Partnerships Officer P3, WFP Innovation Accelerator based in Munich, Germany

Overview

Lead partnerships for innovation to combat global hunger

You have:

• Advanced University degree in Business Administration, International Development, Development Economics, Marketing Communications or another relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in partnerships, donor relations or private sector partnerships; experience in field innovation project work desirable.
• Fluency in English (level C) and fluency or native speaker in German language are both essential.
• Strong ability to connect with internal and external people, demonstrating an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to plan ahead and juggle competing priorities successfully.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Strong political agility and adaptability.
• Sets high-level of ambition for the office and own work to achieve impact for the hungry people we serve.
• A proven track record for developing partnership and fundraising strategies and leading teams responsible for implementing strategies.

.

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

We are seeking to fill the position of Innovation Accelerator Government and Private Partnerships Officer at P-3 level, within the Innovation and Knowledge Management Division at the WFP Innovation Accelerator (INKA), WFP Munich office, Germany.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as one of the 10 organizations worldwide among the Best Workplaces for Innovators 2020 as well as Innovation Team of the Year 2020 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 WFP’s global operations. Through the Innovation Accelerator, WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation - such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2020 alone, Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 2 million people directly and many more indirectly. Most recently, the Accelerator runs programmes for external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.

In our accelerator programme for WFP, we are sourcing the best teams globally, run 1-week high-intensity “innovation bootcamp” trainings and support teams with up to $100K in equity-free funding, hands-on support by our team and access to WFP's global operations in developing countries in our sprint programme. The most promising innovations are supported in scaling further.

The core operation of the Innovation Accelerator is funded through a multi-year cooperation agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany, more specifically the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Bavarian State Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Forestry. The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and WFP share a strong commitment to innovation as a means of improving the effectiveness of food assistance. In addition, the Bavarian State Ministry promotes Munich as a hub for innovation for international organizations, non-governmental organizations, research institutions and the private sector. Maintaining a continuous and highest quality relationship with the German government counterparts is indispensable to ensure operation of the Innovation Accelerator.

JOB PURPOSE

Under the supervision and guidance of the Donor Relations and Partnerships Lead the Innovation Accelerator Government and Private Partnerships Officer will be responsible to support the relationship management of the Innovation Accelerator with the German government, lead the development of new and existing innovation support arrangements and partnerships with German speaking government entities and private sector entities as required. This includes the operational relationship work with the German government and the Innovation Accelerator with regards to advocacy, day-to-day government requests, reporting and monitoring & evaluation of the WFP Innovation Accelerator activities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Drive forward the relationship management of the Innovation Accelerator with the German government:

1. Support the operational relationship work with the German government including day-to-day government requests and any other activities regarding the WFP Innovation Accelerator activities as required;
2. Develop and present clear strategies for the Head of Innovation Accelerator to engage with the German government;
3. Work with internal counterparts to align activities and share information, to ensure donor visibility and that donor conditions are met;
4. Oversee the compilation of briefing documents for executive level management meetings with donors in German and English language;
5. Coordinate and carry out accurate reporting to donors and/or on resourcing status of programmes, compiling the annual report, and support the monitoring & evaluation process of WFP Innovation Accelerator activities.

Lead the development of new and existing innovation support arrangements and partnerships with German speaking government entities and private sector entities as required:

1. Support the preparation and implementation of a strategy and plan to ensure government and private sector partnerships are identified, developed and maintained to maximize funding in coordination with the Berlin WFP Office and the Private Sector Partnerships Division (PPR);
2. Manage a complex partnership portfolio, providing donor stewardship, forecasting, negotiating changes and assessing results, to maximize resources raised as required;
3. Provide specialist advice, support and assistance to strengthen donor relations and fundraising capacities;
4. Lead negotiations for contributions and partnership agreements, in line with internal policies and external regulations, in order to reach advantageous outcomes for WFP, such as more flexibility and predictability;
5. Represent WFP at international meetings at appropriate levels in such a way that advances the government partnerships strategy and objectives as required;
6. Identify, build and maintain effective relationships with representatives of donors through appropriate channels, and participate in regular donor meetings.

Support innovation projects for zero hunger:

1. Support innovation projects supported by the Innovation Accelerator as required;
2. Participate and carry out discussions with managers in other divisions or external stakeholders on topics related to innovation as required;
3. Support the Head of the Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management with any other activities as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Advanced University degree in Business Administration, International Development, Development Economics, Marketing Communications or another relevant field.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in partnerships (ideally with government partnerships management), donor relations or private sector partnerships; experience in field innovation project work desirable;
• A proven track record for developing partnership and fundraising strategies and leading teams responsible for implementing strategies, coordinating and managing partnerships with other UN agencies, NGOs and/or private sector partners;
• Strong conceptual thinking to develop new strategies and innovative approaches;
• Ability to interact with a broad range of stakeholders and external audience with maturity and tact;
• Strong ability to connect with internal and external people, demonstrating an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, and/or planning;
• Strong political agility and adaptability, demonstrating ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations;
• Collaborative spirit, able to partner with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy;
• 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;
• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy;
• Sets high-level of ambition for the office and own work to achieve impact for the hungry people we serve;
• Ability to work in fast-paced teams working on innovative approaches and communicating across all layers of the organization.

Languages: Fluency (level C) in English language and fluency (level C) or native speaker in German language are both essential for this role.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Mobility is the essence of WFP and continues to be a core contractual requirement. This position is rotational which means that you shall be subject to the regular reassignment process to any other location on a period of 2 to 4 years unless the position is reclassified as non-rotational.

The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year. Depending on the duty station, the position may be eligible for Rest and Recuperation (R&R) scheme.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. For more details please https://icsc.un.org/

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Sunday, July 18th 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.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org