DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

31 August 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

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 World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization 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.

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, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP?

- WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
- WFP offers a highly 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 as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
- A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
- We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE:

Lead Software Developer

TYPE OF CONTRACT

CST II

UNIT/DIVISION

Forecasting and Early Warning Unit (PRG-FF) / Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service (PRG-F)

DUTY STATION (City, Country):

Rome, Italy

DURATION

until 31.12.26 (renewable)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Lead the end-to-end design, development, and integration of an early warning tool, building upon the HungerMapLIVE ecosystem and other relevant WFP tools.
- Provide technical direction and supervise the development team, ensuring that all solutions are aligned with best practices for scalability, performance, and security.

Software Development and Architecture:

- Architect, design, and implement cloud-based solutions using AWS, Python, and ReactJS, ensuring they are efficient, maintainable, and capable of supporting the growth of the HungerMapLIVE ecosystem.
- Optimize the system architecture for new and existing features to ensure seamless integration with other WFP platforms and tools.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders, to ensure technical solutions meet business and operational requirements.
- Translate complex user needs into actionable technical requirements and ensure the alignment of development efforts with WFP's corporate IT architecture and guidelines.
- Innovation and Problem-Solving:




- Proactively identify technical challenges and develop robust solutions to address them, with a focus on continuous improvement and the integration of innovative technologies.
- Explore and implement new technologies, frameworks, and methodologies to enhance the capabilities of HungerMapLIVE and other related tools.

Code Quality, Security, and Compliance:

- Establish and maintain high standards for code quality, security, and documentation across all development efforts.
- Ensure that all solutions adhere to WFP's security policies and relevant data privacy regulations, with a particular focus on protecting sensitive information related to food security monitoring.
- Perform any other task as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics or similar. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

At least 8 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in IT related fields, more specifically software engineering and architecture

Knowledge & Skills:

Technical Proficiency:

- Advanced knowledge of AWS: Deep understanding of AWS services (e.g., EC2, Lambda, S3, RDS, etc.) and their application in developing scalable, secure cloud-based solutions.
- Expertise in Python: Proficiency in Python, with experience building and deploying data-driven applications, APIs, and microservices. Experience with libraries relevant to big data and machine learning is a plus.
- ReactJS Expertise: Strong proficiency in front-end development using ReactJS, including experience with state management, component-based architecture, and building responsive, user-friendly interfaces.
- System Architecture and Design:
- Experience designing and implementing distributed systems, with a strong focus on scalability, fault tolerance, and high availability.
- Familiarity with modern software design patterns and practices, including microservices, serverless architectures, and event-driven programming.

Leadership and Mentorship:

- Proven experience leading software development teams, providing technical direction, setting development standards, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.
- Ability to mentor junior developers and foster a culture of continuous learning within the team.

Collaboration and Communication:

- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience working in cross-functional teams, particularly with data scientists, UX/UI designers, and product managers, ensuring alignment across technical and business objectives..

Agile Methodologies:

- Familiarity with Agile development practices, including Scrum or Kanban, and experience leading teams in an Agile environment.
- Security and Compliance:
- Strong understanding of security best practices, particularly in the context of cloud infrastructure and web applications.
- Experience ensuring compliance with relevant data protection regulations and security standards.




- Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD):
- Proficiency in CI/CD tools and practices, with experience automating build, testing, and deployment pipelines to ensure efficient and reliable code delivery.

Language: Excellent spoken and written English; spoken and written French highly desired.

Certified by Hiring Manager (name/title) & signature):

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Date: ………………………

Kyriacos Koupparis, Head of Unit, PRG - FF 31.07.2026

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: [email protected]

NO FEE DISCLAIMER The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

- All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.
- We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
- If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at [email protected]. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.
- At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

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.

📌 Lead Software Developer Consultant (Roma)
🏢 World Food Programme (WFP)
📍 Roma