Consultant, Management and Inter-Agency Matters
WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.
Job Title: Consultant, Management and Inter-Agency Matters
Type of Contract: Regular Consultant (Level II)
Division: Management Department (MD)
Duty Station (City, Country): Rome, Italy
Duration: 11 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. It is one of the largest programmes in the United Nations common system, both by number of employees (over 23,000) and by revenue (over USD 14 billion). WFP is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
WFP’s Assistant Executive Director, Management & CFO (AED & CFO) is charged with ensuring effective stewardship, and maximizing the impact of WFP resources. He oversees the work of the Management Department, which has a diverse portfolio that includes planning and performance; financial and risk management; engineering, environmental, and fleet management; and information and telecommunications technology.
The AED & CFO is assisted by a small front office team that provides the professional, technical, and administrative support needed to carry out his mandate.
The incumbent will join the AED & CFO front office team.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The candidate will coordinate the work of the AED & CFO relating to external parties, including liaising with and coordinating information exchanges with the secretariats of various UN inter-agency bodies (for example, ACABQ and HLCM) and WFP’s governance and oversight bodies (for example, the WFP Executive Board, WFP Independent Oversight Advisory Committee, and FAO Finance Committee).
In addition to coordination on inter-agency matters, the candidate will be expected to provide a wide range of professional support to the AED & CFO across his portfolio and to provide analytical support in her/his particular area(s) of functional expertise. In particular, she or he will:
- coordinate and prepare written materials, including briefing papers, thematic research, and notes for the record;
- review, quality-check, and provide appropriate advice on work product requiring AED & CFO review and/or approval;
- provide guidance and support to division directors to ensure that departmental work is timely completed, consistent with internal management decisions, WFP policies, Executive Board decisions and other relevant guidance; and
- undertake any other tasks required to ensure the smooth operation of the Office of the AED & CFO.
The incumbent will be expected to engage directly with the AED & CFO to carry out this assignment. She or he will report to the Executive Manager of the Office of the AED & CFO. The position is based at WFP headquarters in Rome, Italy. Although a remote work arrangement is possible, the incumbent is expected to be physically present in Rome.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced degree, preferably in business administration or management, economics, law, finance, international relations, political science, governance, or a related field.
Experience:
Over seven years of professional experience, with good exposure to at least one of the areas within the AED & CFO portfolio (budget and programming, performance management, finance, risk management, technology, administration, and operations services). Field experience will be viewed favourably.
Knowledge & Skills:
The candidate must possess a combination of strong analytical and inter-personal skills. In particular, he or she must be able to:
- critically review and analyse data and other information;
- write clearly and concisely for varied purposes and audiences;
- speak effectively to give oral briefings and to convey the positions and messages of the AED & CFO and of the Management Department to varied audiences;
- anticipate requirements, problems, and obstacles and problem solve independently, with flexibility and adaptability;
- work accurately at a fast pace and under tight deadlines;
- manage multiple and competing demands in an organized and timely manner and with a sense of when and how to elevate issues;
- demonstrate a high degree of personal accountability for completed work products / delivery of an outcome, including when undertaken as part of a team;
- drive progress in processes involving multiple stakeholders, and fosters inter-departmental, inter-divisional cooperation;
- demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and maintain productive working relationships with people at all levels, including senior managers, from varying functional areas, and from diverse backgrounds; and
- secure high levels of trust through exercise of tact, discretion, judgment, and respect for confidentiality.
Language:
Fluent written and spoken English. Knowledge of a second UN language is preferred.
Terms and Conditions:
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.
Qualified 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
Deadline for applications: Sunday, 30 July 2023
Please note that the deadline is at 11:59 pm Rome time (GMT + 1)
Ref.: VA No. 827461
Kindly note the only documents you need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time.
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
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.
