Reporting Lines

The Project Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of the Head of the Office and the direct supervision of the Programme Officer/Team Leader, technical oversight and guidance of the Lead Technical Officers of the project, and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and other national authorities, research institutions, technical partners, and technical units, as well as project team.

Technical Focus

The Project Coordinator will provide overall technical, operational and managerial support for the implementation of national project focusing on:

• Modernization of systems and infrastructure, including new SOC monitoring protocols, MRV methodologies, digital tools, laboratory upgrades, QA/QC systems, and field sampling frameworks.
• Strengthening institutional mechanisms and service delivery, ensuring coordinated implementation among ministries, laboratory networks, research institutions, and land‑use monitoring entities.
• Capacity development and institutional coordination, through design and facilitation of national training programmes, establishment of technical working groups, and long-term sustainability of SOC monitoring and data systems.
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership development, promoting strong collaboration with national authorities, research institutions, universities, farmers’ organizations, private‑sector MRV providers, and global partners such as Recarbonization of Soil (RECSOIL), Global Soil Partnership (GSP) and Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN).
• Evidence‑based investment planning and agrifood innovation, supporting analytical work and policy dialogue on national carbon farming opportunities, sustainable soil management, and priority investments for digital agriculture, soil monitoring, and climate mitigation.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership and day to day coordination of project implementation per the approved project document, logical framework, workplan, and budget. 
• Prepare and update annual and quarterly workplans; ensure timely delivery and budget control. 
• Establish and maintain operational coordination mechanisms among national institutions and partners. 
• Organize and service Project Steering Committee meetings; prepare documentation and follow up on decisions; participate in Project Task Force meetings. 
• Develop and/or review Terms of Reference of affiliate workforce and ensure compliance with current standards and regulations. 
• Certify the deliverables of national and international consultants and service providers.
• Ensure risk monitoring, propose corrective measures, and maintain a live timeline and issues log. 
• Lead the development/adaptation of SOC MRV methodologies and protocols aligned with IPCC guidance and international MRV standards for AFOLU. 
• Develop field sampling protocols, baseline assessment approaches, monitoring formats, and data capture tools for SOC monitoring. 
• Provide technical guidance on integrating field measurements, laboratory results, and spatial datasets (e.g., RS/GIS, models) into the national MRV workflow. 
• Oversee QA/QC procedures for field data, lab analysis, and data management; support harmonization of laboratory methods. 
• Guide remote sensing workflows, SOC modelling, database development, and testing of MRV platform/geoportal; ensure interoperability with NMS. 
• Ensure alignment with national policies, NDC targets, and ETF reporting requirements; contribute to methodological notes and policy briefs. 
• Coordinate soil sampling campaigns, baseline SOC measurements, pilot site establishment, and pasture/land management interventions. 
• Support laboratory strengthening (equipment specifications, calibration standards, inter-lab comparability, SOPs). 
• Plan and oversee duty travel, logistics, field missions, and institutional visits. 
• Support procurement processes, including drafting technical specifications for soil analysis equipment, digital MRV tools, laboratory upgrades, and field sampling kits. 
• Prepare ToRs/subcontracts, identify suitable contractors, and support technical evaluation; ensure on time and quality delivery. 
• Plan and deliver training workshops, capacity building sessions, and study tours in collaboration with experts. 
• Select participants for training in consultation with national agencies; promote gender-sensitive participation and inclusion of youth. 
• Facilitate technical consultations, knowledge exchange among FAO, government institutions, labs, and partners; ensure clear stakeholder communication. 
• Monitor activities, expenditures, deliverables, and milestones; maintain project monitoring tools and disaggregated beneficiary data. 
• Prepare quarterly updates, semi annual progress reports, Inception Report, and Terminal Report per FAO rules; contribute to FAO internal reporting. 
• Ensure proper documentation, archiving of data, methods, and lessons learned; contribute to evaluation inputs and recommendations for scaling. 
• Work closely with administration, operations, procurement, logistics, and programme teams to ensure compliance and efficient implementation. 
• Perform other duties as required and undertake duty travel as needed.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agronomy, soil science, natural resources management, environmental science, climate policy, development studies or any other related field 
• At least five years’ experience in project management in agriculture, climate change, MRV systems, laboratory upgrading or sustainable land and soil management 
• Working knowledge of Russian and/or Kazakh is mandatory
• Working knowledge of English is required.
• Project Management Professional certificates is an asset.
• National of Kazakhstan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience managing complex, multi‑stakeholder, donor‑funded projects
• Experience working with government institutions, research organizations and international technical partners
• Extent and relevance of experience in MRV systems, laboratory QA/QC, or IPCC-compliant carbon monitoring
• Familiarity with FAO, UN or international development organization procedures is an advantage.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)Applications received after the closing date will not be acceptedPlease 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 For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"> Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.