Innovation Ventures Project Lead
Innovation Ventures Project Lead
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Job Description
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
30 April 202523:59GMT01:00 Central European Time (Berlin)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:Innovation Ventures Project Lead
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultancy
UNIT/DIVISION: WFP Innovation Accelerator INNA
DUTY STATION (City Country): Munich Germany
DURATION: 11 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 100 million people every day delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers communities and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.
The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as Most Innovative NonProfit Organization 2021 for its work in identifying nurturing and scaling disruptive startups and innovations to end global hunger. Based in Munich Germany the Innovation Accelerator provides WFP employees entrepreneurs and startups with funding handson support and access to WFPs global operations. Through the Innovation Accelerator WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation such as mobile technology artificial intelligence and blockchain and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2023 Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 60.7 million people globally. Most recently the Accelerator runs programmes for external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.
The incumbent reporting to the Head of the SDG2 Acceleration is expected to:
Lead the planning and implementation of core accelerator activities to deliver effective and efficient innovation programs:
Scope and deliver acceleration programs and innovation services including bootcamps pitch events sprint programs and other types of innovation engagements.
Scope and deliver the innovation sourcing including needs identification innovation challenges pipeline sharing active scouting and matching with WFP organizational entities as applicable.
Plan and orchestrate the work of multidisciplinary teams ensuring the ontime budget and onscope delivery of the relevant projects including impact measurement and reporting.
Build strong relationships with programme partners and create meaningful connections with the innovation ecosystem.
Coach internal and external ventures to become desirable feasible and viable and to advance towards Zero Hunger and Sustainable Development Goals:
Advise innovation teams using methodologies such as humancentered design lean startup and system thinking coaching them on key decisions regarding user needs product roadmap business model and growth.
Define key performance indicators and milestones for the innovation projects and ensure their implementation impact measurement and reporting.
Liaise and coordinate with WFP entities as Programme units Regional Bureaux or Country Offices or with relevant stakeholders in other organizations to align on project scope and objectives.
Build up expertise in one WFP focal area (e.g. Nutrition Smallholder Farmers) or Sustainable Development Goals (e.g. Climate Action Gender) to identify opportunities for innovation in alignment with the strategic objectives of WFP.
Support the strategic and organizational development of the SDG2 Acceleration unit to build a unique positioning and competitive advantage:
Contribute to the establishment of strategic objectives and ensure work plans are in place to meet key results.
Define and run initiatives that help constantly improve the SDG2 units value proposition in alignment with the broader WFP Innovation Accelerator and WFP.
Build up the right capabilities knowledge and best practices across the unit making sure that people are equipped with the right tools and skills to deliver results.
Ensure that resources are adequately deployed and program demands are being met with the latest knowhow.
Support the business growth of the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the SDG2 Acceleration unit to realize external and internal sales opportunities:
Build up a network of public private and philanthropic donors to identify and realize sales opportunities for acceleration programs.
Connect with key internal stakeholders from WFP Programme units Regional Bureaux and Country Offices to identify innovation support needs.
Take an active role in lead generation proposal preparation and negotiation of new contracts and funding agreements.
Define and implement outreach campaigns and communication plans to amplify the scope and impact of the SDG2 acceleration programs.
Lead a team of Innovation Ventures Consultants to reach the goals of the SDG2 Acceleration unit:
Guide and grow a team of Innovation Ventures Consultants and/or other disciplines by establishing priorities providing coaching and making sure people are engaged in the right valuecreation activities.
Engage in creative leadership methods to foster the right conditions for collective and individual learning and growth.
Cultivate a collaborative and highperforming team culture to help the team thrive in constantly changing environments.
Conduct performance feedback and development sessions.
Support the overall WFP Innovation Accelerator operations:
Provide analysis and content preparation (data on projects PowerPoint presentations briefs etc. for corporate priority topics and management meetings.
Participate and carry out discussions with colleagues in other divisions or external stakeholders on topics related to innovation.
Support other core processes of the WFP Innovation Accelerator (e.g. event management speaking engagement) as required.
Support the Head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management with any other activities as required.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- Acceleration activities effectively led.
- Strategic and operational initiatives of the SDG2 Acceleration unit effectively carried out.
- Business growth opportunities successfully realized and delivered.
- Team of Innovation Ventures Consultants successfully led.
- All work and materials developed during the contract well documented and available to the WFP Innovation Accelerator team.
- Effective support of operations of the WFP Innovation Accelerator.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: bachelors degree. Masters degree is a plus.
Experience:At least 7 years of progressively responsible international experience in a startup leadership role startup accelerator innovations in private businesses or innovations in the humanitarian or international development sector.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Understanding of technology innovations (e.g. mobile apps blockchain artificial intelligence) and business model innovations (e.g. innovative finance sharing economy).
- Experience in innovation project life cycle from ideation minimum viable product testing prototyping and implementation.
- Experience working crossfunctionally and getting things done in a spy and handson way.
- Worked in a largescale organization or with a client/in partnership with a largescale organization.
- A proven track record of driving and implementing projects effectively delivering impactful elements of projects in a fastmoving environment ideally for new businesses new business models startups etc.
- Able to generate new and original solutions to complex problems and to design new product ideas.
- Strong conceptual thinking to develop new strategies & innovative projects.
- Able to interact with a broad range of stakeholders and external audiences with maturity and tact.
- Excellent communication/presentation skills with the ability to write strategy documents develop business plans and write and deliver presentations.
- Collaborative spirit able to partner with a wide range of people at all.
- levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy.
- Selfmotivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
- Sets a high level of ambition for the project and own work to achieve impact for the hungry people we serve.
- Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.
Languages: Fluency in oral and written English is required. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic Chinese French Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFPs working languages) is beneficial.
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
We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate complete and includes your employment records academic qualifications language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
Once your profile is completed please apply and submit your application.
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport recommendation letters academic certificates etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Please contact us at in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
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.
Required Experience:
Senior IC
Employment Type
Full-Time
