Director (Standards & Regulatory Division)

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, facilitation, and modernization of food safety and trade processes. The selected candidate will join NAFSA’s foundational team, playing a key role in developing systems, processes, and institutional capabilities that support the Authority’s mandate.

Key Responsibilities

The Director will report to the Deputy Director General (Scientific Advisory & Policy Wing) and provide senior managerial and coordination support. The role involves leading the development and periodic review of national Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) policies, rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines related to plant health, animal health, food safety, pesticides, and all related service providers, including laboratories under NAFSA’s jurisdiction.

The incumbent will develop science-based standards and regulatory frameworks aligned with Pakistan’s international obligations, such as WTO-SPS, IPPC/ISPMs, WOAH standards, and Codex. Advising NAFSA management on SPS-related regulations and standards impacting trade facilitation, market access, compliance, and dispute resolution is a critical function.

The Director will issue binding technical instructions, regulatory standards, and policy directives for implementation by the Operations Wing and other competent authorities. Coordination of national SPS measures with international standards and managing the adoption or adaptation of standards will be essential. The role also requires liaising with provincial departments and regulators to harmonize standards and regulations and support capacity building for coherent national SPS governance.

Developing training modules and guidance materials on SPS measures, quarantine regulations, and compliance requirements for internal and external stakeholders is expected. The Director will oversee regulatory drafting, consultation processes, and documentation control, including maintaining registers of standards, pest lists, and Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) where applicable.

Managing work plans, allocating resources, mentoring staff, and ensuring the quality and timeliness of outputs within the Scientific Regulatory Division (SRD) are key leadership responsibilities. The Director will collaborate closely with other NAFSA formations to ensure standards and regulatory outputs are implementable, well-documented, and aligned with the NAFSA Act and international SPS frameworks.

Providing technical support for change management and capacity building of stakeholders to achieve compliance with standards, guidelines, and regulations is also required. The Director will ensure all subordinates perform according to their job descriptions and undertake any other responsibilities assigned in support of NAFSA’s mandate.

Required Qualifications

A Master’s degree (Hons.) or M.Phil (eighteen years of education) in Agriculture (specializing in Plant Protection, Entomology, Plant Pathology, or Weed Science), Veterinary/Public Health, Food Science/Microbiology, Chemistry/Toxicology, or a relevant discipline is required. A PhD is preferred.

Candidates must have a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in regulatory management, SPS policy, standards development, quarantine or food safety regulation. Experience should include demonstrated skills in drafting regulations and compliance procedures.

Strong knowledge of international SPS frameworks and their application in national regulatory contexts is essential. Excellent drafting, analytical, and stakeholder consultation skills are required, along with proven leadership capabilities and experience managing multidisciplinary teams.

Research publications in HEC-recognized journals are preferred but not mandatory.

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This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a pioneering national initiative aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s agri-trade and food safety regulatory environment, working at the intersection of science, policy, and trade facilitation.