Food Technologist - Service Contract 8 - Maputo

.

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

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RBs) or Country Offices (COs). In COs job holders report to the Deputy Country Director or the designate, in RBs job holders report to the Regional Procurement Officer or Nutritionist, and in HQ job holders report to the Division Director or the designate. Job holders operate with a high degree of independence, may provide technical support to specific food processing initiatives, and are involved in day–to-day activities and analytical work.

JOB PURPOSE

Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) is a corporate risk considering the increase in WFP’s operational and programmatic requirements. In terms of food safety and quality, specialized nutritious products and processed foods have a higher risk profile than agricultural commodities. This is due to their complex production methods, exposure to harsh climates where WFP operates (e.g. high temperatures in warehouses) and the vulnerability of the intended beneficiaries (e.g. young children, pregnant and nursing women). The complexity of WFP’s food basket increases the risk of potential food incidents that can: o Cause health and safety risks to beneficiaries;

• Lead to widespread regulatory concern that disrupts the pipeline;
• Affect WFP’s reputation by raising host governments, partners and donor concerns
• Financial losses

The main objectives for the investment in a Food Technologist will be to:

• Act as resource person for technical expertise on food safety & quality issues and to monitor performance of suppliers.
• Assist Procurement and Logistics staff in dealing with food safety and quality issues, including supplier assessments, guidance on food standards application as well as guidance on food inspection and interpretation of laboratory test results
• Provide technical expertise in dealing with poor performance and in monitoring of inspection companies
• The Food Technologist will develop and support implementation of proactive and preventive approaches in preventing food safety and quality incidents as well as food losses
• Provide CO with technical support in food incidents management
• Support CO in engagements with government agencies dealing with food safety and quality matters e.g Ministry of Health, Mozambique Bureau of Standards, etc.
• Act as a technical resource in various CO programs in integrating Food Safety and quality e.g Nutrition (Fortification program), School Feeding Program, CBT, Small holder farmers engagements etc.
• Support CO in internal and external capacity strengthening initiatives

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: University Degree on Food Safety & Quality, Food Science & Technology, Food Engineering, Health Sciences, Nutrition or other related disciplines, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience.

Language: Fluency in Portuguese. Intermediate knowledge of English

Experience: At least 5 years’ experience in food quality assurance in managerial/supervisory role, with progressively increasing responsibilities in the field of food technology and food fortification or Hands on experience in Quality and Food Safety Management systems implementation and systems audit or Experience in Laboratory operations including training on test methods, grain grading, Quality and Food Safety management systems, Food handling best practices.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Take stock of activities already undertaken by the Country Office to establish current status and develop, implement and monitor procedures, standards and tools aimed at meeting WFP’s food quality goals, and mitigate risks associated with food quality and safety issues;
• Ensure that food commodities procured by WFP for the Mozambique CO operations and WFP in the region meets standards set by both WFP and relevant regulatory authorities;
• Support the capacity building of WFP food suppliers, including millers, WFP staff and Cooperating Partners for efficient and effective delivery of safe, quality and nutritious food to beneficiaries (e.g. through the design and review of training materials and actual training).
• Support the capacity building of government agencies dealing with FSQ matters
• 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 leverage the opportunities to incorporate industry best practices in the Supply Chain
• Facilitate linkages between relevant government agencies, private sector, and International agencies in the country that promote and build awareness on Food Safety and Quality
• Support Country Office on the food technology aspects of food assistance programs, ensuring compliance with WFP food quality and safety regulations;
• 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.
• Establish risk based control measures to combat and reduce food commodity losses and, food quality and safety incidents.
• Review program monitoring data and provide assistance to Country Office on routine data to inform and modify program design
• Collate and analyze data that will contribute to the preparation of reports relating to food quality and safety, to inform risk management and mitigation plans.
• Other tasks as may be required

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Food Quality Management Provides guidance to team on the appropriate handling, storage, and preservation of food types to optimize use of resources. Research & Development Coordinates research on food properties and local needs using awareness of available resources (e.g., literature and research on public health). Commodity Knowledge Demonstrates thorough knowledge of food safety and quality and product optimization concepts and principles to implement protocols and tools to relating to food technology issues. Incidence & Risk Communication Management Demonstrates understanding of when to handle minor risks and/or escalate larger issues to appropriate authorities. Ethics & Compliance Demonstrates ability to collect, collate and report records relating to ethics and compliance to assist in the analysis of audit findings.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

This section is optional to describe additional responsibilities & knowledge required for the specific job.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has worked in emergency response capacity. • Has experience implementing food technology related tools and protocol. • Has experience working on food assistance programs development projects. • Act as a mentor to junior staff.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position Title: Food Technologist SC8

Type of Contract: Service Contract

Duty Station: Maputo

Contract Duration: 12 months

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

8th August 2021

.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially 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.