Director (Surveillance, Diagnostics, Business Registration & Coordination)

Director (Surveillance, Diagnostics, Business Registration & Coordination)

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.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Deputy Director General (Operations), the Director coordinates and drives consistent, risk-based implementation of NAFSA’s operational functions across directorates and field formations. The role supports operational planning and performance management, standardizes operational SOPs and service delivery, coordinates cross-agency interfaces at points of entry/exit, and ensures operational feedback loops to SAPW for continuous improvement of standards, protocols and regulatory instruments. The position strengthens operational readiness, integrity controls and customer service for import, export and inter-regional SPS controls.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for SPS surveillance, diagnostic systems, business registration frameworks, and regulatory coordination across relevant domains.

• Ensure establishment and maintenance of national pest/disease surveillance and early warning systems in accordance with international standards.

• Oversee diagnostic laboratory networks and ensure quality, standardisation, and reliability of diagnostic services and results.

• Oversee implementation of business registration and approval systems for regulated operators and facilities as notified.

• Ensure structured coordination between surveillance, diagnostics, ITC operations, and market access divisions through information exchange and joint planning.

• Review and endorse surveillance reports, pest/disease status declarations, and regulatory recommendations for higher-level decision-making.

• Advise NAFSA leadership on emerging biosecurity risks, diagnostic gaps, and systemic vulnerabilities and propose corrective actions.

• Establish KPIs and reporting mechanisms for surveillance coverage, diagnostic turnaround, compliance monitoring, and registration system performance.

• 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 (Plant Protection/Entomology/Plant Pathology, Weed Science), Veterinary Sciences, Epidemiology, Public Health, or related discipline.

Experience

• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in surveillance, diagnostics, biosecurity, regulatory operations, or related management roles.

• Strong understanding of surveillance system design, diagnostics quality systems, and regulatory coordination requirements.

• Proven leadership, integrity, and stakeholder management skills.

• Research publications in HEC-recognized journals (preferred).

• Proven leadership and ability to manage multidisciplinary teams.

• Research publications in HEC-recognised journals (preferred).