Director (Pesticide Registration & Certification)

About the role

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) is recruiting on behalf of the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA), which is being set up to strengthen Pakistan's agri-trade ecosystem through better regulatory oversight, facilitation and modernisation of food safety and trade processes. The Director reports to the Deputy Director General (Operations) and supports operational planning, performance management, standardisation of SOPs and service delivery, coordination of cross-agency interfaces at entry and exit points, and feedback to SAPW for continuous improvement of standards and regulatory instruments.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and oversee pesticide business registration, product registration, testing and analysis, studies and certification systems within NAFSA's mandate.
• Ensure implementation of notified pesticide regulations in line with international best practice and relevant guidelines.
• Safeguard scientific integrity, transparency and consistency in regulatory decisions and ensure robust documentation.
• Supervise subordinate units to ensure functional separation, accountability and checks and balances across registration, studies and testing.
• Review and endorse registration outcomes, regulatory actions and compliance reports for higher-level approval where required.
• Coordinate with industry, provinces, laboratories and research institutions on pesticide regulation matters.
• Advise NAFSA leadership on emerging risks, regulatory gaps and capacity needs, including proposals for system strengthening.
• Set KPIs and reporting mechanisms for regulatory performance, service delivery and compliance.

Required profile

• M.Sc. (Hons.) or MPhil (minimum 18 years of education) in Agriculture (Entomology, Plant Protection, Plant Pathology, Weed Science), Chemistry (Analytical or Environmental), Environmental Sciences or equivalent; PhD preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in pesticide regulation, studies, analysis and testing, or related regulatory leadership roles.
• Demonstrated understanding of pesticide regulatory frameworks, risk-based decision-making and governance and quality assurance.
• Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills.
• Research publications in HEC-recognised journals preferred.