Deputy Director (ITC Animals)

About the role

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) is recruiting on behalf of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) for a Deputy Director (ITC Animals) position. NAFSA is being set up as a national initiative to strengthen Pakistan's agri-trade ecosystem through stronger regulatory oversight, facilitation and modernisation of food safety and trade processes. The selected candidate will join NAFSA's foundational team, working on-site in Karachi.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and oversee implementation of animal inspection and quarantine controls at points of entry and exit in line with notified SPS measures and NAFSA regulations.
• Supervise and control the administrative and operational functions of animal quarantine and inspection teams at ports, airports and border crossings.
• Carry out and/or oversee onboard and physical inspections of animals and animal products, including verification of health certificates and supporting documents.
• Determine quarantine conditions and recommend quarantine lengths, including required tests and observation.
• Ensure proper sampling, cold-chain monitoring and sample transmission to notified laboratories, and interpret results for compliance decisions.
• Issue, validate or recommend international veterinary certificates and ensure standardised use of approved formats.
• Direct enforcement actions for non-compliant consignments, such as detention, re-export, treatment or destruction, as prescribed by law and SOPs.
• Maintain import/export records, activity reports and reconciliation of fees and receipts related to certification and official controls.
• Coordinate with Customs, port authorities, airlines and shipping lines and other border agencies.
• Inspect and supervise compliance of approved export-oriented premises such as slaughterhouses, casing units and processing facilities.
• Feed back to SAPW (Risk Assessment and SRD) on operational issues and non-compliance trends, and ensure staff follow biosafety, biosecurity and animal welfare SOPs.

Required profile

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent recognised by PVMC (preferred).
• Master's degree (16 years of education) or demonstrated experience in international trade/SPS, veterinary public health, epidemiology or related fields (preferred).
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in animal quarantine, border inspection, veterinary public health or SPS enforcement, including supervisory experience.

Required skills

• Strong knowledge of animal health certification, quarantine operations and national SPS legislation, including the legacy Pakistan Animal Quarantine Act, 1979/Rules 1980 where applicable.
• Ability to manage field operations, shift rosters and multi-agency coordination at ports of entry and exit.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills with attention to compliance.

To apply, candidates should submit their application through Pakistan Single Window.