Head of SDG2 Acceleration
Head of SDG2 Acceleration
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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: Head of SDG2 Acceleration
TYPE OF CONTRACT:RegularConsultancy
UNIT/DIVISION: 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 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 2024 the WFP Innovation Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 61 million people globally.
The incumbent reporting to the Head of Accelerator is expected to:
Lead and manage the portfolio of innovation projects and/or new ventures: Define the model of operating with portfolio projects. Provide oversight and support to sprint-stage project portfolio. Manage relevant project teams. Mentor and coach project teams during ideation & product design. Carry out discussions with executive managers to align on project scope and objectives. Take a lead role in advising and support teams on key decisions regarding product features and technology options. Manage product testing and improvements as required.
Manage the project managers of all projects in the portfolio: Define the model of operating with portfolio projects. Provide oversight and support to sprint-stage project portfolio. Manage relevant project teams.
Actively manage the sprint project pipeline and portfolio: Nurture and develop Sprint portfolio coordinating activities across sourcing bootcamps sprint and scaling. Balance portfolio according to the set priorities. Leverage portfolio and project-level impact to allocate resources dynamically:
- Support identifying WFP business units as potential long-term owners for scale-up projects with internal graduation option matching their main pain points and requirements. Introduce and communicate status updates of Scale-up projects within WFP and ensure early involvement on development towards organization integration.
- Advise innovators on graduation path both with respect to internal integration and to potential exit strategies.
- Regular exchange and check-in with Head of Innovation Accelerator and Innovation Advisory Group to consider the Accelerators activity portfolio.
Actively support Accelerators development through effective management and act as a
member of its management team:
Lead efforts with the overall goal of making the Accelerator a more effective platform in mind; Work across different teams and articulate project manager/venture consultant role effectively within the Accelerator; Provide analysis & content preparation for corporate priority topics and executive management meetings.
Support Innovation Accelerator managerial and operative tasks: Take up lead roles in running workshops and events core processes of the accelerator. Support the Head of the Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation with any other activities and tasks as required.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- WFPs innovation pipeline effectively managed.
- WFP Innovation accelerators project portfolio effectively managed.
- Set up and lead the project management/project portfolio team.
- Ensure that all work and materials developed during the contract are well documented and available to the WFP Innovation Accelerator team.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: masters degree required; degree in business or international development preferred.
Experience:At least 9 years of progressively responsible national and/or international experience in a start-up businesses/corporations or in the humanitarian or development sector. Experience in human-centred design management of teams required.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Experience in human-centred design within a global organization and & Skills: start-up experience required.
- Demonstrated experience in cultural diversity and how it influences the design needs of the technical solution to meet local requirements.
- Strong conceptual thinking to develop new business areas new strategies and support innovative projects.
- Ability to interact with senior stakeholders leaders and external audiences with maturity and tact.
- Collaborative spirit able to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy.
- Excellent communication/presentation skills.
- Strong 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 to tight deadlines.
- Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
- Sets 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;
- Willing to work in and travel to different field locations and challenging operating environments.
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:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
