National Data Privacy and Protection Expert

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

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

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, 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
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

Under the Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) “Digital Technologies in support of Agriculture Value Chains and Rural Development”, FAO supports the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia in designing, building, and launching a Vineyard Register System (VRS). 
Operated by the Ministry of Economy via the Wine and Vine Foundation of Armenia, the vineyard registry system (VRS) is a digital platform that collects and manages detailed information about vineyards and grape growers. It supports better monitoring, planning, and resource allocation for vineyard management, enhances traceability for quality control, and facilitates compliance with regulatory and market standards. Users can submit and edit their data via a web-portal as well as a mobile application.
Given the sensitive nature of the data contained into the platform, it is essential to ensure robust privacy measures and adherence to data protection regulations, both local and international. The National Data Privacy and Protection Expert will ensure that the VRS complies with all applicable data protection laws, safeguards sensitive information, and fosters trust among stakeholders by implementing best practices for data privacy and security.

The position is located in Yerevan, Armenia.

Reporting Lines

The National Data Privacy Expert works under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Armenia and the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer and in close coordination with the international Digital Agriculture Specialist, the Vineyard System and GIS expert and the whole project team.

Technical Focus

The National Data Privacy and Protection Expert will be responsible for conducting a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) on the Vineyard Register System (VRS), taking into account both the Law of Armenia on protection of personal data (Data Protection Law) and the EU GDPR standards. The National Data Privacy Expert will  identify the risks that the VRS might have on individuals and farms’ data protection; establish how informed consent should be gathered from farmers providing their data; and deliver a PIA report and SoPs (Standard Operating Procedures) with recommendations for managing, minimizing, or eliminating the impact and risks, while providing decision-makers with the information necessary to make informed policy decisions based on an understanding of the privacy risks and the options available for mitigating those risks.

Tasks And Responsibilities

The National Data Privacy and Protection Expert will support the implementation of the TCP/ARM/3903 “Digital Technologies in support of Agriculture Value Chains and Rural Development” Project by carrying out the following main activities:
•    Review and ensure VRS (both web-based platform and mobile app) compliance with the national data protection regulations and adherence to international best practices and applicable frameworks, such as EU GDPR, while providing legal and technical guidance on data privacy requirements;
•    Conduct a Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA) and compile PIA report to identify the risks and vulnerabilities in the VRS data collection, processing, and sharing processes – including the right to be forgotten, and to provide recommendations for managing, minimizing, or eliminating the impact and risks;
•     Support with the user-friendly informed consent process, including templates, and develop clear communication pieces to users of how data will be used, stored, and shared; ensure mechanisms are in place for individuals to revoke consent and understand their rights under applicable laws;
Support with the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the use of the VRS, ensuring the recommendations laid out in the PIA are reflected in the SOPs;
•    Work closely with the project and IT team to integrate privacy-by-design principles into the VRS architecture, as well as to provide recommendations on encryption, access control, and consent management tools;
•    Review existing documents and policy frameworks and propose amendments;
•    Deliver training to staff of the Ministry of Economy and other stakeholders on data privacy and protection;
•    Prepare and submit a final report with recommendations.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• •    Advanced university degree in Legal Studies, Data Privacy and Protection, or a closely related field.
• •    Six years of relevant experience as a lawyer in data privacy and protection, or closely related fields in public administration area;
• •    Working knowledge of English and Armenian. 
• •    National of Armenia

Fao Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• •    Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;
• •    Ability to communicate with technical and non-technical people;
• •    Excellent knowledge of data privacy laws in Armenia and EU GDPR.
• •    Extent and relevance of experience in:
• o    Conducting Privacy Impact Assessments; 
• o    Policy making related to data protection and agriculture sector; 
• o    Working with public sector’s stakeholders,
• •    Experience in the following areas is a strong asset:
• o    PIA related to IT systems;
• o    Standard Operating Procedures.

Selection Criteria

•    Previous experience in reviewing/developing data privacy and protection regulations;

Selection Criteria

•    Working knowledge (Proficient, Level C) of English and Armenian.
•    Proficiency in using MS Office suite, namely Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
•    Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. 
•    Strong problem-solving skills. Strong time-management skills. 
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
•    Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and external stakeholders.
•    Strong attention to detail.
•    Ability to work independently.
 

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

Additional Information

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

How To Apply

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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