Head of Communications - Supply Chain Division - Rome, Italy

Consultancy opportunity for 11 months, based in Rome, Italy

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 United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, 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.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2020 to the World Food Programme for its efforts to combat hunger and its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas.

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 WFP's 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: https://www.wfp.org/ and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

ABOUT SUPPLY CHAIN DIVISION

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Supply Chain Division (SCO), with over 5000 trucks, 50 ships and close to 100 planes on the move every single day in over 120 countries and territories, together with its partners, operates a global network to deliver life-saving food assistance to the most hard-to reach places.

The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. 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.

In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. The organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas.

Supply chain management is at the core of WFP’s humanitarian response and therefore an area of constant strategic focus. Over 4,500 supply chain staff work around the clock to deliver food assistance to beneficiaries in some of the most complex environments. Empowering our staff with the right expertise and skills is critical to our success. SCO is committed to offer an innovative and effective learning journey to all of its workforce.

WHY JOIN US?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
• WFP offers an 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.

JOB PURPOSE

WFP’s Supply Chain Division, made up of more than 400 employees based in Headquarters and supporting a function of more than 4,000 employees worldwide, is seeking to strengthen its internal and external communications capabilities and presence. The Supply Chain Communications team leads internal communications to facilitate information-sharing and create a sense of belonging across Supply Chain employees based in WFP's headquarters, Country Offices and Regional Bureaux. The team also manages external communications for the Division, in line with guidance from and in liaison with WFP's Communications, Advocacy and Marketing Division (CAM). As Head of the Communications team, the incumbent will lead refinement and implementation of the divisional communications plan, aiming to raise Supply Chain's profile both internally and externally. S/he will oversee and contribute to developing communication products that showcase the diverse range of operations carried out by Supply Chain which, as the backbone of WFP's operations, maintain's WFP's leadership role in logistics and emergency response while embedding sustainability in an increasingly complex global environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive)

1. Manage implementation of WFP Supply Chain’s Communications Strategy, comprising both internal and external communications activities and encompassing the full spectrum of Supply Chain’s operations, designed to highlight and showcase the diverse work of the function and build community amongst Supply Chain staff globally. This strategy should remain aligned with WFP’s corporate communications, and meet donor visibility requirements as necessary.
2. Develop and maintain a forward-looking editorial calendar for internal and external materials, to raise visibility around key milestones and events for Supply Chain, WFP, and the wider United Nations system.
3. Lead production of internal Supply Chain newsletter, developed and distributed on a regular basis to all Supply Chain colleagues globally.
4. Manage Communications team, and liaise with communications focal points seated within branches/units across the Division. In consultation with Head of Front Office, prioritize tasks for Comms team in furtherance of the Supply Chain Communications Strategy and overall divisional priorities, to ensure that internal and external deadlines are met. Manage regular divisional focal point meetings to ensure ongoing lines of communication between central Communications team and branch-specific communications activity; provide guidance as needed to communications colleagues across the division.
5. Research, prepare, produce, and/or guide creation of multimedia and communications materials for target audiences, and ensure their timely dissemination on relevant channels, including but not limited to: social media posts, articles, profiles, interviews, factsheets, presentations, videos, podcasts, and talking points as needed. Collaborate with other WFP divisions on joint communications efforts, ranging from private sector partnerships to government donor requirements, to raise the profile, needs and achievements of WFP Supply Chain.
6. Facilitate trainings and sharing of best practices among Supply Chain communications focal points, ensuring alignment with WFP-wide communications rules and requirements for content. Ensure that all outputs are compliant with WFP standards and templates, tracking and informing team members and relevant focal points of any changes in brand, template, or editorial guidance as may occur.
7. In collaboration with other Supply Chain units and Front Office, support information and knowledge management initiatives across the Division, and link to internal comms activities.
8. Serve as clearance authority for all communications products for Supply Chain Division, working with and providing feedback to units to ensure that all materials produced are to a high standard. Where content is produced outside the division, work with CAM to review and ensure that messaging is accurate. Act as a primary focal point for inquiries from CAM for Supply Chain-related activities, particularly in response to external media.
9. In coordination with CAM, identify relevant opportunities for media and event engagement relating to supply chain topics; plan in advance to align on content-gathering missions, trainings, briefings, etc. to ensure maximum efficiency to ensure that materials developed can be diseminated to a wide audience.
10. Develop and maintain strong relationships with colleagues in the CAM Division, and with Supply Chain colleagues across WFP Country Offices and Regional Bureaux, to better identify, develop, and tell stories to both internal and external audiences.
11. Oversee the development of a social media strategy that sets specific goals and monitors ROI, aligning with WFP corporate social media priorities and styles, researching trends and audience preferences. Administer WFP Supply Chain social media accounts as required.
12. Represent WFP Supply Chain in various communications for a as required.
13. Deploy on field missions to gather content as needed.
14. Others as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, international relations, communications, journalism or related field.

Experience

• A minimum of six years of professional experience in an international context. Prior experience with communications/reporting is essential. Supply chain experience, or experience in related industries, is desirable.

Knowledge and Skills

Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure, responsive to changing priorities; strong interpersonal communication skills in diverse and multicultural environment; excellent written skills (English) and analytical and synthesis abilities; experience with Adobe Creative Suite; ability to build strong working relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders.

Language

• Fluency in English, with excellent written and spoken command. Knowledge of a second UN language is desirable.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with WFP:

http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Application deadline: Friday 18 August (midnight Rome time)

Your CV must be submitted in English

All employment decisions are made based on 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. All selected candidates will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Qualified female applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. 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.