Innovation Lead Consultant
Innovation Lead Consultant
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Job Description
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
24 August 2025-23:59-GMT01:00 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 Lead Consultant (2 positions)
TYPE OF CONTRACT:Consultancy
UNIT/DIVISION:WFP Innovation Accelerator (INNA)
DUTY STATION (City Country):Munich Germany
DURATION:6 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 Non-Profit Organization 2021 for its work in identifying nurturing and scaling disruptive start-ups and innovations to end global hunger. Based in Munich Germany the Innovation Accelerator provides WFP employees entrepreneurs and start-ups with funding hands-on 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.
More information here: and the Unit: The SDGx Acceleration unit creates and delivers innovation programmes in co- creation with a broad range of partners to advance progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. More information here. The SDGx Innovation Lead will have an active role in shaping and delivering the growth strategy of the unit to help achieve impact at scale.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Consultant reporting to the Head of SDGx Acceleration is expected to:
Lead the implementation of core accelerator activities:
Scope deliver and manage acceleration programmes and innovation services in cooperation with a broad range of partners; including bootcamps pitch events sprint programmes and other types of innovation engagements.
Lead plan and orchestrate the work of multi-disciplinary innovation teams ensuring the on-time on budget and on-scope delivery of the relevant projects including impact measurement and reporting.
Build strong relationships with programme partners and create meaningful connections with relevant innovation ecosystems and communities of practice.
Build up expertise relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals to identify opportunities for innovation in alignment with the strategic objectives of WFP.
Work with high-impact ventures to help them scale sustainably:
Coach innovation teams using methodologies such as human-centered design lean start-up and systems thinking; advising them on key decisions regarding user needs product roadmap business model partnership building and growth plans.
Define key performance indicators and milestones for the innovation projects and follow up on their implementation impact measurement and reporting.
Drive the creation and sharing of knowledge in one or more areas of innovation and venture-building in humanitarian settings.
Liaise and coordinate with relevant stakeholders including programme team programme partners and other relevant WFP units as applicable.
Co-lead the strategic and organizational development of the SDGx Acceleration unit:
Lead a functional chapter of the SDGx Acceleration unit to continuously improve our value proposition. Define and drive alignment across all workstreams (e.g. Strategy Project Management Portfolio Management Design Ecosystem).
Contribute to the establishment of strategic objectives and ensure work plans are in place to meet key results.
Build up the right capabilities knowledge and best practices making sure that people are equipped with the right tools and skills to deliver results.
Ensure that resources are adequately deployed and that programme demands are being met with the latest know-how.
Define and run initiatives and projects that help to constantly improve the SDGx unit in alignment with the broader accelerator and WFP.
Lead a team of Innovation Consultants to reach the goals of the SDGx Acceleration unit:
Guide and grow a team of Innovation Consultants and/or other disciplines by establishing priorities providing coaching and making sure people are engaged in the right value-creation activities.
Engage in creative leadership methods to foster the right conditions for collective and individual learning and growth.
Cultivate an open and high-performing team culture to help the team thrive in constantly changing environments.
Conduct performance feedback and development sessions.
Drive the growth strategy of the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the SDGx Acceleration unit:
Build up a network of public private and philanthropic donors to identify and realize partnering opportunities for Acceleration Programs;
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 SDGx acceleration programmes.
Help shape the strategic evolution of the SDGx units innovation portfolio and value proposition to best meet the needs of the people and organizations we serve.
Support the overall Innovation Accelerator operations:
Provide analysis & 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. sourcing campaigns bootcamp facilitation sprint coaching event hosting speaking engagements event management) as required.
Support the Head of the 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 SDGx 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 are 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 5 to 10 years of progressively responsible international experience in a start-up leadership role start-up accelerator innovation functions or relevant experience in the private 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 cross-functionally and getting things done in a scrappy and hands-on way.
- Worked in a large-scale organization or with a client/in partnership with a large-scale organization.
- A proven track record of driving and implementing projects - effectively delivering impactful elements of projects in a fast-moving environment ideally for new businesses new business models start-ups 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 audience with maturity and tact.
- Excellent communication/presentation skills with the ability to write strategy documents to develop business plans and to 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.
- Self-motivated 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 people we serve.
- Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.
Languages:
High proficiency in oral and written English. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic Chinese French Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFPs working languages) is a plus.
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:
Contract
Employment Type
Full-Time
