Local Food Safety Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position:                       Local Food Safety Specialist – SAFEGRO Project

Employment Type:        Full-time, for duration of project

Location:                       Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Reports to:                    Project Director

Remuneration:              Salary is subject to negotiation based on qualifications and established market rates

Alinea International Ltd. (Canada) provides management and technical expertise to developing and transitional country partners on projects that promote sustainable growth and meaningful opportunities for people to improve their lives. Alinea is currently recruiting a Local Food Safety Specialist for the Safe Food for Growth project (SAFEGRO) which is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The project will operate across the agri-food value chains by engaging and building the capacity of three main target groups: the public sector (enabling environment), the private sector (supply side), and the consumer (demand side) to achieve 3 inter-related component outcomes:  

• Intermediate Outcome (1100): "Improved performance of national and sub-national governments in food safety regulation enforcement along the value chain to meet international standards";
• Intermediate Outcome (1200): "Increased competitiveness of poor farmers and other actors, particularly women, supplying safe agri-food products to domestic and international markets";
• Intermediate Outcome (1300): "Increased consumer demand for safe and affordable agri-food in Vietnam".

In partnership with the University of Guelph (Canada), Alinea International works with national and sub-national governments to enforce food safety regulations, private sector suppliers to increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese food products domestically and internationally, and consumers to improve demand for safe food in Vietnam. Key partners on this project include The Ministry of Agriculture Rural Development (MARD), the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh city agencies, and other Vietnamese Academic Institutes.

In Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the project works in coordination with Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Food Safety, and other agencies through local Intersectoral Working Group[1] and Supporting Group to provide technical support to selected agri-food value chains (e.g. vegetables from Phu Loc Cooperative and Phong Thuy company, and aquaculture from Tuong Lai - Can Gio cooperative), Binh Dien wholesale market, etc.

Local Food Safety Specialist will be based full-time in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, reports directly to the Project Director (PD) or his/her designated Project Manager and will be responsible for the overall day-to-day delivery, results-based management, monitoring and reporting on progress of technical assistance and capacity development activities from the project in HCMC and the adjacent supply chain provinces. She/he will work in a team of international and national specialists to ensure high quality support to the Government agencies and chain actors to achieve the expected project outcomes.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Engage with local government partners, through local Inter-sectoral Working Group and Supporting Groups, with support from Local Project Coordinator, to ensure good coordination of project technical assistance and training inputs in HCMC.
• Work with other international and national specialists to deliver high quality and well coordinated technical assistance and training activities to local government agencies and chain actors to achieve the project outputs and outcomes, as identified in the Logic Model where food safety risk assessment and detailed value chain analysis is required with a focus on HCMC to:

1. Provide assessment of local capacity in risk assessment and advise on setting up a national risk assessment network with a focus on HCMC.
2. Develop guidance on the implementation of an assessment for both qualitative and quantitative food safety risks.
3. Develop training materials, guidance manuals and other technical documents specifically related to science-based and risk-based approaches to food safety decision-making.
4. Plan and conduct training workshops on the concepts of hazards, risks, exposure assessment in risk analysis and food standard setting.
5. Coordinate and oversee the analysis of selected Vietnamese agri-food value chains as well as constraints and opportunities related to agribusiness investment options with emphasis on the functionality of markets, support services, trade policies, market institutions and organizations, risk management systems, food safety control systems and private sector engagement.
6. Advise on, design, and deliver capacity development activities in collaboration with both private and public stakeholders in the areas of agribusiness, marketing and food value chain development including the application of VietGAP and HACCP certifications.
7. Coordinate and oversee the implementation of training programs throughout the value chain including farmer field schools and other aspects of specific training for value chain nodes.  

• Lead implementation of gender sensitive, climate smart, agri-food value chain action plans to achieve the expected results in terms food safety, inclusiveness, sustainability, traceability; support adoption of innovation and value-added activities and organization of events as deemed necessary. 
• Provide technical input to update and develop Performance Measurement Framework (PMF), the risk register, Annual Work Plans (AWP) based on identified needs from the government agencies and private chain actors.
• Based on the project M&E framework, conduct regular monitoring to capture results and provide inputs to monthly highlight reports, semi-annual and annual progress reports.
• Perform other related duties as required by the Project Director.

Qualification Requirements:

• Master’s degree in food science, veterinary science, agriculture, animal husbandry, epidemiology, food microbiology or a related discipline;
• At least five years of professional experience in delivering and managing technical assistance to Government agencies and chain actors in improvement of food safety, and gender-sensitive, climate smart agri-food value chains, are required.
• At least five years of experience involving ODA project planning, coordination and/or M&E, which applied principles of results-based management and risk management.
• Proficient in writing correspondence/documents in both English and Vietnamese. Must be fluent in English and Vietnamese
• Very good strategic thinking, planning, organizational and time-management skills to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, take initiative, as well as ability to work in a team. 
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft word, Excel, power point and other basic applications).
• Experience with gender equity/gender equality, women’s empowerment, and related programming.
• Experience with results-based planning, management, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting; and/or prior experience with food safety is an advantage.
• Good knowledge of Vietnamese laws on labor, social & health insurance and other relevant applicable laws, codes, and regulations.

We welcome all applications, regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression; candidates that belong to underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. The recruitment process is based on fair standards.    

Compensation: Alinea offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

For those who are interested in applying for the Local Food Safety Specialist in HCMC position, please send your application (letter of interest and CV with details on relevant qualifications and experiences) with at least 3 referees by email to [email protected] by 17h00 on May 17th, 2024. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted, no telephone enquiries, please. Please include the job title in your email subject line.