International Consultant - Head of Zahle Field Office

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

This Vacancy Announcement will close on 30 June 2021, at 11:59 PM Rome Time

.

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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Only Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further assessment(s)

ABOUT WFP

Assisting more than 90 million people in 83 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

WFP Lebanon provides humanitarian assistance to nearly 1.1 million vulnerable person, in the form of unrestricted assistance in-kind and cash based transfers. WFP Lebanon also provides food assistance in the form of snack and fresh food to school aged students and their families. This support is designed to improve the students’ health and make them and their families more motivated to pursue the children’s right to education. WFP Lebanon also supports vulnerable households in protecting and improving their livelihoods through trainings and rehabilitation of local infrastructures.

To know more about WFP’s mission, please check the below video: https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme/videos/10154930622760178

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Zahle Field office will lead/manage the field Office staff of approximate 30 employees to ensure the effective and efficient management of human and financial resources of WFP programs and activities. A large emphasis is placed upon building and maintaining relationships with local governments, UN agencies and other partners in the area to reinforce WFP’s visibility.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• • Manage and lead WFP field operations within the area of assignment to ensure timely and effective deployment of food assistance programmes. • Hold accountability for the deployment of Country Office (CO) initiatives, policies and strategies. • Manage effectively the Field Office to ensure transparent and efficient people management and the continued development of a cohesive and high performing team. • Ensure efficient use of financial resources for achievement of set objectives. • Hold accountability for the security of WFP staff, operations, premises and assets in the Field Office to ensure that WFP security and safety standards are locally set and followed. Actively participate and contribute to the Area Security Management Team (ASMT). • Collaborate with governments and other partners in identifying where food assistance can be usefully deployed at the local level and provide support and technical expertise for the planning, formulation and implementation of food assistance programmes, including advice on the context-specific transfer modalities (food, cash or vouchers). • Develop and coordinate data gathering and monitoring systems and conduct timely monitoring and evaluation activities. • Hold accountability and/or prepare accurate and comprehensive analysis and reports on WFP operations and performance with regular and timely submission for Area/Country Office review to identify programme support requirements and inform operational planning and decisions. • Forge and nurture external partnerships to improve assistance packages and support complementary strategies; identify potential areas for collaborative approaches and initiatives. • Develop and sustain liaison with local government authorities, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, donors, civil society, beneficiaries and other partners and media engaged in the field of food security. • Engage with beneficiaries, inspect storage places and points where WFP commodities are received, in order to ensure compliance with WFP policies and that progress is made in the achievement of project objectives. • Other responsibilities as requested.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

• Strategy & Planning: Applies strong understanding of key national and international socio-political issues and the complexity and range of WFP programmes to plan and oversee implementation of programmes in area of responsibility, coordinating and monitoring to ensure effective fulfilment of the area’s needs.
• Operations: Utilises strong understanding of programme and logistics activities to direct efficient and effective implementation and builds proposals for improvements in operations.
• Has broad understanding of contextual factors to proactively identify any issues with delivery of food aid and food assistance.
• Resource: Applies expert interpersonal skills to build strategic relationships with partners which support fundraising. Leverages understanding of WFP financials and fundraising efforts to contribute to the establishment of the relevant area’s budget, and directs delivery against overall resource needs, aligning staffing, budgets and other resources with mission critical operations.
• Diplomacy: Applies negotiation, networking and diplomacy skills to develop, nurture and sustain mutually beneficial external partnerships with local government authorities, international and local NGOs, civil societies, UN agencies, donors, beneficiaries and other partners/ media engaged in the field of food security, to improve assistance packages.
• Collaborates with governments and other partners to identify opportunities for food assistance programmes in-line with WFP’s strategic aims locally, and negotiates the optimal approach to delivery against these.
• People Management: approx. 30 staff members, 4 direct reports

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has developed, or supported in the development of, multi-discipline work plans to support the achievement of WFP strategic aims within a defined area.
• Has gained experience in field operations, preferably in a hardship duty station or emergency situation.
• Has field experience via field rotations or working in a sub-office, and through field postings.
• Gained experience of analysing political situations, assessing risk accurately and supporting managers and leaders in decision making that is sensitive to this.
• Gained broader exposure across areas within a function (i.e. policy, programme etc.)
• Has gained experience managing mid-size financial budgets, balancing multiple priorities effectively.
• Has experience leading a mid-size to large team to ensure the effective delivery of objectives.
• Participated in a vendor/government/ partner negotiation in support of broad function or Field Office requirements.
• Participated in a moderately complex emergency operation/ development programme.
• Has experience with security co-ordination and compound management within a mid-size area.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Economics, International Development, Social Sciences or other related field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Language: Proficiency in English and knowledge of another official UN language (with working- level proficiency in French, Spanish or Arabic desirable).