Senior Phytosanitary / Plant Health Expert

About the role

NTU International is seeking a senior expert to support the development of Uzbekistan’s plant health system under an EU‑funded technical assistance programme. The role will focus on strengthening phytosanitary governance, export certification and institutional quality management for the Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection.

Key responsibilities

• Assist the Agency in aligning phytosanitary procedures with international standards and best practices.
• Provide technical guidance on phytosanitary legislation, SPS compliance and export certification systems.
• Develop and review institutional quality‑management frameworks, operational procedures and technical guidelines.
• Prepare phytosanitary assessments, regulatory analyses, risk‑management procedures and policy recommendations.
• Support the improvement of laboratory capacities, pest‑surveillance networks and diagnostic services.
• Coordinate with government bodies, laboratories, exporters, producers and development partners.
• Deliver workshops, trainings and capacity‑building activities on plant health governance.
• Contribute to monitoring, reporting and analytical outputs related to plant‑health reforms.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in plant protection, agronomy, plant pathology, agricultural sciences or a related field.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in plant health, phytosanitary systems or SPS governance, including work in developing or transition economies.
• Minimum 7 years of hands‑on experience with phytosanitary systems, plant quarantine, export certification or IPPC standards.
• Demonstrated experience in international development cooperation and donor‑funded programmes.

Required skills

• Phytosanitary legislation and SPS compliance
• Export certification systems
• IPPC standards and phytosanitary inspections
• Pest‑surveillance and monitoring systems
• Laboratory diagnostics and pest identification
• Risk‑management and regulatory analysis