Head of Business Operations
Head of Business Operations
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Job Description
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
4 September 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 Business Operations
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 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 d... technology artificial intelligence and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the 2023 Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 607 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 incumbent reporting to the Deputy Head WFP Innovation Accelerator is expected to:
Manage the Business Operations team (a team of approximately 10 team members):Supervise guide and manage the Business Operations team.
Ensure the design and development of standard operating procedures and process improvements and ensure adoption by the Accelerator team.
Define key performance indicators (KPIs) Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and milestones for the Business Operations activities and ensure their implementation and reporting.
Ensure that all business operations activities are planned and implemented in an effective and efficient manner with all relevant internal and external clients and stakeholders; and
Contribute to the implementation of the strategy of the Accelerator.
Manage complex office and virtual operations of the overall Accelerator and its core function by ensuring the performance of Business Operations functions:Provide guidance and advice to direct team members and managers in several functions including:Office operations activities including asset management IT and security workplace security and safety as per WFP policies;
Procurement and grant processes of the Accelerator (including for Accelerator operations and innovation events);
Human resources and talent topics (including team planning recruitment retention people development and separation);
Take the overall lead and execute the planning and implementation of in-person and virtual events as required;
Lead and carry out discussions with WFP managers and colleagues in other divisions or WFP operations (including HR Legal Procurement IT Finance and Security) or with stakeholders in other organizations when applicable.
Actively lead Accelerators development through effective management:Lead efforts with the overall goal of making the Accelerator a more effective platform while ensuring compliance with WFP policies in operations including facets such as the use of vendors and subcontractors partnerships contracts and reporting.
Lead on governance topics linked to the updated WFP Innovation Strategy which is intended to enable innovation across WFP globally. Such activities include assessment of key governance processes and documents that need be designed drafted and/or updated; consult with and enable buy-in of relevant WFP field colleagues and top leadership stakeholders; guide team-members working on governance topics linked to the Innovation Strategy; draft strategic documents and drive high-level approval processes as applicable.
Provide analysis & content preparation for corporate priority topics and executive management meetings; and support the Head of the Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management with any other activities and tasks as required.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- Manage the Accelerator Business Operations team and ensure efficient and effective processes are in place and working.
- Team members and teams under supervision are effectively managed.
- Ensure that all work and materials developed during the contract are well documented and available to the Accelerator team.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education: The candidate must have a masters degree; a degree in business or international development is preferred.
Experience: At least 8 years of progressively responsible international experience in a start-up management role start-up accelerator innovations in private businesses or innovations in the humanitarian or international development sector. At least 3 years in a large organization and 3 years of experience in managing an international team of at least 6 team members including experienced team members.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Demonstrated leadership in operations topics (including HR procurement legal and events) with strong planning and analytical skills.
- Experience in leading multinational teams (the innovation-focused team is a plus) including work planning operational management and team development (either large private sector and/or large non-profit organizations).
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- Passion and understanding of technology innovations (e.g. mobile apps blockchain artificial intelligence) and business model innovations are a plus.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 senior stakeholders leaders and external audience with maturity and tact.
- Excellent communication/presentation skills with the ability to write planning and strategy documents develop business plans and write and deliver presentations.
- Collaborative spirit able to manage and 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 team 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:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
