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

Procurement (Business Operations) Consultant

WFP Innovation Accelerator, INKA, Munich, Germany

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. We are currently seeking to fill an Innovation Accelerator Procurement (Business Operations) Consultancy position in the INKA division, based in Munich, Germany.

Brief description of WFP Innovation Accelerator, INKA:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 100 million people every day - delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as Most Innovative Non-Profit Organization 2021 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 and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2020, Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 3.7 million people globally. Most recently, the Accelerator runs programmes for external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.

More information here: http://innovation.wfp.org and https://youtu.be/OnKkQlRdh2c.

General Information:

• ****Title of Post:** Procurement (Business Operations) Consultant**
• ****Unit:** Innovation Accelerator, Innovation and Knowledge Management Division (INKA)**
• Country: Germany
• Duty Station: Munich
• Initial contract duration: 5 months
• Expected Start Date: 01.07.2021

Duties and responsibilities:

The incumbent, reporting to the Head of Business Development WFP Innovation Accelerator, is expected to: 1. Drive forward core Accelerator business operations activities supporting the Head of Business Development: a. Procurement and grant funding: i. Design and develop standard operating procedures related to innovation projects, activities, and events; ii. Track and analyze data to provide recommendations for process improvements; iii. Support procurement activities linked to daily operations of the Accelerator - including processes such as Micro Purchase Orders (MPOs), invitations to bid (ITBs), Request for Proposals (RFPs), Long Term Agreements (LTAs) and where necessary, waivers; iv. Engage relevant counterparts in the Accelerator to plan procurement activities in advance, and support the choice of appropriate procurement modality; v. Scope the market to source innovative suppliers, products and UN LTAs covering the Accelerator areas of interest and needs; vi. Prepare and distribute requests for quotations and information, and ensure that all aspects of linked evaluation are completed; vii. Monitor existing contracts and LTAs put in place by the Accelerator to adequately support the management of deadlines and renewals; viii. Work with Accelerator colleagues supporting innovation project teams to provide expert advice deriving best practices and templates from procurement actions; ix. Support the development and roll-out of innovation-enabled procurement and grant funding of external entities (e.g. start-ups) for innovation projects, activities and events; x. Collate information and draft appropriate responses to support reporting and compliance requirements; xi. Build and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including internal teams, WFP field offices, HQ colleagues and vendors as needed; b. Execute any other task as required.

2. Support building a strong innovation platform: a. Prepare materials for engagement of internal and external stakeholders, to act as partners to drive forward innovations and innovation business operations best practices with potential for Zero Hunger and the SDGs; b. Assist in the planning of workshops and events; c. Contribute to the improvement of business operations processes.

3. Support the Innovation Accelerator build-up, operations & management: a. Collate information and provide analysis & content preparation (PowerPoint presentations, reports, briefs, etc.) for corporate priority topics and executive management meetings; b. Liaise with colleagues in other divisions or external stakeholders; c. Support core processes of the Innovation Accelerator (e.g. innovation challenge; innovation bootcamps; sprint programme; thought leadership; scale-up enablement) as required; d. Support the Head of Business Development, the Head of the Innovation Accelerator, the Director Innovation & Knowledge Management Division with any other activities as required.

Required qualifications and experience:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree a plus.

Experience:

At least 3 years of experience in procurement, in an international organization or start-up-related position.

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Proven experience in handling procurement processes, including in complex international environments, United Nations procurement experience is preferable.
• Proven experience in a large organization (public or private sector).
• Very good organizational and analytical skills.
• Self-driven and very strong organizational and planning activities.
• Strong conceptual thinking to develop and implement effective processes to ensure adoption by diverse team members.
• Able to interact with a broad range of stakeholders and external audience with maturity and tact.
• Excellent communication/presentation skills, with the ability to write procurement documents, to develop business processes and to write and deliver presentations.
• Interest and a general understanding of technology innovations (e.g. mobile apps, blockchain, artificial intelligence) and business model innovations (e.g. innovative finance, crowdsourcing).
• 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.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Sets a high level of ambition for the project and own work to achieve impact for the hungry people we serve.
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.

Language requirements:

Fluency in oral and written English mandatory. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) or German (location of office) is a plus.

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 website for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

VA Reference no: 142275

Closing Date: 3 June 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.

Fighting Hunger Worldwide