Junior Consultant, Ocean Transportation Service (OSCSO)

ABOUT WFP

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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Ocean Transportation Service (OSCSO), centralized at WFP’s headquarters in Rome for the past 50 years, handles all international cargo movements by sea, through the direct contracting of both liner and charter services. Over half of WFP’s food is transported by sea during its journey to final destination, making ocean transportation a crucial link in WFP’s supply chain operation. 

Working with a specialized and reliable network of shipbrokers and freight forwarders, WFP has on any given day 30-40 shipments afloat, carrying critical humanitarian assistance for distribution in more than 70 countries – moving cargoes from 60 load ports to 75 discharge ports across five continents. With such large quantities of food to be shipped at any given time from diverse locations around the world, careful planning, contracting and coordination is key to ensuring the quickest and most cost effective ocean transportation solution. Since 2011 OSCSO operations have been key to the success of WFP’s Forward Purchasing Facility, chartering large volumes of food while maintaining maximum operational control and flexibility.

When emergency strikes, WFP has the capacity to divert its shipments at short notice, ensuring that life-saving food arrives to those who need it - on time. Shipping experts are regularly deployed when and where needed to augment emergency response operations.

From 1st February onwards, OSLS will have a position of Junior Consultant available to assist the Operations team – Time Chartering in particular. He/she will be reporting directly to the Operations team leader under the overall supervision of the Head of Chartering.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide support in conducting day-to-day operations of (time charter) vessel operations.
• Help coordinate the preparation of time charter vessels’ delivery and redelivery;
• Assist in agency appointments, payment of disbursement accounts, monitor agents’ performance and provide agents’ instructions.
• Communicate and liaise with Masters of vessel on operational matters.
• Under the guidance of the Shipping Officer, apply measures for loss mitigation and cost efficiency of the vessel operation.
• Monitor and maintain records for vessel under-performance and process claims for losses.
• Support in identifying areas which require operational improvements.
• Arrange for payments, conduct cross-checking for accuracy and that proper procedures are followed for timely payments.
• Assist in preparation and drafting of CCT reports.
• Check and review the accuracy of all payments (processing, tracking, statistics).
• Process of payments in Wings/ITS. Check status, open investigation with Treasury
• Check accuracy of vendor data/maintenance of record.
• Maintain accuracy of records and key documents for compliance reviews, keep all data related to T/C vessels in order, updated and ready for statistical reporting to HQ or CO.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

University degree, relevant logistic qualifications or higher education with training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: Shipping/Ocean Transport, Logistics or Freight Forwarding;

Proficiency in Windows, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Language:

Good working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C). Of the second UN official language, intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese desirable.

Experience:

1-2 years of relevant job related experience in shipping, freight forwarding and/or general maritime transport desired;

Knowledge and Skills:

Basic knowledge of and affinity with maritime transport, vessel operations, freight forwarding and/or port activities. Good team player, good listening and communicating skills. Possess “can-do” attitude to work, take initiatives and able to work with limited guidance. Listen and understand the different interests and roles of all actors involved and maintain constructive service level and client attitude. Help promoting team-spirit, effective communication and a positive working environment.   

Terms of Reference

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP.

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.