Job Openings at World Food Programme

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.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. 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.

In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. Present in nearly 80 countries, the organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas. We manage an operating budget of approximately $5.9 billion each year, distributing 12.6 billion rations to those most in need. We reach an average of 80 million people with food assistance in around 80 countries each year.

For more on WFP and what we do, please go to http://www.wfp.org/videos/zero-hunger

JOB PURPOSE: SUPPLY CHAIN PLANNING SERVICE

The Supply Chain Planning Service was conceptualized to develop, maximize and mainstream best practices developed across WFP in Supply Chain (SC) Planning. The Service supports cross-functional collaboration, promotes end-to-end SC visibility, and leverages advanced analytics and optimization. Planning equips WFP’s SC to better achieve its strategic goals of being pro-active, fast, agile, reliable & cost efficient, & strengthening national and partners capacities. Integrated SC Management (SCM), as facilitated by the Planning Service, supports WFP in working towards its mandate of achieving a world with Zero Hunger.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Supply Chain Management is at the core of WFP’s humanitarian response and therefore an area of strategic focus. WFP aims to better integrate and continuously improve its supply chain by identifying, designing and implementing initiatives on four levels: strategy, structure, processes & tools, and staff development. In line with this overarching goal, the staff member, in coordination with the global SC planning coordinator (Head of SC planning in HQ – technical reporting line) and the Head of SC in the RB (direct reporting line), will manage and provide support for the following activities:

• Provide SC Planning operational support to the regional operations. This includes building SCM Dashboards, application of optimization tools, and advanced analyses to provide end-to-end visibility and support effective and efficient, evidence-based decision making.
• Support the Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director, Head of Supply Chain and other senior management at both strategic and operational level as needed; this includes preparation for Operational and Strategic Task Force meetings.
• Facilitate Operational and Strategic Supply Chain Management Working Groups at RB level. Provide timely inputs to OSCP in support of Supply Chain Working Group meetings for L3 and other complex emergencies.
• Manage Global Planning Initiatives and associated activities to support integrated End-to-End Supply Chain Planning across HQ, RBs, and COs.
• Design and implement supply chain strategies/CONOPs, standards, and guidance to improve supply chain performance, reduce cost, or improve responsiveness.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide strategic visibility to COs and the regional SC, inclusive of developing and presenting operational SC plans for the RB. The Planning Officer will serve to flag risks and opportunities that RB can leverage in improving operations across the region, inclusive of running optimization analyses via the Optimus SC Planning tool.
• Coordinate horizontally (with regional stakeholders across Programme, Procurement, Logistics, Resource Mgt. and Cash Based Transfers) and vertically (coordination between CO, RB, and COs), amongst others to provide end-to-end supply chain visibility using the Supply Chain Management Dashboard and other tools. Conceptual and operational support for integrated supply chain planning.
• Running ad-hoc analyses to support operational activities for the RB as well as for countries within the region (in coordination with Country Office SC Planners as relevant).
• Build data analytics and data visualization models & tools to support supply chain decision making by either building on existing tools/frameworks (e.g. Data Lake) or developing ad-hoc complementing models.
• Conduct training for COs and RB on optimization & data visualization tools implement the roll-out of the SC Planning Approach along with its tools and methodologies. This includes the coordination of SC Planning Officers in COs in the region.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience:

• Advanced University degree preferably in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Economics, Business Administration, Logistics, or other related field and a minimum of 1 year role related experience. 
• Prior experience in SC related industry including supply chain management, business analysis, process mapping, data extraction & analysis, and development of SC optimization tools within global organizations with proven track record of work on different areas of supply chain (i.e. sourcing, logistics, planning, etc.) is preferred.
• Experience with managing data from ERP systems such as SAP and/or ORACLE.
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience in Supply Chain Management Consulting is a plus.
• Prior experience working with WFP would be an advantage.
• Verbal and written fluency in English and working language in Country Office.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English language. 

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Continued

Skills:

• Effective people management, delegation, and organization skills; Ability to work both individually and in a multifunctional team setting.
• Highly developed communication skills, with experience using both written and verbal presentations to influence outcomes.
• Strong problem-solving skills, analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative; ability to leverage analytical skills into advanced data models and tools to recommend improvements.
• Ability to produce high-quality written materials, including graphically-based PowerPoint presentations as well as text documents. Advanced use of Microsoft Office suite (or similar programs), particularly Excel, PowerPoint, & Word.
• Strong time management skills with an ability to plan, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles, and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully, and to work to tight deadlines.
• Self-motivated and proactive, able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Ability to interact with senior leaders and a wide range of stakeholders with credibility and tact.
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the World Food Programme.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Experience in analysing operational context and trends;
• Experience in supporting analytical and conceptual work on supply chain strategy and implementation;
• Experience in designing plans and operational scenarios in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in analysing end-to-end supply chain operations;
• Experience working with supply chain information systems;
• Experience in troubleshooting and solving operational issues.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

• Supply Chain Strategy: Demonstrates understanding of supply chain strategies and corporate frameworks. Supports analytical and conceptual work on supply chain strategy and implementation.
• Supply Chain & Networks Management: Demonstrates robust understanding of end-to-end supply chain management. Supports the design and implementation of supply chain, retail and partnership networks.
• Supports the design and integrated delivery of supply chain services.
• Supply Chain Capacity Strengthening: Demonstrates robust understanding of supply chain capacity strengthening in operational contexts. Implements capacity development initiatives in own area of responsibility.
• Supply Chain Performance & Development: Supports integrated supply chain information management and conducts advanced Supply Chain and performance analytics. Contributes to supply chain improvement and innovation initiatives.
• Supply Chain Planning: Demonstrates robust understanding of supply chain planning in operational contexts. Designs plans and operational scenarios in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders. Leverages expert intelligence and system data to conduct planning analytics.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

This vacancy announcement will close on Thursday, 27 February 2020 at 11:59pm Johannesburg time

This position is only open to South African Nationals OR candidates with a valid South African Residence Permit

Female applicants are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.

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JOB PURPOSE

Lead on or provide technical advice and oversight to procurement Regional Bureau and Country Office operations of moderate complexity, partnering with the key supply chain functions to ensure an integrated supply chain approach to meeting the food assistance needs of beneficiaries.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Contribute towards the development of procurement plans and processes ensuring compliance with wider procurement policies and WFP standards.
• Support or manage procurement programs and operational activities, (e.g. issue tenders, evaluate offers and negotiate/award contracts), following standard processes to contributing to successful procurement of food and non-food commodities or services.
• Provide oversight, guidance and support with / to Country Offices with relatively straight forward procurement needs (moderate value commodities, delivering programmes of a similar nature) on implementing best practice procurement policies and procedures, ensuring a strategic, forward purchasing approach to procurement in compliance with wider WFP policies, standards and regulations.
• Analyse data to provide recommendations for process improvement.
• Present accurate and timely reports of procurement activities to contribute to a WFP wide view that enables informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders, leading to performance optimization.
• Collate information and draft appropriate responses to recommendations to support auditing of procurement activities and ensure conformity with compliance rules.
• Work in close collaboration with internal counterparts and external partners including suppliers, superintendents, companies, etc to align procurement activities with wider programmes and ensure a coherent approach to meeting food assistance needs.
• Support training of WFP staff to take a strategic and proactive approach to the procurement of food and non-food commodities and services, for example designing and reviewing training materials.
• Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP is able to quickly respond and deploy food and needed goods and services to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
• Act in an assigned emergency response capacity as required to meet emergency food assistance needs.
• Lead the development of strategies and plans for pro-small holder farmer procurement.
• Other as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Qualification and experience:

• Advanced University degree in Economics, Commerce, Business Administration, Engineering, Legal or Accounting or other relevant field, or First University degree with an additional relevant work experience and/or certification in Public Procurement.
• A minimum of 3 years role related experience is required

Language: Fluency (level C) in English language.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Experience with procurement activities (purchasing, vendor research, etc.).
•  Experience conducting cost analyses.
•  Experience working with vendors or other partners.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Tendering & Contracting: Demonstrates ability to establish and manage small contracts/ portions of larger contracts that enhance the value WFP obtains from its engagements (e.g., cost, efficiency, quality).

Vendor Management: Demonstrates working knowledge and understanding of the supplier network and business needs to effectively select vendors that meet the selection criteria.

Commodity/Product/Service Intelligence: Selects appropriate products and/or services in own area based on a basic understanding of sources, country requirements, and public procurement principles/practices.

Systems & Reporting: Demonstrates strong understanding of procurement systems, Corporate operating System and tools to conduct range of analyses and generate reports to drive decision making.

Ethics & Compliance: Demonstrates ability to collect, collate and report records relating to ethics and compliance to assist in the analysis of audit findings.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

• This vacancy announcement will close on Thursday, 27 February 2020 at 11:59pm
• This position is only open to South African Nationals

Qualified female applicants are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.