Optimization Specialist

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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 worlds 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 WFPs 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: 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).

JOB TITLE: Supply Chain Optimization Specialist
TYPE OF CONTRACT: CST level I
UNIT/DIVISION: SCDO / Supply Chain Planning & Optimization
DUTY STATION (City Country): Rome Italy
DURATION: 6 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
With growing humanitarian needs far outpacing increases in funding better planning is critical to
improve WFPs efficiency and ability to operate in an environment with frequent supply chain
disruptions. To that end WFP has established a team of experts in Supply Chain Planning &
Optimization (SPOs) that apply best practices in supply chain management and advanced analytics
to humanitarian operations using their unique expertise to develop integrated sourcing and delivery
plans provide operational foresight in support of data-driven decision-making and optimize
operational design both for WFP operations and those of its partners. SPOs share a cross-functional
knowledge of operations enabling end-to-end supply chain planning and increased coordination
across functions. By automating complex data crunching and reconciliation across units and systems
SPOs allow key staff to better manage their time and focus on more value-added tasks such as
analyzing various planning scenarios and alerting on issues and potential risks.
The Supply Chain Optimization Specialist will be supporting the global SPO network
by designing developing and improving mathematical optimization models powering
planning tools such as Scout. The role focuses on translating supply chain problems into scalable
optimization formulations and ensuring robust high-performing solutions for operational decisionmaking.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Design develop and maintain optimization models (e.g. network planning routing
allocation inventory positioning) for tools such as Scout and Optimus.
2. Collaborate with data engineers and product developers to integrate optimization models into
production systems.
3. Conduct scenario analysis and sensitivity testing to support decision-making under
uncertainty.
4. Continuously improve solution approaches through model tuning decomposition techniques
and heuristics.
5. Document models assumptions and limitations for transparency and reuse.
6. Support the application rollout and configuration of analytical solutions to new operations
(of WFP or its partners).
7. Develop and maintain new solutions (e.g. dashboards optimization tools forecasting tools)
leveraging a range of techniques including data transformation and visualization statistics
machine learning models and optimization algorithms.
8. Deep-dive on business requirements with relevant teams (data owners field users
stakeholders etc.) to understand data availability business drivers (KPIs) and evaluate
further optimization opportunities.
Docusign Envelope ID: C0F4A353-79DD-5E1370C870DA
TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR SHORT-TERM/CONSULTANCY CONTRACTS

Page 2 of 3 Last revision: 21 January 2016
9. Coordinate closely with WFPs Technology division to ensure compliance with corporate
guidelines for solution development and to stay ahead of new initiatives investments and
best practices that may benefit SPO projects.
10. Prepare in-depth quantitative analyses to support operational and strategic decision making
as needed.
11. Enable the adoption of best practices and advanced analytics in operations management and
strengthen the capacity of the clients staff in these areas.
12. Other as required.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: Advanced university degree in the area of Data Science Operations Research Supply
Chain Management Engineering Business Management or related fields.
Experience: 3 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in the area of operation
research and optimization modelling is required.
Experience in using analytics to support operations management (e.g. planning
optimizing supply chain networks development of KPIs and visualization
dashboards) is required.
Experience with developing analytical solutions (e.g. dashboards optimization
models data transformation pipelines machine learning models) is required.
Experience with software-development (e.g. proficiency in programming languages
agile methodologies testing and deploying code system design) is required.
Experience with typical WFP data science technology (Pandas Spark Palantir
Foundry JS Typescript SQL PuLP PyTorch XGBoost DARTS etc.) is desired.
Experience with optimization tools and methods (e.g. linear programming graph
algorithms heuristics) is desired.
Experience with forecasting and statistical models (e.g. regression analysis
clustering random forest) is desired.
Experience in SC-related industry (e.g. supporting S&OP-type processes material
planning distribution planning procurement shipping) is desired.
Experience with consultancy-type activities (e.g. business analysis process mapping
data transformation and analysis presenting conclusions to senior management)
is desired.
Experience working with government or humanitarian agencies (e.g. UN NGOs)
is desired particularly in the areas of technical assistance and/or capacity
strengthening.
Knowledge
& Skills:
Highly numerate able to rapidly analyze and interpret data.
Problem-solving attitude able to structure ambiguous problems and solve them
through a mix of quantitative and qualitative analyses.
Highly developed communication skills able to use written and verbal mediums
to communicate recommendations and influence outcomes.
Docusign Envelope ID: C0F4A353-79DD-5E1370C870DA
TERMS OF REFERENCE
FOR SHORT-TERM/CONSULTANCY CONTRACTS

Page 3 of 3 Last revision: 21 January 2016
Strong time management skills with an ability to plan ahead and anticipate
requirements problems and obstacles.
Self-motivated and proactive able to take initiative and work autonomously to
achieve objectives.
Ability to juggle competing priorities successfully while working under
(sometimes) tight deadlines.
Effective people skills able to work both individually and in a team in a multicultural environment.
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.
Languages: You are fluent in oral and written English and have technical writing skills.
Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic French Chinese
Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFPs working languages) is desirable.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

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:

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 . 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.