Programme Associate (Innovation Project Manager) SC6, Nairobi

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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 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.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger by delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience. In the Eastern African region, the Kenya Country Office and its operational context offers optimal potential for using innovative solutions to improve food assistance programmes and support capacity strengthening. Designing, piloting, implementing, and scaling new ideas lies at the heart of WFP Kenya. As innovations in WFP Kenya are becoming increasingly important and widely spread, there is need to strengthen the rapid prototyping of innovative solutions and scale up of high impact solutions. In response to these needs and opportunities, WFP Kenya is opening a position for Innovation Project Manager, with the key objectives to manage the lifecycle of early stage and scale up track projects in the innovation portfolio.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education

Completion of secondary education. University degree in related field or equivalent an added advantage.

Years of experience

At least 3 years of progressively responsible national or international experience in a start-up, innovations in private businesses or innovations in the humanitarian or international development sector. 2 years of experience working with startups/innovations in developing countries (WFP or external) preferred.

Competencies

• A self-starter. You are full of initiative and great ideas. You need little guidance, are comfortable working independently but are also a great team player.
• Ability to multitask. You like variety in your work and are willing to tackle different challenges when the opportunity arises.
• Able to generate new and original solutions to complex problems and to design new products ideas.
• Excellent communication/presentation skills, with the ability to write strategy documents, to develop business plans and to write and deliver presentations.
• An organizer with great attention to detail. You are a meticulous planner but are flexible enough to change course when the situation requires you to do so.
• Driven by impact. Achieving impact through your job is important to you, and you are passionate about working towards achieving zero hunger.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills: ability to bring others behind objectives and drive projects to meet targets despite competing priorities and additional challenges, planned or unplanned.
• 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.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Innovation, the Innovation Project Manager will manage projects in the innovation unit portfolio. The main tasks will be as follows:

• Manage innovation project lifecycles from start to end using agile project management methodologies.
• Apply lean start-up techniques to rapidly prototype early-stage solutions.
• Work with different stakeholders internal and external to implement innovative projects.
• Support project team to define, track and report on project milestones.
• Develop and manage project budgets.
• Develop and update communication plans for innovation projects.
• In collaboration with M&E, build monitoring and evaluation frameworks for innovation projects.
• In collaboration with the Innovation Community Manager, develop and disseminate information packages on the innovation projects.
• In collaboration with field office teams, oversee implementation of innovation projects in the field.
• Prepare weekly, monthly, and other periodic reports as may be required to update Innovation team and CO team management on the progress of innovation projects.
• Prepare talking points and presentations for various innovation stakeholder meetings

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED

• Passion and deep understanding of technology innovations (e.g., mobile apps, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning) and business model innovations (e.g., innovative finance, crowdsourcing).
• Sound understanding of Agile Project Management, HCD and Lean Start-up methodologies.
• Experience working on projects focused on youth, women, climate change adaptation and mitigation.
• Experience with business development in emerging markets and or social impact start-ups.
• Strong business writing and professional verbal communication skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to multitask and prioritize. Microsoft Office Suite knowledge.

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS (LANGUAGE)

• Fluency in oral and written English. Knowledge of Kiswahili is of value.

DELIVERABLES

• Up-to-date project management dashboards, workplans, communication plans and budgets.
• Well-defined M&E framework for innovation projects.
• Lessons learned documented for each innovation project managed.
• Up-to-date innovation talking points and presentations for various audiences.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• The World Food Programme is an equal opportunity employer and DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
• WFP embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in all ways.
• All employment is decided based on qualifications and merit.
• Applicant’s profile MUST match the C.V attached. Any discrepancies between the C.V and the profile will lead to automatic disqualification.
• Applications for this position will close at 11.59 (East Africa Time) on 22nd June 2022.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Deadline for application is 22nd June 2022

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All employment decisions are made on the basis of 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. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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.