Special Assistant
Special Assistant
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Job Description
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
9 October 2025-23:59-GMT01:00 Central European Time (Rome)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:
Special Assistant
TYPE OF CONTRACT:
Consultant
UNIT/DIVISION:
Security Division (SEC)
DUTY STATION (City Country):
Rome Italy
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
Over the past few years the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has responded to an unprecedented level of emergencies many in high risk areas while maintaining ongoing operations. The Security Division under the framework of the UN Security Management System ensures these operations consider the safety and security aspect of its staff facilities and assets. The current operating context demands more agility and greater support and services from the Division. This increased demand puts both pressure on the organization as a whole as well as the need for greater efforts in ensuring the safety and security of these operations.
The Security Division relies on timely accurate comprehensive and relevant security-related data and information to support WFP operations and decision-making. Communicating this information to the right audience in the most accessible manner is important to ensure that the appropriate message is conveyed and action is taken. This requires improved processes and methods to manage and retrieve this information more effectively and efficiently to provide support to Regional Bureaux and Country Offices for effective security risk management. In addition the sharing and management of knowledge and the dissemination of lessons learned and best practices would contribute in enhancing the support of the Security Division to WFP operations.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Support the Director in the coordination of cross-cutting issues across the Division:
Assist the Director in high level events and spot internal and external visibility opportunities for SEC. Support the Director and the whole division in championing the new revamped vision of security bridging the gap between field and HQ and acting as liaison between management and field personnel (facilitator role). Identify all matters requiring the personal attention of the Director; assist in formulating options to address corporate and divisional matters and ensure appropriate follow-up. Coordinate the preparation of background briefs talking points and other written outputs for senior management internal and external audiences. Provide quality control of SEC products and deliverables from a communication and branding perspective.
Design and coordinate communication initiatives for greater visibility and understanding of Security both internally to WFP and externally at inter-agency level.
Represent SEC and take part at the working group at IASMN level. Develop security key messages for internal and external events aligned to vision strategic objectives and divisional priorities (presentations OED taskers external NGO meetings IASMN).
Any others as required.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- The Director is supported in her day-to-day work and responsibilities.
- The Security Division speaks consistently and with one voice to senior leaders.
- Has supported complex projects and operational activities that maintain security operations functions and feed into overall strategic aims.
- Has gained experience in security risk management and high risk operational capacity
- Has provided direction and instruction to more junior staff members within area of expertise
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Advanced university degree in Security Management International Relations business communications information sciences social sciences or other relevant field or first university degree with additional years of related work experience.
Experience:
Experience in drafting reports and correspondence is required. At least 1 year of United Nations experience is required. Experience working in emergency context is desirable. Additional work experience is desirable.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Knowledge of the full range of communications approaches tools and methodologies essential to planning and executing effective communications strategies and programmes.
- Knowledge and understanding of Security Risk Management is desirable.
- Experience in the effective use and management of Office 365 tools (Teams SharePoint Online Planner Power Automate etc).
- Experience in data formatting and proficient use of data visualization tools is desirable.
- Good analytical abilities both quantitative and qualitative: ability to perform advanced analysis in excel and produce high-quality written materials including PowerPoint presentations as well as text documents.
- Collaborative spirit to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures with credibility and diplomacy.
- Time management skills with an ability to plan ahead anticipate requirements problems and obstacles and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully and to work on tight deadlines.
- Self-motivated and can work with a certain degree of autonomy and/or in a team.
- Detail-oriented with a client-oriented and user-centric approach in solutions.
Languages:
International Professional: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic Chinese French Russian Spanish and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).
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.
Employment Type
Full-Time
