DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

19 October 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 extreme weather shocks.

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).

Special Assistant in the Office of the Chief of Staff /

Programme Policy Officer

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Regular Consultancy Level II / 11 months

DIVISION: Office of the Chief of Staff

DUTY STATION: Rome, Italy

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, physical or mental 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.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT The position is in the Office of the Chief of Staff (CoS). The Office provides strategic guidance to the Executive Director and works closely with the Leadership Group and the regional directors to steer the direction of the organization and ensure optimal performance throughout.

JOB PURPOSE In order to deliver on its mandate, it is essential that WFP maintains its operational aptitude and implements changes as required by the changing contexts, and the Office of the Chief of Staff plays a key role in supporting senior management.

There is a need to strengthen the Front Office setup to ensure strong communication,

optimize processes,



increase collaboration with other offices, and organizational units overseen by the Chief of Staff and the Executive Director.

The Special Assistant / Programme Policy Officer is part of the CoS Front Office Team,

reports directly to the Director of the Office of the Executive Director and Office of the

Chief of Staff, and works closely with other offices including the front office teams. The focus of the position is to directly support the Chief of Staff and the Director, , advising on matters of strategic importance and assist with the smooth operation of the office.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Page 2 of 3 Last Revision: May 2024

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES (not all inclusive):

1. Provide advice and guidance as appropriate to the Chief of Staff and the Director,
2. Coordinate the drafting and clearance of various strategic documents of corporate relevance on behalf of the Director. When appropriate, take the lead in drafting documents including talking points, briefing notes, analysis or background papers.
3. Keep the Chief of Staff and the Director informed on matters requiring attention and ensure appropriate follow-up as directed; identify possible problems, overlaps, or disconnects, and propose options for resolving them.
4. Conduct research, review and situation analysis of key documents relevant to the office. Analyze and engage in the various emerging concepts/systems/policies related to strategic corporate priorities, coordinate/consolidate feedback as appropriate.
5. Liaise with other relevant actors in country offices, regional bureaux and across headquarters on a regular basis with regards to follow up on issues, priorities and decisions concerning management.
6. Assist the Chief of Staff and the Director, in the daily operations to achieve the objectives of the office. Ensure smooth and effective operation of the Front Office through planning, coordination, and supervision of daily activities and tasks.
7. Foster teamwork and communications among the staff of the Front Office team, coach and motivate colleagues as needed to ensure individual and team objectives are met.

8. Act as the focal point for coordinating meetings/retreats and for follow-up actions.
9. Undertake special assignments and lead initiatives of strategic importance as requested by the Chief of Staff and the Director,

10. Ensure that confidentiality on all subject matters is maintained as required.
11. Perform other related duties and assignments as and when required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education

Advanced university degree in development studies, international relations, public administration, business administration, economics, social sciences, international law, or related field.

Knowledge and Skills

A minimum of five years of professional experience, including relevant work experience in the United Nations system, other international organizations, NGOs, or with donor governments, focusing on humanitarian and/or development issues. Experience providing support and oversight at an executive level in international organizations or national governments is considered a strong asset. Experience with high-level

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Page 3 of 3 Last Revision: May 2024 engagement on international political, humanitarian or development matters is considered an asset.



Field experience in humanitarian and development contexts as well as donor capital experience is also considered an asset.
- Strong planning, prioritization, coordination, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated negotiating, cultural sensitivity, and diplomatic skills.
- Ability to provide information, tools, resources to support work achievement.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Knowledge of WFP operations.
- Strong communication skills, both written and oral. Excellent drafting skills with the ability to edit and clear reports, speeches, and correspondences.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work in a highly pressure environment.
- Strong sense of responsibility, confidentiality, and accountability.

Language

Proficiency/level C of English (requirement) and other United Nations language(s)

desired

AS PER TORS

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.

📌 Consultant Programme Policy (Roma)
🏢 WFP
📍 Roma