Business Transformation Officer, International Consultant , Baghdad - Iraq

Baghdad

Organization: WFP - World Food Programme
Location: Baghdad
Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Sustainable trade and development
- Sustainable Business Development
Closing Date: Closed

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity, and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. In 2021 WFP supported 652,800 people in Iraq. Through providing food for vulnerable people, skills to build futures, and enhanced social protection, WFP is helping the Government of Iraq build people’s food security and resilience. For more information, see wfp.org/countries/Iraq and ar.wfp.org/countries/Iraq.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

In Iraq, WFP is leveraging its global expertise in technological solutions for social transfers to the most vulnerable people and has been supporting the digitalization of the national Public Distribution System, while also improving targeting and distribution mechanisms. As part of an ongoing multi-agency partnership, WFP has initiated evidence-building for social protection through modernization of data collection and analysis mechanisms for the Government of Iraq. WFP’s efforts are being built on the transition from short-term humanitarian assistance into longer term social protection mechanisms.

There is huge growth potential in digitalisation of social protection systems and in opening ways to new forms of delivering programmes, and of shaping local policies. By supporting the Government of Iraq’s efforts to leverage digital tools in the optimization of programme processes, WFP can help improve the support provided to millions of Iraqi nationals.

JOB PURPOSE

To lead the delivery of efficient and effective Technology Solutions for Social Protection, providing sound, innovative solutions that enable WFP and its government counterparts to deliver assistance to beneficiaries, in line with WFP’s strategy.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Reporting to the Country Office Head of Technology Services, the individual appointed as Business Transformation Officer (Product Owner) has the following responsibilities:

Drafting and maintaining the Product Roadmaps, which outline the evolution of Government Digitalisation solutions, and ensuring that they remain aligned with WFP Iraq's Capacity Strengthening goals outlined in the Country Strategic Plan.
Drafting and maintaining the Improvement Canvases outlining, the vision, goals, outcomes and metrics of each solution, and facilitating their review and endorsement through regular and timely engagement with Regional Bureau and HQ stakeholders.
Calculating the Total Cost of Ownership to acquire (build or buy), operate, secure, maintain and decommission Digital solutions, and advising the Head of TEC, Project Owners, and other internal and external stakeholders as necessary.
Developing technical specifications and tender documents, managing contracts with service providers to facilitate procurement of hardware, software, and services, at minimum cost, in line with WFP rules and regulations.
Leading and motivating a team of technical experts, monitoring timelines of those key project outputs that are on the critical path, and reallocating resources as necessary to ensure timely delivery of priority work-streams.

Translating priorities shared by the Social Protection Project Manager into digitalisation activity objectives, identifying issues/blockers for management attention, and proposing appropriate solutions.
Collaborating with client units within WFP to build and sustain a common understanding of the business objectives that technology products are intended to support.
Supporting the Country Office in the adoption and mainstreaming of Corporate Tools and best-practice for IT Solution Development and Maintenance, identifying skills gaps and recommending the requisite training and capacity building to address them.
Engaging with technical counterparts in the partner government departments to enhance collaborative delivery, ensure capacity strengthening, and sustain a common understanding of technology goals, timelines, deliverables and necessary resource-commitments from WFP and Government for project success.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced university degree in Computer Science or other relevant field, or first-level university degree with additional years of related work experience and trainings/courses.

Experience: For holders of an advanced degree, five years of professional work experience in Computer Science, IT Project Management, Business Transformation, or other similar fields; Seven years for holders of a first-level university degree.

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of Arabic would be advantageous.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

Has managed software acquisition projects using Agile Methodologies.
Has acted in an IT advisory capacity to business leadership.
Has participated in the negotiation, evaluation and management of IT contracts with service providers.
Has developed business cases that capture IT project life-cycle costs, benefits, and risks.
Has significant ground-level experience in engaging governments, building and maintaining relationships, and securing buy-in and commitment for the development and implementation of Software Solutions.