Director (Standards & Regulatory Division)

This position is being recruited by Pakistan Single Window (PSW) 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 selected candidate will join NAFSA’s foundational team and play a key role in developing systems, processes, and institutional capabilities that support the Authority’s mandate.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the development and periodic review of national Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) policies, rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines covering plant health, animal health, food safety, pesticides, and related service providers, including laboratories within NAFSA’s jurisdiction. Develop science-based standards and regulatory frameworks that align with Pakistan’s international obligations, such as WTO-SPS, IPPC/ISPMs, WOAH standards, and Codex Alimentarius.

Provide expert advice to NAFSA management on SPS-related regulations and standards that impact trade facilitation, market access, compliance, and dispute resolution. Issue binding technical instructions, regulatory standards, and policy directives for implementation by the Operations Wing and other designated authorities.

Coordinate the harmonization of national SPS measures with international standards and manage processes for adopting or adapting standards where justified. Liaise with provincial departments and regulators to support the harmonization of standards and regulations, as well as capacity building, to ensure coherent national SPS governance.

Develop training modules and guidance materials on SPS measures, quarantine regulations, and compliance requirements for both internal teams and external stakeholders. Oversee regulatory drafting, consultation processes, and documentation control, including maintaining registers of standards, pest lists, and Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) where applicable.

Manage the Scientific Regulatory Division’s work plans, allocate resources effectively, mentor staff, and ensure the quality and timeliness of deliverables. Collaborate closely with other NAFSA formations to ensure that standards and regulatory outputs are practical, well-documented, and aligned with the NAFSA Act and international SPS frameworks.

Provide technical support for change management and capacity building among stakeholders to achieve compliance with established standards, guidelines, and regulations. Ensure all subordinate staff perform according to their job descriptions and undertake any additional responsibilities assigned by the reporting officer 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 Science, Public Health, Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Toxicology, or a related discipline. A PhD is preferred.

Experience

A minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in regulatory management, SPS policy formulation, standards development, and quarantine or food safety regulation is required. The candidate should have demonstrated expertise in drafting regulations and compliance procedures. Strong knowledge of international SPS frameworks and their application to national regulatory contexts is essential.

Excellent drafting, analytical, and stakeholder consultation skills are necessary. Proven leadership capabilities and experience managing multidisciplinary teams are required. Research publications in Higher Education Commission (HEC)-recognized journals are preferred.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute significantly to the establishment and growth of a key national authority, working at the intersection of science, policy, and trade facilitation to enhance Pakistan’s agri-trade and food safety landscape.