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 or disability.
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.
At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.
To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.
WHY JOIN WFP?
- WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
- WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
- A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
- We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
In Timor Leste, ahead of an anticipated severe El Nino event, WFP is seeking ASAP an experienced EPR/Programme Officer with first-hand experience leading end to end the design and delivery of a WFP in-kind food assistance programme. The successful candidate will have familiarity with WFP processes and requirements for delivery in emergencies, as well as demonstrated ability to advance processes, coordinate across functions, and identify and build strategic and operational partnerships.
The technical experience sought through this pool covers Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Systems Building, Emergency Response / Operations Delivery, and EPR Project Management strengths, where the exact technical expertise need and seniority required may differ.
1. Emergency Preparedness / Disaster Management Systems Building: Requires an understanding of the continuum of EPR/disaster management across levels and systems (early warning, disaster management, social protection, supply chain, etc), and demonstrated country level experience. Responsibilities may include:
- Assess / identify emergency preparedness capacity gaps, design and deliver concrete emergency preparedness capacity building plans (national and subnation level);
- Lead or support hazard-specific or thematic contingency planning, table-top simulations and capacity strengthening exercises at national and subnational level;
- Lead / support Anticipatory Action planning and testing;
- Work alongside technical functions to enhance policy, plans, or capacities related to the management of disasters including emergency reserves, humanitarian staging areas/hubs, and strategic / subnational prepositioning (food, assets);
- Support / embed with national disaster management partners; and
- Engage with partner actors (FAO, Red Cross, IOM, UNDRR, other as relevant) to enhance early warning and preparedness at community and systems level.
And/or
2. Emergency Response / Operations: Floods, drought, cyclones or other shock may require WFP to complement national response with a direct in-kind food, cash or nutrition response – whether through Anticipatory Action or post-shock. To be ready, this VA will identify Programme / Operations Capacity with direct experience designing and leading a WFP food assistance response, end to end. This is not simply a coordination role, but requires someone who understands operations and WFP related internal processes and operational functions.
Responsibilities include:
- Lead programme design and delivery of direct food assistance (in-kind, cash), guiding design of programme response, efficient processes for targeting and registration and community engagement, distribution planning and WFP internal (emergency) processes, engaging counterparts/partners (including training on distribution management), ensuring accountability, guiding monitoring approaches;
- Identify potential bottlenecks to timely AA/response and guide/support stakeholders to put in place readiness actions (pre-positioning, data readiness, appropriate partnership or data sharing agreements, pre-agreed SOPs, tested readiness through table-top exercise, other);
- Support/lead coordination with government counterparts, subnational authorities, UN partners, I/NGO and Red Cross Societies to enhance effective and efficient coordinated impact and localization;
- Coordinate, convene and support technical functions (including but not limited to logistics, cash) to ensure timely, quality and effective readiness and response.
And/Or
3. Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer / Project Manager: This hybrid role seeks experience in both emergency preparedness / disaster management systems building as well as WFP direct emergency response / operations delivery. Depending on this context, this may be a more senior role and require the aforementioned technical expertise, with demonstrated technical capacity experience to:
- Coordinate, convene and support technical functions (including but not limited to logistics, cash) to ensure timely, quality and effective readiness and response;
- Manage a complex multisectoral project / operation, tracking progress against targets, identifying potential risks and where feasible propose adequate mitigation measures;
- Engage in senior level coordination with governments, donors, partners.
Other duties as required.
Education
Advanced degree in one or more of the following disciplines: humanitarian diplomacy and leadership, social sciences, public policy / administration, development studies, international relations, supply chain management, or another relevant field.
Or first university degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or advanced training/courses.
Experience
- Required: Availability to start in person in the region as soon as August 2026. Note: those not available until after August should indicate as such in the VA screening questions; strong candidates available later in the year may be kept in a pool for future consideration.
- Required: Experience working with WFP and knowledge of WFP’s internal processes, policies, and systems.
- At least 7 (seven) years of professional experience in relevant areas including at least 5 (five) years progressively responsible professional experience. For Project Manager roles, more seasoned capacity may be sought.
- Experience in multiple facets of EPR programming relevant for WFP work in the region, including demonstrated ability to design, lead and coordinate delivery of food and cash-based assistance in anticipation of or in response to sudden natural shocks and/or slow-onset drought.
- Experience to assess, deliver with, or strengthen government-led emergency response including technical assistance to disaster management systems.
- Proven ability to build partnerships with diverse stakeholders including government authorities, humanitarian partners, military actors, and to engage with affected populations.
- Experience coordinating diverse, multicultural and cross-functional teams to maximize capabilities for effective, timely support.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to write and deliver high level briefs providing clear insight and recommendations for decision making.
- Preferable: Experience working in the Asia and the Pacific region.
Knowledge & Skills
- Understanding of WFP’s work, mandate and humanitarian principles.
- Strong analytical, written and oral communication skills.
- Client orientation with excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to build partnerships and influence the work of others.
- Experience in building capacity for technical staff as well as in influencing / advising senior managers.
- Proven ability to produce outputs independently.
- Flexibility to travel when necessary.
Languages
- Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is essential.
- Candidates with languages relevant to the region (eg: Portuguese) are encouraged to apply.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
- All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
- We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
- If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
- At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
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.