Seed Laboratory Assistant Vacancy-Job Ref: BJGTFAO/0306/2025813

Seed Laboratory Assistant Vacancy-Job Ref: BJGTFAO/0306/2025813

Guatemala City (Guatemala)

FAO strives to ensure gender, geographic, and linguistic diversity among its staff and international consultants in order to best serve the Organization’s Member States in all regions.

FAO is committed to achieving diversity in its workforce in terms of gender, nationality, origin, and culture.
Women, nationals of underrepresented or unrepresented Member States, and persons with disabilities who possess the necessary qualifications are encouraged to apply.

All individuals working for FAO must adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and uphold FAO’s values.
As a specialized agency of the United Nations, FAO maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward conduct inconsistent with its statute, 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.
Organizational framework

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Government of Guatemala signed the Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2022-2025, which defines the national priorities that FAO will address through country-level actions within the scope of its strategic frameworks. These priorities aim to ensure FAO’s comparative advantages in contributing to the achievement of the goals set out in State policy instruments such as the K’atún Nuestra Guatemala National Development Plan 2032 (CONADUR-SEGEPLAN, 2014), the National Development Priorities (SEGEPLAN, 2016), the General Government Policy 2020-2024, as well as the United Nations Cooperation Framework for the Sustainable Development of Guatemala (MC) and the 2030 Agenda, which directly contribute to the three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlighted in the new FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031: SDG1 (no poverty), SDG2 (zero hunger) and SDG10 (reduced inequalities).

This agreement establishes three priority government areas that FAO will address: 1) More productive, prosperous, and inclusive territories for a better life; 2) Food security and improved nutrition; and 3) Resilience and a better environment. These areas are aligned with the CM and FAO’s new Strategic Framework 2022-2031, which promotes accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda through four improvements: improved production, improved nutrition, a better environment, and a better life without leaving anyone behind.

To contribute to the fulfillment of the MPP, the “Emergency Reserve Fund for Germplasm Banks” project is being implemented. The project’s intended outcome is to ensure the long-term preservation of the genetic resources safeguarded by the Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (ICTA) of Guatemala, contributing to improved food and nutritional security and a climate-resilient future.

The project is aligned with the institutional efforts of the Guatemalan Government, especially the Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (ICTA), a decentralized, autonomous institution of MAGA, to safeguard accessions of genetic material, 88% of which, in the case of ICTA, are part of Annex 1 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), a treaty that has been implemented as law in Guatemala since May 2, 2006.

Hierarchical dependence

The assistant will be under the direct supervision of the Assistant Representative (Program).

Field of specialization

The assistant will assist in the handling and preparation of  seeds to be stored in the cold storage of the national germplasm bank and sent to the Global  Seed Vault in another country for long-term conservation.

Tasks and responsibilities

Prepare specifications for the inputs required for handling and preparing seeds to be stored in a cold chamber.
Prepare seed samples in aluminum bags for shipment to cold storage outside the country
Prepare labels and barcodes for the seeds to be shipped
Prepare and organize seed samples in boxes to be shipped
Support in the preparation of the official list of accessions to be sent for cold storage in the Svalbard vault
Provide support with documentation for seed export permits
Organize and support the various activities carried out at the ICTA germplasm bank
Ensure the completion of monthly consultant reports (logs), semi-annual reports and others that are required
Other tasks assigned to you according to your area of ​​expertise.
CANDIDATES WILL BE EVALUATED ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

Minimum requirements

Technical Diploma in Agricultural Expertise, Bachelor of Science and Letters or related degree.

Working knowledge of Spanish
Guatemalan nationality or resident in the country with a regular work permit
FAO Core Competencies

Results-based approach
Teamwork
Communication
Establishing effective relationships
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
Selection criteria

Courses, seminars or workshops related to biological sciences
Knowledge of seed handling for storage
Basic knowledge in database management
Solid knowledge in the areas of biological sciences related to seed management for storage
It is noted that all candidates should adhere to the Organization’s values ​​of commitment to FAO, respect for all, and integrity and transparency.

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