Deputy Director General (Scientific Advisory & Policy Wing - SAPW) | NAFSA

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) is recruiting on behalf of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA), a strategic national initiative aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s agri-trade ecosystem. NAFSA focuses on enhancing regulatory oversight, facilitating trade, and modernizing food safety processes. The successful candidate will join NAFSA’s foundational team and contribute to developing systems, processes, and institutional capabilities to support the authority’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the Scientific Advisory and Policy Wing (SAPW), providing scientific, technical, and regulatory leadership to support NAFSA’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and food safety mandates. Direct and institutionalize scientific risk assessments related to food safety, animal health, plant health, and other SPS domains. Offer evidence-based recommendations to the Operations Wing for implementing official controls such as inspection, quarantine, certification, surveillance, track and trace, pesticide registration, and grade designation.

Develop, update, and interpret SPS measures, standards, technical regulations, and guidance documents in alignment with the NAFSA Act and international standards including Codex, WOAH, and IPPC. Establish and manage peer review mechanisms while enforcing conflict-of-interest safeguards, access control, disclosures, and protocols for handling Right to Information (RTI) requests.

Design and oversee surveillance and monitoring programs targeting pests, diseases, residues, contaminants, and emerging hazards, translating findings into risk-based regulatory actions. Define sampling, testing, and inspection protocols and coordinate laboratory designation and oversight, including accreditation requirements such as ISO/IEC 17025 and PNAC/ILAC where applicable.

Develop risk-based import and export requirements, equivalence assessments, and certification standards to support credible market access and compliance assurance. Lead the development of technical guidelines for registration, licensing, and approvals where scientific evaluation is required, including for pesticides, operators, and facilities. Coordinate regulatory drafting and updates with the Legal section, ensuring stakeholder consultation and transparency during modifications to existing SPS measures, standards, and regulations.

Maintain and periodically review a regulatory register and standards catalogue to ensure harmonization, consistency, and clarity for implementers and regulated entities. Support provincial efforts to harmonize SPS measures, food safety, and related regulations. Develop scientific data systems and evidence repositories, providing analytics support for targeting, prioritization, and decision-making, including integration with relevant data flows.

Provide technical capacity-building curricula and guidelines for inspectors, analysts, and regulators, including the development of training materials and technical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for uniform implementation. Coordinate with national and international bodies such as ministries, provinces, academia, donor partners, and standards-setting organizations on scientific cooperation and SPS notifications.

Support emergency response efforts by providing rapid risk assessments, scientific input for recalls and controls, and guidance for public and stakeholder risk communication. Perform any other scientific or regulatory responsibilities assigned by the Director General in support of NAFSA’s mandate.

Required Qualifications

An advanced degree (Master’s level with 16 years of education or PhD preferred) in Food Safety, Food Science, Veterinary Sciences, Epidemiology, Plant Pathology, Plant Protection, Microbiology, Toxicology, Public Health, Agriculture, or a related discipline recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Demonstrated knowledge of WTO SPS principles and international standards/guidelines such as Codex, WOAH, and IPPC, with the ability to translate these into national requirements. Familiarity with laboratory quality management and accreditation standards, including ISO/IEC 17025, and experience coordinating laboratory networks.

Experience

At least 15 years of relevant experience in scientific risk assessment, SPS regulation, standards development, laboratory systems, or related fields, including a minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role. Proven expertise in designing surveillance programs, sampling/testing frameworks, and interpreting laboratory and field data for regulatory decision-making.

Strong ability to draft or review technical regulations, standards, and guidance documents, and to lead structured stakeholder consultations. Excellent analytical, research, and writing skills, with the capacity to communicate complex scientific issues to non-technical leadership and stakeholders.

High integrity, along with excellent communication and negotiation skills for effective engagement with domestic stakeholders and international counterparts. Demonstrated capability in scientific writing, policy drafting, stakeholder consultation, and inter-governmental coordination. Proven leadership in managing multi-disciplinary teams, balancing competing priorities, and providing evidence-based advice under time-sensitive conditions. Experience in administrative and managerial roles is essential.

No contact details are included in this description.