Programme Policy Consultant (EPR Team Lead), Level II - 2 Positions

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

Job Title:        Programme Policy Consultant (EPR Team Lead)

Type of Contract:    International Consultancy - CST level 2 (2 positions)

Unit/Division:        Emergency Preparedness & Response Unit/Programme 

Duty Station:     Juba, South Sudan

Duration:        11 months (subject to renewal based on performance and budget availability)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.  It is an autonomous joint programme of the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).  WFP was the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. 

From 2026, WFP has an opportunity to re-shape its long-standing food assistance operations in South Sudan, focusing on the highest impact interventions for those parts of the country most affected by hunger, conflict, climate shocks, and marginalization.  

The Emergency Unit, in which this assignment is located, is responsible for designing and facilitating the delivery of crisis response activities under the WFP South Sudan Country Strategic Plan (CSP).  It is the largest programmatic portfolio in the Country Office.  In 2026, crisis response activities will comprise a response to avert an acute food and nutrition crisis, a lean season response, transitional assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees (including refugees from Sudan), and ad hoc responses to needs assessed by inter-agency bodies—delivered through distribution of in-kind food and specialized nutritious foods, cash-based transfers, and early recovery mechanisms.

Under this assignment, the consultant will lead one of two teams to drive performance across the Emergency Unit’s crisis response portfolio.  Responsibilities will span the entire programme cycle—in close consultation with technical colleagues across the Country Office.

The consultants will report to the Head of Emergency and have supervisory responsibilities over a team of 2 to 4 team members.  The consultants will be called upon periodically to act as officer-in-charge of the Emergency Unit in the absence of the Head of Emergency and to travel to the deep field. 

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.    Provide technical advice, or mobilize appropriate technical expertise, on the design of food assistance programmes under crisis response, including the phases of assessment and analysis; refinement of objectives, targeting, and prioritization; selection of activities, modalities, and food products; and alignment with the Country Strategic Plan (CSP), with WFP’s cross-cutting priorities, and with government, donor, and inter-agency programmes and objectives.
2.    Manage and provide technical advice on the delivery and performance of food assistance programmes under crisis response, including the allocation and tracking of in-kind commodities; the preparation of cash distribution schedules and related fund reservations; selection and evaluation of cooperating partners; oversight of the upstream and downstream resource pipelines; support to field offices and cooperating partners in delivering the “last mile”; and defining and resolving operational issues with Country Office enabling services units (such as Logistics, Aviation, Conflict Sensitivity & Access, Security).

3.    Coordinate cross-functional workstreams across Country Office units in support of the design, implementation, and reporting of crisis response interventions.  Key counterparts include the identity management & cash-based transfer unit, cooperating partner management unit, budget & programming, partnerships, vulnerability analysis & mapping, logistics, monitoring & evaluation, and IT.  Propose coordination structures and processes, as required.

4.    Research, follow, and incorporate current knowledge and evidence on technological developments and innovative programme approaches in the crisis response field.  

5.    Provide technical advice to management on programme policy compliance matters, including development of practices and processes that implement corporate programme policies as expressed in Executive Board decisions, corporate circulars, directives, and manuals, and other relevant guidance.

6.    Contribute to knowledge management of the Emergency Unit through continual documentation of key business processes and best practices and of operational matters put forth for management decision.

7.    Develop and coordinate systems and processes to produce relevant, timely, and high-quality operational data.  

8.    Contribute to the drafting of donor reports and WFP corporate planning and reporting documents; prepare timely and audience-appropriate data, analyses, status reports, and other information products for internal or external use.

9.    Establish and maintain collaborative and constructive working relationships across the Country Office structure, including with each Field Office; with national and sub-national governmental actors; with other UN and non-governmental organizations and partners; and with inter-agency clusters.  Identify opportunities for collaboration, information-sharing, and capacity-building, and for increased government ownership of emergency and development programming.  Represent WFP at operational coordination fora, as assigned.

10.    Contribute to resource mobilizations efforts for WFP projects through the preparation of proposals and otherwise through articulation of the food insecurity context and needs, relevant challenges, and WFP’s value proposition / comparative advantage.

11.    Lead a team to deliver on an agreed portfolio.  Promote teamwork, provide appropriate and timely feedback, and support professional development of team members.

12.    Produce other deliverables and support other tasks, initiatives, or processes, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Education 

Advanced university degree (required) in one or more of the following disciplines (preferred):  agriculture, land / water resource management, environment, public health, social sciences, disaster risk management, international affairs, law, or business management.  
OR university degree with additional years of related work experience or training (required).

Experience    

- For master’s degree holder, at least 6 years of professional experience designing, coordinating, and/or managing the implementation of emergency assistance at country- or field-level, at or alongside a UN organization, a WFP cooperating partner, or another NGO. (required).  
- For bachelor’s degree holder, at least 8 years of the above experience is required
- At least 1 year of experience at a hardship, non-family duty station (required). 

Technical knowledge
- Specific knowledge and work experience in at least three of the following areas (required):
•    Relief to resilience programming
•    Food insecurity and vulnerability analyses
•    Refugee and IDP programming
•    Cash-based modalities
•    Early recovery and livelihoods programming
•    Monitoring & evaluation
•    Grants management
- Project management certification will be viewed favorably (preferred).

- General knowledge of the UN system (preferred).

Skills    

The candidate must possess a combination of strong analytical and inter-personal skills. In particular, he or she must be able to: 

•    Gain the trust of and motivate a team to perform.
•    Understand and provide clear delegations of authority and accountability lines. 
•    Critically review and analyse data and other information. 
•    Draft technical documents clearly and concisely for varied purposes and audiences (writing sample required). 
•    Anticipate requirements, problems, and obstacles and problem-solve with creativity and flexibility. 
•    Work accurately at a fast pace and within deadlines. 
•    Manage multiple and competing demands in an organized and timely manner and with a sense of when and how to elevate issues. 
•    Demonstrate a high degree of personal accountability for completed work products / delivery of an outcome, including when undertaken as part of a team. 
•    Drive progress in and resolution of open matters, while fostering a culture of efficient information-sharing and collaboration across units. 
•    Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external actors.

The candidate must demonstrate:
•    High proficiency in the use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel (required). 
•    Proficiency in PowerPoint and other common Microsoft 365 applications (required); and 
•    Proficiency in WFP corporate data systems (preferred)

Language

Advanced proficiency (Level C) in English is required.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please ensure that your application includes a covering letter and an up-to-date CV (mandatory requirement).

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.

• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org for technical support only.

• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language

• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter

• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time

• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.