Senior Learning Specialist
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: Senior Learning Specialist
Type of Contract: Consultancy
Division: Emergency Operations Division
Duty Station (City, Country): Remote (with travel)
Duration: 11 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The United Nations 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.
The Emergency Operations Division (EME) contributes to WFP’s strategic goal of achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 through the management of an emergency preparedness and response portfolio. EME provides a field-focused, service oriented, steering and convening role focusing on forward looking preparedness and support to ensure a swift, coordinated and integrated response.
The Surge & Emergency Workforce Unit (EMES) within EME identifies, upskills and deploys emergency response staff in support of life-saving operations. It is responsible for managing the process of identifying and deploying personnel in response to staffing requests, leveraging a pool of qualified candidates. The EMES also maintains Standby Partnerships with governments and NGOs to field technical experts when needed. It also holds the Surge Learning team which capacitates staff through a curated learning journey that ensures those deployed have the right skills to make an impact.
The Surge Learning Team is recruiting a Senior Learning Specialist to design and deliver world-class learning solutions as part of our SURGE Emergency Responder Learning Path. The role will support the Head of Training in implementing our Emergency Training Academy (EMTRAC) portfolio and collaborate with a team of Training Specialists ensuring WFP’s global workforce is equipped to respond in emergencies. This will ensure the success of the team’s ability to deploy surge staff with the required operational and technical skills which remains a critical factor for effective emergency response.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design, develop and facilitate of world class learning solutions in line with the Emergency Operations Division’s learning strategy to create a pool of high performing humanitarian leaders and responders.
- Support the Head of Training in the coordination of a team of Training Specialists and implementation of the Emergency Training Academy (EMTRAC) portfolio.
- Supervise high performing, geographically dispersed Training Specialists.
- Develop interactive, learner-centric, creative sessions for online and in person delivery to create useful, engaging learning experiences.
- Leverage latest trends in learning technologies and online facilitation tools to provide staff with exceptional learning experiences online and in person.
- Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts to ensure course content is relevant and up to date.
- Maintain and develop interactive e-learning initiatives in WFP’s Learning Management System.
- Design and implement training evaluation processes (Kirkpatrick Levels 1-4) to measure the effectiveness of courses.
- Coordinate with the Communications team to promote learning events with relevant targeted audiences.
- Coordinate with Administration staff on logistical arrangements and shortlisting participants.
- Collaborate with Simulation Specialists to ensure cohesion across the SURGE learning path and support with classroom components of simulation exercises.
- Manage communities of practice for continuous capacity development targeting the emergency responder alumni network.
- Facilitate and advise on workshops and training events for other divisions and partners as requested.
- Liaise with other WFP training units and partners for potential efficiencies in training delivery.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
University degree in any recognized subject area (e.g. International Relations, Development Studies, Political Science, Social Sciences). Qualifications in adult learning and/or training will be an asset.
Experience:
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience in design and facilitation of in person and online interactive learning solutions.
- Experience working across all phases of learning design and delivery.
- Experience leading dynamic teams of trainers to deliver excellent learning programmes.
- Experience in working with latest tools and virtual environments for online training delivery and collaboration (e.g. Zoom, Miro, Mural, Microsoft Teams).
- Demonstrated experience in working with subject matter experts to build learning programmes and performance support tools across a range of different business areas.
- Work experience in the UN System, NGOs is desirable.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Excellent facilitation skills.
- Adept at bringing cross cultural groups together through interactive learning experiences online and in person.
- In-depth expertise and application of models of learning design/adult learning theory; learning needs analysis methodologies, learning evaluation methods.
- Supervisory skills to lead, support and manage remote based Trainers.
- Strong partner, client and stakeholder relationship management skills.
- Able to quickly build knowledge and understanding of organizational needs and translate into learning solutions.
- Up to date knowledge of the latest trends in learning and development.
- Intermediate to advanced level technical competence across a range of online learning tools.
- Excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate and influence internally with various stakeholders and subject matter experts across business functions, levels and geographical areas.
- Strong creative problem-solving skills; agile, flexible and patient; ability to work with ambiguity, constructive approach to overcoming challenges and build consensus across diverse and global teams.
Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is essential. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) is desirable.
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.
Deadline for applications: 9 July 2023
Ref.: VA No. 827912
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.
