Programme Policy Officer P4-FIT Pool-All Locations

ABOUT WFP AND THE FIT POOL

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.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  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. At WFP, we are driven and defined by our mission to fight world hunger, save lives, feed people’s dreams of a brighter future, reduce risk and help enable people, communities and countries meet their own food and nutrition needs. WFP goes anywhere it’s needed and does what it takes to get the job done. You will find our people at the heart of every major humanitarian intervention around the world, providing the essential life-saving foundation required for those furthest behind. Each year, we reach an average of 80 million people with food assistance in around 80 countries. Delivering our mission requires deep respect for personal and cultural differences and close collaboration between every member of our global team. While the 16,000 people working for WFP reflect the rich diversity of the world in which we work, the vital importance of our shared mission underpins a remarkably close community of purpose.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is offering life-changing job opportunities you are unlikely to find in other organizations. Working at WFP will give you the opportunity to work beyond your expectations, to be enriched by truly meaningful work and deepen your professional expertise.

The Future International Talent Pool (FIT Pool) is an entry point for a professional international career with WFP. WFP is looking to build a pool of highly qualified and dynamic talents interested in going to any of our 80 countries in which WFP operates, including hardship duty stations, when the need arises.

A FIT Pool member is placed on the pool for a period up to 2 years during which he/ she is considered with priority each time WFP has a specific need for a Fixed Term International Professional staff member in his/her functional area and level.

JOB PURPOSE

These roles can be found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux and Country Offices. Job holders are likely to report to the relevant Director or more senior programme employees while leading and inspiring a team. WFP is looking for candidates with a strong passion to make a difference and to contribute to its mandate of achieving Zero Hunger. Strong analytical capabilities, learning agility as well as proven excellent leadership capacities are prerequisites for successful candidates.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Programme Policy Officer (P4) will be responsible for the following key duties:

• Formulate substantial parts of WFP-wide programme policies in line with both organizational strategy and the practical realities of operating in the field; or translate WFP-wide programme policy into Regional/Country level practices, programme guidance and implementation modalities and operations, to ensure a clear and strong connection between HQ and field operations;
• Provide advice and support Country Offices in delivering a complex portfolio of programmes to clarify ambiguities and ensure that policy and programme operations are consistent with WFP policies, Executive Board decisions, and other relevant guidance;
• Provide technical advice or mobilise technical expertise, on a wide range of programme and policy issues including assessment and analysis, the choice of objectives, activities, transfer modalities and appropriate food products, the deployment and testing of innovative approaches and the development of strategies to support government efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition;
• Coordinate senior stakeholders of governments and other partners in identifying strategies to achieve Zero Hunger, and jointly determine where food assistance can be usefully employed and provide support and technical expertise for the planning, formulation and implementation of food assistance programmes to strengthen government and community ownership and effectiveness of food security and nutrition programmes at national and sub-national levels;
• Develop operational partnerships and maintain established strategic partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve assistance packages and support advocacy work;
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in different forums on subjects related to food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience, engagement in humanitarian, transition and development contexts and other related issues through direct participation, briefings, information products and other materials;
• Manage or oversee operational research and evidence building on issues relevant to food assistance;
• Manage or oversee preparation and dissemination of timely analytical and critical reports, publications, and a variety of information products or proposals for internal or external use;
• Advocate for resources for a broad portfolio of WFP projects, including clearly articulating the need for food assistance and related programme opportunities, and follow up on the resource situation of projects including commodity and cash availability;
• Advice and support the development of functional training in areas of expertise to enhance the capacity of WFP staff and partner to design and deliver effective food assistance programmes;
• Lead, motivate and develop a substantive team to enable high performance;
• Ensure the best use of assigned financial resources for the achievement of set objectives within a significant budget;
• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in all areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men;
• Contribute to Country Office Emergency Preparedness i.e. early warning, risk analysis, and contingency planning in order to respond to humanitarian crises and needs;
• Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience

• At least eight years of postgraduate progressively responsible, relevant professional experience demonstrating high performance and leadership capacity;
• Demonstrated interest and substantial experiences in humanitarian and development work in multicultural environments;
• Experience in the autonomous design, set-up, implementation and monitoring of projects and programmes, including aspects of resource mobilization and funds management;
• Good understanding of programme cycle management;
• Proven capacity to initiate and lead innovation that strives for continuous improvements and leverages established partnerships;
• Proven leadership and management capacity to build and foster inclusive and high performing teams in a multi-cultural environment.

Language

• Fluency in oral and written English;
• Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages).

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

• Specific technical knowledge of and/or experience in the following areas are considered as an advantage: resilience programming, social protection, safety net;
• Experience in managing a Field Office or an Area Office in remote/hardship locations is considered as an advantage;
• Strong motivation and proven ability to make a difference;
• High enthusiasm to contribute to WFP’s mandate;
• Proven effective cognitive abilities, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Demonstrated learning agility and thirst for constant growth;
• Displayed openness and passion for new experiences and multicultural environments;
• Exhibited ability to communicate effectively;
• Demonstrated exceptional partnership building skills with internal and external stakeholders;
• Proven strategic and policy engagement skills in an international setting;
• Deepened technical knowledge through exposure and the leading of teachnical teams;
• Attained experiences in the area of in-kind food, cash and voucher transfers;
•  Leading of policy discussions and decisions.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Selected candidates will be placed in the FIT Pool and may be contacted as the needs arise for fixed-term international positions in any of the countries in which WFP operates, including hardship duty stations. The FIT Pool membership will last 2 years.

Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. These positions are rotational which means that the incumbent shall be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as non-rotational. Professional level positions are rotational on a period of 2 to 4 years, mobility is the essence of WFP.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP. Click on: “Where we work” and “Our work” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

To find out more about:

• WFPs work, www.wfp.org
• Compensation https://icsc.un.org/secretariat/sad.asp?include=ss

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

11 June 2018

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries 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.