Business Development Specialist
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.
Job Title: Business Development Specialist
Division: PPF – Private Partnerships and Fundraising Division
Duty Station: Rome HQ
Type of Contract: full-time, Regular Consultant
Level: CST-I
Duration: 11 months
Deadline for applications: 16.08.2023 at 23:59 CEST
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency working to create a world with zero hunger. WFP and its partners believe that no child should go to bed hungry and that individual and collective wellbeing can only be achieved if all children, women and men get the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, dignified lives. Each year, WFP assists 90 million people in 83 countries. Every day, some 5,600 WFP-chartered trucks are on the road, 92 planes are in the air and 20 ships are at sea. These numbers speak to WFP’s unparalleled reputation as an emergency responder, one that is often the first on the scene in the most difficult environments. WFP also works with partners to strengthen the resilience of communities most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition through long-term development programmes aimed at boosting food security, local economies, education, employment and gender equality.
The Private Partnerships & Fundraising Division (PPF) is responsible for working with the private sector to achieve greater impact in WFP’s work. PPF has embarked on an exceptionally ambitious new strategy to raise an additional one billion dollars for hungry or malnourished people in the next five years and to expand the contribution to WFP from the business sector through effective and sustainable long-term partnerships as well as from private individual supporters around the world.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The focus of Business Development Specialist is to support the team to secure new private sector partnerships and support the execution of the Global Business Development strategy. He/She will execute the corporate fundraising strategy by proactively identifying target top prospects for WFP, building a prospect pipeline and developing successful approaches to secure new multi-year, multi-million corporate partners.
ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES
- To ensure successful approaches to new partners – analyse industry sectors to understand sectoral trends, partnership opportunities and risks while supporting technical units, regional bureaux, and country offices in building and enhancing their industry-specific knowledge.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify and support the development of communication assets and proposals to support business development efforts.
- Handle complex sales processes and help negotiate advantageous contributions.
- Maintain prospecting pipelines, use CRM tools (Salesforce) and ensure all processes are followed in partnership development such as due diligence, contracting, reporting, etc.
- Manage junior consultants and/or interns, providing coaching, training and guidance to support the delivery of their workplans and growth, enable quality performance.
- Assist the team on global events (such as World Economic Forum, COP, and other conferences, panels and roundtables) and provide inputs for the leadership team to grow WFP’s presence and impact at events.
- Prepare strategic briefs for senior leadership meetings.
- Support on special projects and undertake additional responsibilities as needed.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT
- Map opportunities and seek business development opportunities with companies in specific industries.
- Support the mapping of organizational needs for TUs in their portfolio and development of partnership value propositions. Support TUs in their interaction with private sector.
- Provide strategic support to Global Offices to encourage business development.
- Successfully contribute to PPF’s engagement in global events.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Education
- Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Marketing Communications, Management, International Development, or other relevant field – or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings.
Work history
- Minimum four years of progressive experience working in partnership development, project management, marketing and communications, sales or account management roles. Experience working for international organizations a plus.
- Track record of securing significant new partnerships or renewing complex partnership and securing growth.
- Experience managing teams.
Hard skills
- Essential computer skills in Microsoft Office applications: proficiency in Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Experience in using interactive visual tools a plus.
- Proven ability to conceptualize, plan, manage, develop and monitor processes.
- Excellent understanding of global issues and an ability to translate an Organisation’s mission.
- Knowledge of WFP programmatic areas (such as nutrition, school feeding, smallholder farmer support, etc.) a plus.
Soft skills
- Outstanding analytical, negotiation and advocacy skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to cultivate relationships and influence senior decision-makers.
- Highly organized with exceptional planning and problem solving skills.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks within deadlines and deliver on commitments.
- Work effectively in a multi-cultural environment and international organization.
- Understanding or appreciation for working in a large, complex, hierarchical, decentralised and geographically dispersed organization.
- Uses tact and courtesy to give and receive information with a variety of individuals.
- Motivated team spirit and contributed to an inclusive and sound working environment.
- Highly adaptable to change and comfortable dealing with ambiguity, stress and competing demands with grace and humor.
Language(s)
- Excellent command of spoken and written English.
- Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language would be a plus (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).
Terms and Conditions
Short-listed candidates can be subject to written assessment.
WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by role’s responsibilities and deliverables, please acknowledge the level of this consultancy offer and be aware that as per UN policy any negotiation based merely on personal cv is not allowed.
This consultancy assignment is renewable upon funding.
Visit the website for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org – Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about our operations.
Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.
WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the Organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process, and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme.
WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. 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.
We greatly appreciate your interest in WFP and joining our mission to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030
Saving Lives, Changing Lives!
