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 stronger regulatory oversight, facilitation and modernisation of food safety and trade processes. Reporting to the Deputy Director General (Operations), the Director leads pesticide business registration, product registration, testing and analysis, studies and certification systems, and strengthens operational readiness, integrity controls and customer service for import, export and inter-regional SPS controls.

Key responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and oversight of pesticide registration, testing, studies and certification systems within NAFSA's mandate.
• Ensure implementation of notified pesticide regulations and alignment with international best practices and 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.
• 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.
• Establish KPIs and reporting mechanisms for regulatory performance, service delivery and compliance.

Required profile

• M.Sc. (Hons.) / MPhil (minimum eighteen years of education) in Agriculture (Entomology, Plant Protection, Plant Pathology, Weed Science), Chemistry (Analytical/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.