PROGRAMME POLICY OFFICER NOB

Header

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - SOUTH SUDAN COUNTRY OFFICE

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 80663

POSITION TITLE: PROGRAMME POLICY OFFICER

POSITION GRADE: NOB

CONTRACT TYPE: FIXED TERM

CONTRACT DURATION: 12 MONTHS RENEWABLE

DUTY STATIONS: JUBA, BENTIU, WUNROK, AWEIL, KAPOETA, MINGKAMAN, BOR & RUMBEK

.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

WFP’s South Sudan operation aims to provide life-saving assistance to 3 million people displaced and affected by conflict and acute food insecurity through food distributions and blanket and targeted supplementary feeding to prevent and treat acute malnutrition.

A further 1.1 million people are assisted through a focus on refugee populations and areas in the country that are more stable, where opportunities exist for transition and recovery activities: blanket and targeted supplementary feeding to prevent and treat acute malnutrition, food assistance for assets (FFA), cash based transfers (CBT), school meals and Purchase for Progress (P4P).

Specifically, WFP is seeking leaders and managers: people who can demonstrate that they possess the right mix of qualifications, skills and experience to drive WFP programmes to a higher level of effectiveness with consideration to the populations we serve.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Economics, International Development, Social Sciences or other related field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
Language: International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

National Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language and the duty station’s language, if different.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In January 2018, a key finding of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) concluded that South Sudan is dealing with an unprecedented level of hunger, with estimated 7.1 million people or almost two-thirds of the total population in need of assistance, including 155,000 people who would likely face catastrophe (Phase 5) level food insecurity without humanitarian assistance during the height of the lean season (May-July 2018).

Considering the IPC findings, coupled with a comprehensive review of WFP field operations across fifteen field offices, WFP South Sudan has identified a significant programme management gap. This set of vacancy announcements is part of a major recruitment exercise to fill the identified gap and by doing so ensure that WFP is fully prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.   

JOB PURPOSE

NOB positions are responsible for coordinating and managing programme activities within a given field office. Specific skills sets of interest include: team management and motivation, local authority liaison, working collaboratively with WFP cooperating partners, ability to implement change, creative problem solving, innovative thinking and experience in personnel management.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Effectively manage the Field Office to ensure the continued development of a cohesive and high performing team.
2. Plan and manage WFP field operations within the area of assignment to ensure effective and efficient delivery of food assistance and that daily operational issues are timely resolved to prevent losses or delays. 
3. Ensure that allocated resources are used efficiently and are in line with agreed plans, and any deviations are reported to the Area/Country Office.
4. Hold accountability for the security of WFP staff, operations, premises and assets in the Field Office to ensure that WFP security and safety standards are locally set and followed. Actively participate and contribute to the Area Security Management Team (ASMT).
5. Conduct timely monitoring and evaluation of activities and prepare accurate and comprehensive reports on WFP’s operations and performance with regular and timely submission for Area/Country Office review to inform efficient operational planning and decisions.
6. Build effective and collaborative relations with the local authorities and contribute to the expertise sharing and capacity building for effective preparedness and response to food assistance needs.
7. Build partnerships to improve assistance packages, develop and sustain liaison with local government authorities, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, civil societies, beneficiaries and other partners and media engaged in the field of food security.
8. Ensure extensive and frequent presence at project areas, distribution sites and centres.
9. Other as required

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

NOB positions are based 100% at the allocated duty stations.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has developed, or supported in the development of, single discipline work plans to support the achievement of WFP strategic aims within a defined area.
• Has gained some exposure in field operations, preferably in a hardship duty station or emergency situation.
• Has field experience via field rotations or working in a sub-office, and through field postings.
• Gained experience of analysing local political situations and assessing risk accurately.
• Gained broader exposure across areas within a function (i.e. policy, programme etc.).
• Has gained experience managing small to mid-size financial budgets, balancing priorities effectively.
• Has experience leading a small to mid-size team to ensure the effective delivery of objectives.
• Participated in a vendor/government/ partner negotiation within area of focus.
• Participated in a small emergency operation/ development programme.
• Has experience with security co-ordination and compound management within a smaller area.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO SOUTH SUDANESE NATIONALS ONLY. PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT WFP DOES NOT CHARGE ANY FEE AT ANY STAGE OF RECRUITMENT PROCESS. WHILE APPLYING CLEARLY INDICATE YOUR PREFFARABLE DUTY STATIONS IN THE COVER LETTER.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

6TH MAY 2018

.

Qualified Female applicants are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.