Deputy Director (Food Safety Risk - Plant) | NAFSA

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: Conduct, commission, or validate scientific risk assessments for plant-origin food safety hazards (chemical, biological, and physical) across the food chain. Define data requirements and analytical approaches for risk profiling of plant-based foods and commodities, including prioritisation of hazards and pathways. Develop evidence-based recommendations for risk management measures and risk based inspection/controls to reduce food safety risks. Design and refine risk-based food control models and regulatory categorisation of food business operators and commodities (risk-based targeting). Maintain and update food safety risk profiles, risk matrices, and technical guidance based on surveillance, testing, and international intelligence. Coordinate with provincial food authorities, laboratories, academia, and industry to collect and validate data required for risk assessment. Prepare technical briefs and risk communication notes for senior leadership, including response inputs for incidents, border rejections, and emerging risks. Support Scientific Committee deliberations by providing well-documented risk opinions and analytical summaries. Perform any other responsibilities assigned by the reporting officer in support of NAFSA’s mandate. Requirements Education: M.Sc. (Hons.) / MPhil (minimum eighteen years of education) in Food Science & Technology, Microbiology, or a closely related discipline. Experience: Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in food safety risk assessment, food control, laboratory/analytical work, or SPS-related regulation (plant-origin foods). Knowledge of Codex Alimentarius, WTO-SPS principles, and risk analysis approaches applied to food safety. Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret laboratory and surveillance data into risk-based recommendations. Excellent drafting and communication skills for technical briefs and regulatory advice. Research publications in HEC-recognised journals (preferred). For contact, kindly reach out to hr.support@psw.gov.pk.