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, playing a critical role in developing systems, processes, and institutional capabilities to 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 related to plant health, animal health, food safety, pesticides, and associated service providers including laboratories under NAFSA’s jurisdiction.

- Develop science-based standards and regulatory frameworks aligned with Pakistan’s international obligations, including WTO-SPS, IPPC/ISPMs, WOAH standards, and Codex Alimentarius.

- Provide expert advice to NAFSA management on SPS-related regulations and standards impacting 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 oversee processes for adopting or adapting standards where appropriate.

- Collaborate with provincial departments and regulators to promote harmonized standards and regulations, and support capacity building for cohesive 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, stakeholder consultation processes, and documentation control, including maintaining registers of standards, pest lists, and Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) where applicable.

- Manage work plans for the Standards and Regulatory Development (SRD) team, allocate resources effectively, mentor staff, and ensure the quality and timeliness of deliverables.

- Work closely with other NAFSA divisions to ensure that standards and regulatory outputs are practical, well-documented, and compliant with the NAFSA Act and international SPS frameworks.

- Provide technical support for change management and capacity building initiatives aimed at achieving stakeholder compliance with established standards, guidelines, and regulations.

- Ensure all subordinate staff perform according to their job descriptions and contribute effectively to the Authority’s objectives.

- Undertake any additional responsibilities assigned by the reporting officer to support NAFSA’s mandate.

Required Qualifications

- Master’s degree (Hons.) or M.Phil (18 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 closely related discipline. A PhD is preferred.

- Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in regulatory management, SPS policy formulation, standards development, and quarantine or food safety regulation. Experience in drafting regulatory documents and compliance procedures is essential.

- Strong knowledge of international SPS frameworks and practical experience in applying these frameworks within national regulatory systems.

- Excellent skills in drafting, analysis, and stakeholder consultation.

- Proven leadership capabilities with experience managing multidisciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Research publications in Higher Education Commission (HEC)-recognized journals are preferred.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a landmark national initiative that will shape Pakistan’s agri-trade and food safety landscape. The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic team committed to regulatory excellence and international compliance.