DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

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.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

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:                             

Partnerships Officer - Global Philanthropy

UNIT/DIVISION:                                       

Private Sector Partnerships (PSP)

DUTY STATION:                                     

Rome HQ                                                          

CONTRACT TYPE:                             

CST II

LINE MANAGER/SUPERVISOR:     

Head of Global Philanthropy, PSP

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, directly assisting 152 million people in 2023. The needs are still immense, and the 2025 SOFI report estimates that  between 638 and 720 million people, corresponding to 7.8 and 8.8 percent of the global population, respectively, faced hunger in 2024. WFP’s mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetime.

WFP and its partners believe that no-one should go to bed hungry and that individual and collective wellbeing can only be achieved if all children, women and men get the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, dignified lives. Each year, WFP works globally as an emergency responder, one that is often the first on the scene in the most difficult environments. WFP also works with partners to strengthen the resilience of communities most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition through long-term development programmes aimed at boosting food security, local economies, education, employment and gender equality. 

To contribute to a world with Zero Hunger, WFP is investing in and growing private sector partnerships to reach more people. The Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSP) is responsible for engaging the private sector (corporations, individuals, foundations, philanthropy) through high-impact partnerships in support of WFP's strategic priorities, and through individual giving to build and retain support from the general public worldwide. Partnerships can be fundraising or/ and technical in nature, with some bringing purely financial resources to the organization, whereas other bringing in-kind support, in the form of expertise and assets. PSP mobilizes funding, technical assistance, innovative solutions, visibility and awareness to help WFP fulfil its mission and operations. PSP also provides guidance to WFP Regional Bureaus (RBs), Country Offices (COs) and HQ Technical Units on partnership development, best practices, as well as compliance with rules and regulations for engaging with the private sector. Joining PSP is an exciting opportunity for experienced professionals to co-develop and implement our new private partnerships and fundraising strategy.

JOB PURPOSE  

Philanthropy is the most recent pillar of WFP's private sector partnerships Division. It holds great potential proven in recent years and we are building a team to drive concrete, impactful outcomes in the next phase of WFP’s Private Sector strategy. We are looking for a talented Partnerships Officer with proven experience in and a deep understanding of Head of Global Philanthropy based in Rome, Italy, at a CST II level. The role will report to the Head of Global Philanthropy and be an integral part of the recently established Global Philanthropy team. The Partnerships Officer will provide support across the full partnership lifecycle of WFP’s portfolio of prospective global philanthropists across WFP markets globally, with a clear focus on Business development, identifying and engaging with high-net-worth individuals, leveraging their expertise and resources to create innovative solutions for hunger relief.

The workstream falls under the WFP Deputy Director and works closely with the WFP’s Leadership, High Value Individual Giving Team, the Corporate Business Development function and the Foundations Team to ensure alignment and cross-team working is established to drive UHNWI prospecting and partnership development, developing strategies and criteria for UHNWI supporter journeys and uplift.  The incumbent will provide valuable contributions to the WFP team through direct client relationships, including leading project management, developing new proposals, and working with team members to meet client needs with the highest-quality product. A successful candidate for this position is highly organized, understands WFP programmes and work very well and can work with others to move big ideas into fully realized concepts and materials. 

KEY STANDARD ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Lead on creation and execution of a Business Development Strategy, Workplan and Pipeline
• Drive research and lead on identification and prioritization of high value prospects
• Lead on development of engagement / outreach strategies for prospect cultivation and landing, including tailored values-driven legacies
• Provide advice, guidance and recommendations to WFP management on growing WFP’s Philanthropic pipeline and partnerships
• Grow the HNWI prospect and partner list considerably and sustainably
• Provide advice on the establishment of an exclusive philanthropic club focused on WFP’s mission, including planning and executing engagement strategies, developing outreach strategies and maintaining a healthy pipeline of prospects across various regions, in collaboration with Global Offices and Country Offices
• Support launch of WFP philanthropic club in May 2026
• Liaise with both technical and field-based colleagues around WFP, to design and oversee innovative programmes and initiatives that leverage philanthropic investments to achieve measurable impacts for Zero Hunger.
• Lead on leveraging high- level cultivation opportunities, including events, conferences, forums, panels, and roundtables.  Ensure WFP is positioned as a ”go-to” organization for partnerships with UHNWIs.
• Support the planning and execution of high-profile events co-hosted by WFP
• Collaborate with other areas across the organization to develop effective customized communication materials that speak to the motivations of a UHNWI audience, as well as materials to support senior leadership meetings to grow existing partners.
• Support the PSP Leadership and the Office of the Executive Director in mapping relevant engagement opportunities, and drafting supporting documents and materials including speeches and briefing materials to ensure high-impact, high-quality engagements, in collaboration with the Communications team
• Lead in maintaining Salesforce up to date, deliver biannual forecasting exercises.

DELIVERABLES

• Global Philanthropy Business Development Strategy and work plan
• Guidance for HQ Partnerships and Technical teams , RBs and COs to engage more strategically and systematically with HNWI
• Updated prospect lists, engagement/outreach strategies and communications materials/pitches for HNWI
• Updated Salesforce entries

SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• You have a demonstrated leadership in the development and negotiation of bespoke partnerships with High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and Family Foundations/Offices, and/or have worked in a previous philanthropic role.
• You have a demonstrated track record of cultivating and stewarding relationships with HNWIs/Family Offices/Foundations at the highest level, delivering sustained revenue growth and personally securing six and seven figure donations.
• You have proven experience in growing and developing an existing portfolio, with demonstrable outcomes and outputs and financial results.
• You have extensive new business experience—experienced in research, planning, preparing, and delivering new proposals and negotiating with potential partners with a proven track record of successful cultivation of global prospects from different geographical and cultural backgrounds.
• Experience prospecting and securing new high-value partners in an international organization with a development/humanitarian mission is desirable. Experience and knowledge of the banking sector is preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education

• First University degree in Political Science, International Relations, Development Economics, Marketing Communications, or another relevant field. Masters degree is desirable.

Work history

• At least 8 years’ experience in global philanthropy partnership development/ management and experience of working in financial services. Knowledge of humanitarian/development sector a plus.

Soft skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent project management skills, and have a proven record of bringing projects from inception to fruition.
• Strong strategic thinking and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to cultivate relationships and influence senior decision-makers.
• Understanding or appreciation for working in a large, complex, hierarchical, decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
• Drive, determination, and are resilient in the face of barriers and setbacks, key to succeed in growing a new function for WFP.
• Superior ability in explaining complex issues to external partners, presenting the organization and diverse operations compellingly, including when to leverage the experience of internal stakeholders in a sales pitch, and understanding how to align the needs and interests of the organization with those of a corporate partner.
• Highly adaptable to change and comfortable dealing with ambiguity, stress, and competing demands with grace and a sense of humor.

Language(s)

• Fully fluent in oral and written English;
• Intermediate/ advanced knowledge of another official UN language would be an asset (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).

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.

• 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.