Deputy Director General (Operations) | 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 and trade processes. The successful candidate will join NAFSA’s foundational team, playing a critical role in developing systems, processes, and institutional capabilities that support the organization’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for all operational functions within the Operations Wing, ensuring effective implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures as mandated by the NAFSA Act and related rules. Oversee import and export control operations at all designated points of entry and exit, including seaports, airports, dry ports, and land borders. This includes managing inspection, sampling, and detention decisions in line with approved standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Lead the implementation of inspection and quarantine controls for plants, animals, food, and feed, ensuring alignment with international standards such as Codex Alimentarius, WOAH, and IPPC, as well as national requirements. Ensure timely and credible certification, licensing, and registration of business operators and consignments, with robust controls to prevent fraud and enhance service delivery.

Implement risk management decisions based on scientific advice and risk assessments, maintaining a risk-based approach to prioritize controls on high-risk goods and operators. Direct domestic inspection programs for food safety and SPS compliance across markets, processing facilities, and supply chains, including coordination of product recalls and corrective actions when necessary.

Lead national preparedness and crisis management efforts for SPS emergencies, such as outbreaks or contamination incidents, including incident command, coordination, and public risk communication. Manage a network of regional offices, quarantine stations, and inspection facilities, ensuring adequate staffing, training, supervision, and integrity controls.

Coordinate closely with provincial governments and relevant agencies—including Customs, Ports, Airports, Maritime, Health, Livestock, and Agriculture departments—to ensure harmonized enforcement and implementation of SPS measures. Oversee the development and enforcement of operational SOPs, checklists, sampling/testing protocols, and evidence handling procedures, upholding service standards and ethical conduct.

Drive operational performance management by defining key performance indicators (KPIs), monitoring trends such as clearance times and compliance rates, and reporting to the Director General with recommendations for corrective actions. Facilitate integration with national digital trade facilitation systems, including e-certification, data exchange, and workflow automation.

Lead the transition and integration of operational functions, assets, and staff from the abolished Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and Animal Quarantine Department (AQD), ensuring continuity of services and minimizing trade disruptions.

Required Qualifications

A PhD or Master’s degree (16 years of education) in veterinary sciences, plant protection/quarantine, food technology/safety, business/public administration/management, public policy, logistics/supply chain, economics, or a related discipline recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Professional certifications in operations or project management (such as PMP or PRINCE2), quality management, or public sector management are advantageous.

Candidates should have a strong understanding of SPS inspection regimes, sampling and testing workflows, quarantine operations, and certification integrity controls. A technical degree in relevant fields is a plus but not mandatory.

Experience

A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience managing large-scale operations or service delivery within regulatory bodies, autonomous organizations, or complex public/private sector entities is required. At least five years must be in a senior leadership role.

Demonstrated expertise in operational planning, incident and crisis response, and sound decision-making under pressure is essential. Experience in coordinating with multiple government agencies and provincial departments, as well as engaging private sector operators to improve compliance, is highly desirable.

Proven ability to develop and implement SOPs, performance management systems, and integrity controls for frontline operations is expected. Familiarity with digital trade facilitation platforms, data-driven targeting, and integration with national systems is an advantage.

Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills, combined with high integrity and the ability to operate effectively in time-critical situations, are critical for success in this role.