Assistant Executive Director, Workplace Culture
ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking an Assistant Executive Director that will play a vital role in creating an optimal people management and workplace culture that aligns with strategic objectives, promotes inclusivity, and ensures employee well-being and engagement. The incumbent will oversee and lead the organization’s workplace culture, proactively aligning and stabilizing the workforce, promoting diversity and inclusion, and prioritizing employee wellness, care, and support.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- As a member of WFP's senior leadership team work closely with the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and COO, Assistant Executive Directors and other senior leaders to develop and implement policies, strategies, and programmes that advance WFP's mission and goals.
- Promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion and fosters an environment of respect and collaboration.
- Set strategic direction for comprehensive human resources and wellness strategies that support a high-performance and values-based culture that ensures all employees feel included and respected. Ensure there is a culture of employee care including mental health, particularly in emergencies.
- Support a long-term diversity and inclusion strategy that enhances WFP's ability to attract, retain, and engage diverse talent. Advance actions on anti-racism and LGBTIQ+.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning and development, ensuring that staff have the skills and knowledge needed to perform their roles effectively.
- Act as a role model, setting an example of the highest standards of integrity for all staff through personal behaviour. Foster and ensure an organizational environment that respects diversity, gender equality and cultural/racial sensitivity and facilitates openness to diverse perspectives.
- Engage and represent WFP in high-level fora (e.g. United Nations, Governments, Executive Board, Humanitarian and Development Communities, etc.), asserting the organization’s position and ensuring that WFP interests are at the forefront of discussions and considerations.
- Promote a culture of results orientation, collaboration, accountability and innovation.
- Other accountabilities, as required.
CORE REQUIREMENTS
Experience:
- A minimum of 20 years of progressively responsible experience in human resources, management or other relevant field
- Experience in wellness, workplace culture, and diversity and inclusion highly desirable.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Experience in developing and implementing strategies that drive organizational performance and enhance employee engagement and well-being.
- Proven experience in successfully managing and leading roles with significant breadth and complexity.
- Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and persuade at the highest levels.
- Demonstrated experience in fostering a culture of respect, collaboration, and inclusion.
- Knowledge of best practices in wellness, including mental health support, resilience, and well-being.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to think strategically and analytically.
- High level of emotional intelligence, with the ability to manage complex and challenging situations with empathy and tact.
- Impeccable personal and professional integrity.
- A firm commitment to the work, objectives, values, and guiding principles of WFP and the United Nations system
- Able to provide leadership and responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
- Willingness to travel to different locations worldwide, often in challenging and remote environments.
LANGUAGES AND EDUCATION
- Fluency (level C) in English language.
- Working knowledge of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language) highly desirable
- An advanced university degree in Organizational Development, Business Administration, Leadership, Public Administration or a related field.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract at the Assistant Secretary General level, 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, as well as expatriate entitlements such as home leave, an education grant for dependent children, and compulsory pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please visit icsc.un.org.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
All applications should include a cover letter and the curriculum vitae of the candidate in English and must be submitted through the WFP Careers website by Tuesday 1 August 2023 at 23:59 Rome time.
