Food Safety and Quality Consultant

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WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

The selection will be competitive; WFP is committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

Are you passionate about the Food Safety and Quality field, that will support how WFP helps thousands of beneficiaries in the Region? If yes, then this opportunity is for you!

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

We are the largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide and the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Our mission is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every single day, we work worldwide to make sure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable can access the nutritious food they need.

JOB PURPOSE

At WFP, we are looking for a Food Safety and Quality Consultant. The job purpose is to support the implementation of food safety and quality management and/or food product optimization initiatives within a CO or support regional or global initiatives. The job holder is responsible for partnering with the key supply chain functions to ensure an integrated supply chain approach in order to meet the food assistance needs of beneficiaries.

This position will be under the supervision and mentorship of of the Regional Food Safety and Quality Assurance Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Collate and analyze data and supply to the preparation of reports relating to food quality and safety, to advise risk management and mitigation and give to a WFP wide view of food technology activities.

2. Establish risk-based control measures and prepare evidence-based recommendations for Country Offices to combat and reduce food commodity losses and food quality and safety issues.

3. In the event of food safety incidents, support investigation exercises to enable lessons learned to be detailed and shared, to reduce re-occurrence of the incident.

4. Support project teams in the region on the food technology aspects of food assistance programs, ensuring compliance with WFP food quality and safety regulations.

5. Contribute towards the development and/or implementation of protocols and tools relating to food technology issues, ensuring alignment with WFP procurement and supply chain strategy, policies and plans.

6. Ensure that food procured for the region meets WFP specification or relevant national standards in the respective countries and inspection companies enforce to the stipulated scope of work requirements.

7. Support the capacity building of WFP food suppliers, WFP staff and partners for efficient and effective delivery of food assistance to beneficiaries (e.g. through the design and review of training materials and actual training).

8. Identify and build positive relationships with supply chain and other relevant units colleagues, to support a coordinated approach to food assistance.

9. Follow emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP are able to quickly respond and deploy food and needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.

10. Keep current on emerging developments and cutting-edge research on the areas of food safety and quality and/or food product optimization in order to demonstrate the opportunities to incorporate industry standard methodologies in the Supply Chain.

11. Guide and supervise junior staff, acting as a point of referral of food technologists, and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries.

12. Others as required from time to time.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Advanced university degree in Food Science and Technology, Food Engineering or related fields.

Experience

At least 6 years’ experience in food quality assurance in managerial/supervisory role, with dynamically growing responsibilities in the field of food technology.

It is required professional training and hands on experience in sophisticated Quality and Food Safety Management systems implementation and systems audit.

Language

Fluency in both English and Spanish is a must. Another UN Language is considered an added value.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Experience in Laboratory operations including training on test methods, Quality and Food Safety management systems, Food handling standard methodologies
• Ability to negotiate with a variety of actors from the government, private sector and other international agencies
• Experience in coaching and mentoring junior staff.
• Leadership, ability to work within and lead a team, strong drive for results, cultural sensitivity
• Strong analytical, networking, and coordination skills with excellent written and verbal communication

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position: Food Safety and Quality Consultant

Number of openings: 1

Unit: Food Safety and Quality

Type of Contract: Consultancy

Duration: 11 months.

Only short-listed qualified candidates will receive an acknowledgement.

This position is open only to citizens or residents with work permit of the following countries: Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Colombia.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please create a personal account and fill out the profile form with your personal information at http://www1.wfp.org/careers/job-openings. If you are internal applicant, apply through your E-Recruitment profile.

In the application form, ensure filling the mandatory sections, attaching your CV, answering the pre-screening questions and agreeing on the legal statement before submitting your application.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

The deadline to apply for this position is December 27, 2020.

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“Qualified applicants, especially female applicants, are encouraged to apply”

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.