Parliament and Policy Officer

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: Parliament and Policy Officer

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultant, Level 1

UNIT/DIVISION: Public Partnerships Division (PPD)

DUTY STATION (City, Country): London, UK

DURATION: 11 months ​

ABOUT WFP
The United Nations 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. The London Office plays a key role in fostering strategic partnerships and engaging UK stakeholders, including the Government, parliament, media, private sector, academia, civil society and the public.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
We are seeking an experienced Parliamentary and Policy Officer to lead and strengthen WFP's engagement with UK parliamentarians, NGOs, think tanks and other influential stakeholders. The successful candidate will proactively expand and coordinate WFP's network, identify opportunities for strategic collaboration, and coordinate advocacy efforts that advance humanitarian and development priorities. This is an exciting opportunity to shape WFP's political and policy engagement in the UK and strengthen support for global efforts to end hunger and respond to humanitarian crises.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITES

Parliamentary Engagement

• Position WFP as a trusted partner and authoritative voice on global hunger, food security and humanitarian response within Parliament.

• Monitor and analyse and provide strategic advice on party policies on humanitarian and development issues.

• Proactively build, maintain and coordinate engagement with a network of parliamentarians to engage on humanitarian and development issues.

• Lead the coordination of parliamentary engagement activities and ensure effective follow-up on advocacy priorities and stakeholder relationships.

• Foster relationships with select committees, parliamentary groups and bodies to enhance engagement, shape inquiries and influence the outcomes of reports, including drafting written submissions, securing WFP witnesses in evidence sessions, and sharing relevant information.   

• Identify and leverage opportunities for WFP to influence key parliamentary stakeholders through strategic advocacy and positioning, including the preparation of briefings and tailored messaging for political audiences as well as high-level meetings with WFP leadership. 

Policy Analysis

• Develop a strong overview of WFP’s policy and operational priorities and identify alignment with UK priorities.

• Lead political and policy analysis for the London Office, anticipating emerging trends, risks and opportunities relevant to WFP's objectives.

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• Monitor and analyse policy developments and debates in the UK relevant to humanitarian action, food security and international development, providing timely insights and recommendations.

Partnerships

• Lead political and policy analysis for the London Office, anticipating emerging trends, risks and opportunities relevant to WFP's objectives.

• Build and maintain relationships with think tanks, civil society organisations, academic institutions and UN partners to identify opportunities for collaboration, policy dialogue and joint initiative.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Consolidated and expanded relationships with key parliamentarians, political stakeholders and policy influencers.

• Developed and delivered parliamentary engagement plans to support WFP advocacy objectives.

• Secured opportunities to influence parliamentary debates, inquiries, and reports through targeted engagement and briefings.

• Established relationships with think tanks, NGOs, academic institutions and UN agencies relevant to WFP's priorities.

• Produced briefings, political analysis, and tailored messaging for WFP leadership and external engagement.

• Supported senior leadership visits and strategic meetings in the UK, ensuring effective preparation and follow-up.

• Identified opportunities for strategic collaboration and joint advocacy with external partners.

EDUCATION

• Advanced or first university degree in development, business administration, public administration, environment, or related fields.

EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of three (3) years of relevant working experience in development, policy, or humanitarian response.

• Experience of working in parliament, government or the UK NGOs sector is highly desirable. Demonstratable understanding of UK politics and parliament is preferred.

• Excellent knowledge of UK parliamentary and governmental structures required.

• Existing network within parliament is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated ability to independently manage stakeholder relationships, coordinate engagement strategies and deliver advocacy objectives.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong understanding of UK political dynamics, parliamentary processes and policymaking.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build and manage strategic relationships.

• Excellent writing skills, including drafting briefings, political analysis, submissions and advocacy materials.

• Strong understanding of humanitarian and international development issues.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate multiple workstreams, prioritise competing demands and deliver results independently.

• Proven ability to identify opportunities for influence, advocacy and partnership-building.

• Strong analytical, organisational and interpersonal skills.

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 recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

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.