Over the past years the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has responded to an unprecedented level of emergencies, while maintaining ongoing operations. This increased demand stretches the organization which means WFP has to find new approaches and ways of working to ensure we are channelling every available resource to the people we serve.
The Business Innovation Unit (BIU) was established in 2015 to manage change and to promote innovation as part of WFP’s Innovation and Knowledge Management division:
BIU acts as the “management consulting arm” of WFP
BIU is composed of staff with top-tier management consulting backgrounds (e.g. Bain, BCG, McKinsey) as well as UN experience
We execute projects on behalf of Executive Directors, Assistant Secretary Generals, and Directors across the UN system, and have become a trusted advisor to WFP and other entities (e.g. UN Women, UNFPA, Business Innovation Group). Our focus is on end-to-end solutions, including problem assessment, data analysis, operational model design, change plan and implementation monitoring.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Execution of Business Innovation projects
Overall Innovation and Change Management priorities
Other activities
DELIVERABLES:
Depending on time of joining, the candidate’s specific experience and current corporate priorities, the candidate will be responsible for the full delivery of a project work stream. Examples of specific deliverables are:
Corporate Executive Director, Board and divisional key initiatives
Advise Division Managers on prioritization of key corporate initiatives
Participate in discussions with team members and other divisions to align on objectives, activities, timelines and outputs for the Business Innovation agenda as applicable
Provide analytical and project management support
Support initiative owners in driving implementation forward
UN Reform: Support Head of Business Innovation on UN Reform implementation inside the WFP and part of an inter-agency project team
Explore benefits for potential global / local collaboration with sister agencies
Identify Business Operations Strategy best practices for collaboration and support cross-COs knowledge transfer
Support UN Reform Business Innovation Group to perform internal analysis on service delivery effectiveness and efficiency, review current service approaches at global and country levels and support pilot launches as needed
Support communication efforts on UN Reform
Additional support to divisional needs
Support knowledge management reviews and best practices sharing
Additional support requests, as required
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
Preference for a degree in business, economics or engineering
Experience:
Over 2 years of progressively responsible national and/or international experience in a business or international relations related position. 2 year experience in change management, management consulting or finance required. Additional work experience desirable.
Knowledge & Skills:
Ability to develop new strategies and innovative projects
Good analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative: ability to perform advanced analysis in excel and produce high-quality written materials, including powerpoint presentations as well as text documents;
Experience with optimization processes (e.g. optimization of strategic planning, sourcing, logistics, finance processes, performance management, etc.)
Collaborative spirit to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures, with credibility and diplomacy;
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 on tight deadlines;
Self-motivated and able to work with a certain degree of autonomy and/ or in team;
Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.
Languages:
In addition to a high proficiency in written and spoken English, knowledge of a
