibilities

Managing the Development of Functionality:

•     Oversee the implementation and enhancement of system features to meet user requirements.
•     Ensure the system is adaptable and scalable to accommodate future needs and integrations.

Servicing and Administering the System:

•     Lead the maintenance efforts to ensure the system remains operational and efficient.
•     Coordinate regular updates and patches to enhance system performance and security.

Handling User Requests:

•     Organize and control the processing of user inquiries and requests directed to the SAR hotline.
•     Develop a robust support framework to address user issues promptly and effectively.

Support Processes Management:

•     Administer the overall support processes to ensure seamless operation.
•     Implement best practices in support management to improve user satisfaction and system reliability.

System and Equipment Administration:

•     Oversee the administration and maintenance of the hardware and software components of the SAR system.
•     Ensure all equipment and system components are functioning optimally and are up to date.

Integration Processes with Other Registries:

•     Manage the integration of the SAR system with other relevant registries and databases.
•     Ensure data consistency and integrity across integrated systems.

Fulfilment of Contracts and Obligations by Contractors:

•     Monitor and ensure that contractors meet their contractual obligations and deliverables.
•     Coordinate with external vendors and contractors to align their efforts with project goals and timelines.

Consulting within the areas of professional responsibility
Working with contract texts (technical part) to minimize risks and describe the procedure for acceptance of works

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Master's level degree or a Bachelor's degree with additional two years of level work experience in Information Technology: computer systems and networks, programming, database management, cyber security, network administration etc. 
•     With Master level degree a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in Information Technology
•     With Bachelor level degree a minimum of 12 years (level A), 7 years (level B), 3 years (level C) of relevant working experience in Information Technology
•     Working knowledge (Level C) of English
•     Working knowledge (Level C) or native Ukrainian would be considered as an asset.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional

•     Work experience in more than one location or area of work 
•     Extent and relevance of experience in project management 
•     Extent and relevance of experience in software development and implementation
•     Familiarity with State Agrarian Register and relevant national legislation on this matter

Selection Criteria

•     Advanced university degree in IT is preferred
•     Experience in development farm registry software is an asset
•     Knowledge of State Agrarian Register and relevant national legislation on this matter is an asset
•     Experience in project management is a strong advantage