Shipping Officer (Chartering) P3 - Rome, Italy

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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.

We are looking for a Shipping Officer (Chartering), P3 level, based in our Rome, Italy Headquarters.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Ocean Transportation Service (SCOS), part of WFP Supply Chain Division, 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 its final destinations, making ocean transportation a crucial link in WFP’s supply chain operation.

BACKGROUND AND JOB PURPOSE

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. Besides In-Kind donations, since 2011 SCOS operations have also 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.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

- Plan, contract and manage shipping operations following standard processes and contribute, directly or indirectly, to the effective delivery of food assistance to beneficiaries.
- Monitor bulk & containerized freight markets and trends and bring to the attention of senior Shipping Officers important changes impacting WFP shipping operations.
- Negotiate and conclude ocean charter transportation arrangements or parts of important arrangements with vessel owners.
- Consolidate and plan shipments, manage operational aspects of chartered and/or liner vessels, cargoes, including checking document readiness, loading and discharging operations and contracting of stevedoring services as applicable.
- Supervise performance of WFP’s shipping and forwarding agents, stevedores and other ancillary contractors to ensure efficient operations, and provide input in the annual performance review.
- Contribute to supply chain by providing technical support and guidance to other services, divisions and Country Offices, particularly for emergency response.
- Identify, regularly monitor and manage contractual, operational and supply chain risks relevant to shipping activities.
- Collect and analyze data through market analysis, research and networking with colleagues and recommend actions to improve shipping performance.
- Collate data and prepare accurate and timely reports, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), supporting a WFP-wide view of shipping activities that enables informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
- Build productive partnerships with supply chain colleagues and staff widely in the organization and support partnership building with donors, humanitarian agencies and other institutions to support efficient and effective shipping operations.
- Participate in the on-going review of internal processes and procedures and identify ways to increase the day-to-day efficiency of the teams.
- Follow emergency logistics preparedness practices to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy food and needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
- Adhere to WFP standard performance management guidelines and practices to contribute to achieving Service objectives and support the design and implementation of staff learning and development activities.
- Any other duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Work experience: At least five (5) years of relevant experience. 

Education: Advanced University degree in Transport Economics, Supply Chain, Shipping, Logistics or other relevant area, or First University degree with relevant logistics qualifications or additional logistics experience in port, freight forwarding and shipping operations.

 
Language: 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.

SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Experience in commercial or government transportation sectors with focus on charter contracting.
- Strong familiarity with the WORLDFOOD 2017 and other commercial BIMCO charter parties and its applications legally and operationally.
- Experience determining with CO and other Supply Chain actors best shipping modality/timing and liaising with agents and suppliers to ensure cargo readiness.
- Able to manage a network of charter-brokers and charter protecting agents at load and discharge ports. Experience in managing the discharging operations for chartered vessels and the contracting of stevedoring services.
- Experience in negotiating and concluding ocean transportation contractual arrangements with commercial shipping lines and ship owners including fluency in lay time calculations.
- Experience in vetting of vessels and ship owners to compliance and risk mitigation.
- Experience supervising professional/national staff.

OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED

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

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year. 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. For more details please visit icsc.un.org. 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

17 January, 2021

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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.