Long Term Consultant: International Specialist: ISO Accreditation Specialist - ADB LAO Sustainable Agrifood Systems Sector Project

Background: Winrock International is recruiting an International Specialist: ISO Accreditation Specialist for an Asian Development Bank (ADB) opportunity in Laos focused on Sustainable Agrifood systems. The project will contribute to food security and nutrition improved, and agricultural value addition increased in a climate resilient and gender-responsive manner in Lao PDR. This position will be a part-time consultancy that will require a commitment of 2 person months over a 5-year period.

Location: Remote.

Major Responsibilities:

• Identify current knowledge on food microbiology at the various laboratories.
• Identify current sampling protocols, methods and tools in the various industries such as slaughterhouses, food processing companies and water bottling companies.
• Identify existing food microbiological parameters and to what extent these parameters are harmonised with Codex and where relevant with EU.
• Conduct a workshop on food microbiology and emphasize on food hygiene indicators and food safety parameters and its norms and limits with Codex and EU 2073/2006 on food microbiology as reference material.
• Discusses the difference between Coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae as indicator organism for food.
• Introduce ISO 17604:2015 microbiology of the food chain — carcass sampling for microbiological analysis.
• Introduce Guidance note 35 Guidance on Establishing Appropriate Microbiological Sampling Frequencies in Low Throughput Slaughterhouses and Meat processing plants.
• Make recommendations to amend food micro biological relevant to the country and combine this with the introduction of hygiene indicators and food safety parameters.
• Ensuring the appropriate sampling schemes for the microbiological risks included in Lao food regulations according to 2 and 3 class attributes are applied by the food industry.
• Evaluating results of microbiological analyses of food products and advises on risk categorisation for imports and domestic food products.

Qualifications

Education: M.Sc. in veterinary science, food science or with a medical background

Experience:

• Proven hands-on experience with the implementation of the ISO 17025-2017 standard in the food- or feed sector at multiple laboratories
• S/he shall also have proven experience that laboratories finally achieved ISO 17025 accreditation for selected food safety and or quality parameters and experience in the food and feed sector
• Experience working in LAO PDR preferred
• Experience working with ADB preferred.
• Experience working in ASEAN countries – particularly in Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Cambodia considered as an advantage

Computer Skills: Proficiency in using Microsoft Office software, including Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Advanced proficiency in Excel is preferred.

Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, including effective public speaking and the ability to communicate complex issues both verbally and in written form.

Language: Fluent in English (written and spoken), Thai or Lao language skills (preferred)

Physical Demands: Travel to Laos may be required.

This position is based on-going donor funding. 

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability or any other basis protected by law. 

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