Special Assistant to the Deputy Director
Special Assistant to the Deputy Director
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Job Description
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
29 August 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 to the Deputy Director
UNIT/DIVISION:
Private Partnerships Division (PSP)
DUTY STATION:
Rome HQ
CONTRACT TYPE:
Short-Term Regular Consultant CST I
DURATION:
4 months
WORK SCHEDULE:
Full time
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the worlds largest humanitarian agency working to create a world
with zero hunger.
As the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives WFP delivers food assistance in emergencies and works with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience for the long term. WFP believes that individual and collective wellbeing can only be achieved if all children women and men get the nutritious food they need to lead healthy dignified lives.
In 2024 alone WFP assisted 124 million people. Every day 5600 WFP-chartered trucks are on the road 78 aircraft are in the air and 189 ships are at sea. These numbers speak to WFPs unparalleled reputation as an emergency responder one that is often the first on the scene in the most difficult environments. WFP also works with partners to strengthen the resilience of communities most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition through long-term development programmes aimed at boosting food security local economies education employment and gender equality. While hunger and malnutrition are the worlds largest solvable issues the needs are still immense and growing. Today 733 million people in the world face hunger equivalent to one in eleven people globally.
WFPs Private Partnerships Division (PSP) is responsible for engaging the private sector (corporations individuals foundations) through high-impact partnerships in support of WFPs strategic priorities and through individual giving to build and retain support from the public worldwide. Joining PSP is an exciting opportunity for experienced professionals to co-develop and implement our new private partnerships and fundraising strategy.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Working directly with the Deputy Director the Special Assistant will be a dynamic and highly motivated professional providing effective support on a daily basis and ensuring operational effectiveness.
The SA will work and assist the Deputy in all aspects of her duties and will interact with a wide range of people within and outside the UN system.
The position purpose is to facilitate Deputys work by bringing in excellent judgement discretion interpersonal skills problem solving capability and experience of protocols. This should be ideally underpinned with an analytical mind clear writing skills and ability to distil discussions.
ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide a full range of support and leads the overall coordination and functioning of the Deputys Office
- Provides advice to the Deputy on engagement and issues at hand across the Division of over 80 people
- Supports the Deputy on the proactive engagement communication and interaction with internal and external stakeholders
- Form resilient and productive working relationships with client counterparts keeping both parties on track towards achieving mutual goals
- Act as a point of contact for the Deputy: both with staff and with selected leadership-level external partners
- Serve as a resource and thought partner for aligning to Heads of the following PPFs teams: Partnerships-Fundraising Partnerships-Technical Foundations Global Services RB Engagement
- Maintain effective relationships with key business partners in WFP for PPF to include colleagues in the legal HR and procurement teams and escalate issues to the Director and propose and navigate solutions
- Manages overall communication: coordinating town halls managing weekly meetings developing related agendas and summarizing meeting minutes
- Supports the strengthening of partnerships through proactively proposing and arranging strategic meetings of the Deputy with representatives of Member States external partners and stakeholders as well as the participation of the Deputy at key events
- Develop a calendar indicating document deadlines leadership and board meeting dates and other key milestones to the Executive Board. Manages Executive Board engagement plan and calendar scheduling bilats and organizing informal meetings as required
- Participates in coordination and management of current and future strategic business opportunities
- Participates in or keeps track of the work of key task forces related to organization-wide initiatives which contribute to the Deputys vision and functions
- Drafts briefs speeches and talking points for the Deputy for internal and external audiences
- Reviews and exercises quality control of all items submitted to the Deputy for comments or signature including briefings official correspondence and press releases
- Managers seamless coordination and communication across WFPs operating divisions and other key stakeholders
- Coordinates monitors and follows-up on tasks and deliverables assigned to internal and external partners and interacts with them on behalf of the Deputy as needed
- Handles routine inquiries and responsibilities but exercises good judgement on when to escalate complex issues to the Deputy
- Takes the initiative to problem solve and deliver solutions to barriers or blocks to operational issues which prevent effective and efficient implementation
- Assesses and identifies the potential risks that may hinder the reputation safety security and financial prosperity of the Division. Always maintaining confidentiality of information as appropriate.
- Other responsibilities as required.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT
- Ensured highest standard support and stewardship of all the responsibilities and roles taken on by the Deputys Office including timely and high-quality delivery of documents briefs processes presentations organisation of strategic meetings partnership objectives and information management and sharing by acting as main focal point and contact person on behalf of the Deputy.
- Delivered reliable and timely strategic advice support and functional capacity to the Deputy to ensure full compliance of the Division with the objectives of the PS Strategy 2020-2025 creation of valuable partnerships with internal and external clients coordination capacity within the teams and line management to junior resources.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Education
- University degree in Business Management International Development International Relations Political Science Economics Marketing Communications or other relevant field or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Work history
- minimum of 5 years progressive experience working in finance business administration human resources accounting procurement or other related area is required.
Hard skills
- Essential computer skills in Microsoft Office applications: proficiency in Word PowerPoint and Excel
- Proven ability to conceptualize plan manage develop and monitor processes
- Excellent understanding of global issues and an ability to translate an Organisations mission
- Administrative and financial history with greater independence and decision making and managing complex budgets is desirable
- Working experience with SAP is desirable
- Ability to develop and implement office procedures and technology
Soft skills
- Uphold a strict level of confidentiality
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to cultivate relationships and influence senior decision-makers
- Highly organized with exceptional planning and problem solving skills
- Ability to handle multiple tasks within deadlines and deliver on commitments
- Work effectively in a multi-cultural environment and international organization
- Understanding or appreciation for working in a large complex hierarchical decentralised and geographically dispersed organisation
- Uses tact and courtesy to give and receive information with a variety of individuals (people oriented)
- Motivated team spirit and contributed to an inclusive and sound working environment (team player)
- Highly adaptable to change and comfortable dealing with ambiguity stress and competing demands with grace and humor
Language(s)
- Excellent command of spoken and written English
- Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language would be a plus (Arabic Chinese French Russian Spanish).
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
