Deputy Director (Surveillance, Diagnostics & Coordination - Plant)

This position is being recruited by Pakistan Single Window (PSW) on behalf of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA). NAFSA is being established as a strategic national initiative to strengthen Pakistan’s agri-trade ecosystem through enhanced regulatory oversight, facilitation, and modernization of food safety and trade processes. The selected candidate will be part of NAFSA’s foundational team, contributing to the development of systems, processes, and institutional capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage national and regional plant pest surveillance programmes, including survey planning, data validation, and reporting.
• Supervise diagnostic laboratories and diagnostic services to ensure standardised procedures, quality assurance, and technical competence.
• Implement and administer business registration and approval systems for plant related operators and facilities as notified under applicable laws.
• Ensure coordination between surveillance, diagnostics, ITC operations, and market access divisions through structured information exchange.
• Monitor compliance of registered plant-related businesses with approval conditions and regulatory requirements, and recommend actions where applicable.
• Review and consolidate surveillance data, laboratory findings, and compliance reports for submission to the Director.
• Support pest reporting, pest status updates, and technical inputs for PRA and market access processes.
• Conduct/oversee surveys, inspections, monitoring, and management of facilities and pest-free areas/zones/sites as assigned.
• Perform any other responsibilities assigned by the reporting officer in support of NAFSA’s mandate.

Requirements

Education

• M.Sc. (Hons.) / MPhil (minimum eighteen years) in Agriculture with specialization in Entomology, Plant Protection, Plant Pathology, Weed Science or related field.

Experience

• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in plant pest surveillance, diagnostics coordination, plant quarantine/biosecurity, or related regulatory operations
• Knowledge of surveillance design, diagnostic QA, and phytosanitary/biosecurity requirements.
• Strong reporting and coordination skills with high integrity.
• Research publications in HEC-recognised journals (preferred).

For contact, kindly reach out to [email hidden].