Overview
FAO’s Young Professional Officer vacancy in Agricultural Biotechnologies is open until 14 October 2026. Based in Rome within the Office of Innovation, the P-1 role connects biotechnology expertise with work on food security and agrifood systems. Applicants should check the advanced-degree and experience requirements before applying.
About the Role
The officer contributes to research, technical analysis, project implementation and reporting. Work also covers knowledge products, workshops, partnerships and inputs for project proposals. This combines scientific understanding with the ability to communicate information for practical and policy use.
For applicants, the central challenge is explaining the relevance of their scientific work. A technically impressive project still needs a clear account of the problem it addressed and why its findings matter. Describe the connection between your methods, the agricultural context and the people or organisations that could use the result.
Benefits and Career Development
The role provides a professional setting in which to contribute specialised knowledge to international agriculture work. FAO’s YPP normally offers two-year fixed-term appointments with an initial probationary year. Actual employment conditions are governed by the vacancy and offer; this article does not assume a particular take-home salary.
Consider whether the balance of technical, communication and organisational work fits your goals. Prepare questions about supervision, expected outputs and development priorities for an interview. Those questions will help you assess the opportunity while showing that you have thought about how to contribute responsibly.
Eligibility
The vacancy calls for an advanced biotechnology degree and at least one year of relevant experience. It requires English proficiency and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language. Scientific writing, relevant biotechnology knowledge, analytical tools and stakeholder engagement are among the skills considered.
Review the wider YPP conditions as well, including being no older than 32 on 31 December of the application year and the programme’s nationality criteria. Do not assume that a bachelor’s degree alone or an unrelated qualification satisfies this specific announcement.
Application Process
Use the Apply Now button to open official vacancy 2602004. Complete your candidate profile and follow the portal’s submission instructions. Check that the role title and reference number match before uploading documents or completing screening questions.
Turn Technical Work into Clear Evidence
Select a research or applied project you can explain from start to finish. State the question, describe your method in accessible language, identify your own responsibilities and summarise what you learned. Explain limitations as well as results. For example, a finding based on a small sample should not be presented as proof of effectiveness across an entire agricultural system.
If you used Python, R or another analytical tool, describe the analytical task rather than listing the software alone. Explain how you checked data quality, selected an approach and interpreted the output. Be prepared to discuss why the method suited the question and what you would improve with more time or better data.
For writing and communication experience, identify the audience and purpose of a report, presentation or publication. Explain how you made complex information understandable without overstating it. Cite your contribution accurately in collaborative research and distinguish a submitted paper from a published one.
Applicants whose strongest experience is academic should describe it honestly as research or project work. Check how the vacancy defines relevant experience; do not assume every period of study automatically counts as professional experience.
Required Documents
Prepare a current CV, education details, employment dates and any motivation text requested by the application. Keep qualification records and references ready for verification. Follow the portal’s exact attachment requirements, use clear filenames and review uploaded files for legibility before submitting.
Deadline
The closing date is 14 October 2026. Use the precise time displayed in the official recruitment system, which may reflect your device’s time zone. Allow time to complete the profile and resolve technical problems.
Summary Table
| Employer | FAO |
|---|---|
| Specialism | Agricultural Biotechnologies |
| Position | Young Professional Officer |
| Location and grade | Rome; P-1 |
| Vacancy reference | 2602004 |
| Deadline | 14 October 2026 |
Conclusion
A focused application should connect scientific capability with clear communication and practical relevance. Check the mandatory criteria first, then use evidence that shows both what you know and how you apply it.
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