Strategic Workforce Planning Specialist, P3 level based in 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

Do you want to to put your expertise at the service of a noble and meaningful cause? Are you ready to contribute to change and save the lives of the world's most vulnerable people? If yes, this opportunity is for you!

WFP is an Agency of the United Nations and the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger globally. Every single day, we work 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!

More than 18,000 people are working in WFP world-wide reflecting the rich diversity of the world in which we work. The vital importance of our shared mission underpins a remarkably close community of purpose.

WFP offers 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 improve your growth and professional expertise. For additional information, visit: www.wfp.org

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Following a reorganization of the HR Division in mid-2020, a new branch dedicated to Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) was created. Strategic Workforec Planning enables WFP to purposefully plan for its future workforce to respond effectively to the increasing demands of the organisation within a globally complex environment. This job is located in our Headquarters in Rome and reports directly to the Head (Chief) of the Workforce Planning & Strategy Branch in HR. The role works in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, from WFP’s management in Headquarters to the field operations with our Regional Bureaus and Country Offices as well as with key functional subject matter experts, HR colleagues and external experts. 

JOB PURPOSE

As part of our broader HR Team, this position is central within the Strategic Workforce Planning team. The main purpose of the role is to support the design, delivery, and monitoring of workforce plans across all functional areas, country offices and global levels. This role is key in ensuring alignment between the three levels of Strategic Workforce Planning - Global, Headquarters and Regional Bureaus - and integration of the Country Offices Strategic Workforce Planning into the Global and Functional SWPs (and viceversa).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like WFP, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following accountabilities:

1. Conduct desktop reviews and stakeholder meetings to help assess the impact of current strategic direction of country offices, functional areas and WFP global on workforce needs.
2. Use forecast workforce planning software and tools to provide possible future scenarios and derive insights into the implications of these on the workforce.
3. Identify and analyze the current workforce and its relevant characteristics, including current skills of the workforce through skills gap analyses, talent reviews and/or functional talent assessments.
4. Assess future demand for talent based on strategic direction, and future supply of internal talent through data analysis. Project supply versus demand models for the country offices, functional areas and WFP global and identify gaps.
5. Work with HR colleagues, external vendor and management to develop a strategy to close gaps by identifying appropriate workforce and/or talent management solutions to bridge the gaps over short, medium and long-term including costs, timeframes and benefits.
6. Contribute to the development of a Strategic Workforce Planning model that can be implemented at country and regional levels, building on existing models. Work with regional and country HR representatives to pilot the concept, review and refine, incorporating the lessons learned.
7. Prepare appropriate communications materials to keep all stakeholders (internal and external) informed of Strategic Workforce Planning progress, to request action or to build engagement.
8. Monitor the implementation of workforce plans through the management of project plans, conduct lessons-learned exercises and mainstream workforce planning practices across WFP.
9. Support the development and improvement of Key Performance Indicators (or benchmarks) to drive the Strategic Workforce Planning process forward.
10. Coordinate and streamline the collection, interpretation and validation of workforce data and its analysis ensuring that quality standards and data privacy compliance are maintained.
11. Train HR colleagues and functional representatives on the Strategic Workforce Planning concept, process and tools.
12. Keep abreast of developments in the field of Strategic Workforce Planning, market trends and external practices. Participate in internal and external forums, networking within the UN system to share knowledge and expertise.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Master’s Degree (or Bachelor’s Degree with additional years of relevant professional experience) in Human Resources, Statistics, Political Science, Psychology, Economics, Business Administration or other related field.

Experience: At least five years of postgraduate relevant professional experience in Talent Management, of which at least two in Strategic Workforce Planning, Organizational Design, HR consulting or similar.

At least two years of work experience at international level, with an interest in international humanitarian development.

Knowledge & Skills
•    Strong track record on organizational design and change management;
•    Strong analytical, critical thinking, planning and problem-solving skills;
•    Strong attention to detail;
•    Ability to handle ambiguity and change, as well as balance multiple priorities;
•    Customer orientation;
•    Excellent written/verbal communication skills;
•    Ability to build effective relationships across and outside the organization, at all levels;
•    High level of organization to compile and derive insights from data, working with multiple sources and coping with rapidly changing information; 
•    Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint;
•    Knowledge of workforce planning tools and data analytics/visualisation/ reporting technology is desirable.

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. 
 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Non-Rotational Nature: mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is however classified as “non-rotational” which means the incumbent shall not be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as rotational.

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.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Wednesday, August 18th 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.