Food Safety and Quality Officer P2 - 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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This job is located in HQ supporting WFP’s SCOQ Unit, which is responsible for Food Safety and Quality Systems and Food & Packaging Research and Development within the organization. The unit belongs to the wider Supply Chain Function. Job holders operate with a high degree of independence, may provide technical support to specific food processing initiatives, and are involved in the day–to–day activities and analytical work.

JOB PURPOSE

To act as a Food Safety and Quality Officer, a role which comprehends aspects of Food Safety and Quality Systems implementation, risk mitigation activities, food research and development, and regulatory affairs.

Please note that the internal job title for this role is Food Technologist P2.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1.    Collate and analyse data and contribute to the preparation of reports relating to food quality and safety, food incidents, supplier performance, to inform risk management and mitigation and contribute to a WFP wide view of food safety and quality activities.
2.    Prepare evidenced-based recommendations for senior staff on control measures to mitigate food quality and safety issues.
3.    Work in the development and implementation of key food safety and quality programs for the organization, such as supplier audits, food and packaging inspections, food compliance testing, HACCP assessments, among others. Contribute to the development of appropriate risk management tools for new modalities of food purchase and distribution
4.    Work in the research and development/improvement of foods, including supporting specifications, scientific-based studies (e.g.: shelf-life studies), and other related activities, as needed;
5.    Prepare evidenced-based recommendations for senior staff on tools to enable rapid response to situations with food safety concerns.
6.    In the event of food safety incidents, support investigation exercises to enable lessons learned to be documented and shared, to reduce the re-occurrence of the incident.
7.    Support project teams on the food safety and quality aspects of food assistance programs, ensuring compliance with WFP food and safety standards.
8.    Contribute towards the development and/or implementation of protocols and tools relating to food safety and quality topics, ensuring alignment with WFP procurement and supply chain strategy, policies, and plans.
9.    Support the capacity building of WFP staff and partners around food safety and quality for safe, efficient, and effective delivery of food assistance to beneficiaries (e.g. through the design, review, and delivery of training materials).
10.    Identify and build productive relationships with supply chain colleagues and staff within the area of assignment to support an integrated approach to food assistance.
11.    Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.

12.    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

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 

•    Minimum of three (3) years of postgraduate relevant and progressive professional experience in food technology, food quality, food safety, or any relevant field.
•    Experience in developing and/or implementing procedures or tools related to food safety and quality or food research and development

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Food Technology, Food Safety, and Quality or other related fields, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Language:

• International Professional: Fluency (level C) in the English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.
   

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has worked in emergency response capacity
• Has experience implementing food technology-related tools and protocols
• Has experience working on food assistance programs development projects
• Act as a mentor to junior staff

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

•  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 over a period of 2 to 4 years.
• 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, a pension plan, and medical insurance.
• Please visit our website for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org 

Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.
 
 

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

January 9, 2022

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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.