Back Special Assistant to the Director of Emergencies, P4, Rome-Italy(155955)

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Emergency Operations Division (EME) supports WFP’s Regional Bureaus, Country Offices, and partners to stay ahead of the curve by preparing and responding to current and future emergencies in a changing humanitarian environment. The division contributes to WFPs strategic goal of achieving Zero Hunger through ensuring the organization is ready for the future while using innovative emergency and response approaches towards reducing food insecurity and vulnerability.

EME provides a field focused, service oriented, steering and convening role focusing on preparedness, early warning analysis for early action, optimization of operational planning and support, and provision of surge staffing capacity to the field.

JOB PURPOSE

In order to maintain its leadership role in emergencies, WFP needs to continuously adapt to ever changing and increasingly more complex operating environment. Subsequently, EME is in the process of adjusting its structure to better align its operational support capacity with the needs of the field and facilitate no-regrets emergency response approaches more effectively. This adjustment includes strengthening the Front Office setup to ensure optimal communications, partnerships and business support services to the EME senior management and the rest of the Division.

Special Assistant is part of the EME Front Office Team, reports directly to the Division Director (DOE) and works closely with Division Deputy Directors and Heads of Units.

The focus of this position is to directly support the DOE by managing the activities of the Front Office; advising on matters of strategic importance and assisting in the overall implementation of EME objectives and programme of work. The incumbent ensures follow through on commitments and smooth flow of business processes across the Division.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Provide dedicated support to the DOE in the discharge of her responsibilities including assistance in the formulation and implementation of strategies for the Division.
2. Keep the DOE informed on all matters requiring her attention and ensure appropriate follow-up as directed; identify possible problems, overlaps, or disconnects, and propose options for resolving them.
3. Assess implications and make recommendations on corporate policies, strategies, and other measures to address issues of concern and advance Division objectives.
4. Liaise regularly with the Deputy Directors and keep them abreast of key developments to ensure timely information flow across senior EME management.
5. Support the EME management during engagement incorporate processes, and organizational proceedings, by ensuring appropriate level representation of the division in various fora, provision of constructive input, and timely response to other mandatory requirements.
6. Lead the preparation and coordinate input for corporate reporting products including but not limited to Annual Performance Plan, Annual Performance Report, Corporate Risk Register, Assurance Statement, and Leadership in Emergencies Working Group.
7. Proactively monitor and follow up on recommendations from the Office of Evaluation, Internal Audit, External Auditor, JIU, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division, and other oversight bodies as relevant.
8. Direct and supervise the work of the Front Office staff.
9. Ensure smooth and effective operation of the Front Office through planning, coordination, and supervision of daily activities and tasks to ensure support services to the Division are delivered consistently and to the required standards
10. Foster teamwork and communications among the staff of the Front Office team, coaches and motivate the staff as needed to ensure individual and team objectives are met.
11. Set performance objectives for staff of the Front Office, undertake regular reviews of performance including PACE.
12. Coordinate and integrate the work of the Front Office with the rest of the Division, to ensure proper engagement with all Units.
13. Coordinate/prepare written outputs including but not limited to background papers, remarks, talking points, scenarios, analysis, briefing notes, and input for corporate reports in collaboration with relevant units as required.
14. Provide substantive backstopping to meetings, conferences, retreats, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
15. Liaise with counterparts in other Divisions to exchange information and support implementation of cross-divisional initiatives.
16. Undertake special assignments and lead initiatives of strategic importance as requested by DOE.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Political Science, Law, Management, Social Sciences, or other fields relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience: At least 8 years of professional experience in humanitarians’ affairs.

• Experience in coordination and advisory positions.
• Interagency affairs are a plus.
• Experience in WFP and UN emergency operations support; including guidance formulation.
• Willingness to deploy in support of WFP emergencies is a must.

Languages: Fluency (level C) in English language and Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese is desirable.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders on a wide range of issues. Sense of initiative and autonomy.
• Ability to manage and steer with finesse complex and/or practical issues.
• Ability to form strong relationships with WFP stakeholders to help meet the Division’ director objectives.
• Knowledge and partnership with colleagues across WFP to understand their priorities and provide support, advice and solution to a Divisions director.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Limited Fixed-Term Appointment (LFT) position is a non-mobile staff appointment in the international professional category for a limited period of up to 4 years and is open to all nationalities. The position is based in Rome, Italy and the selected candidate will be expected to be based in Rome. Incumbents of LFT positions are not eligible to apply for other mobile positions advertised internally through the Reassignment.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with ICSC standards (http://icsc.un.org), including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance.