Senior Programme Assistant Job withThe United Nations World Food Programme

Vacancy Announcement No: ODN/005/2012

(VA issued on 05 March 2012, closing date 16 March 2012)
This vacancy announcement is open to both male and female candidates. Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is looking for a suitably qualified candidate to fill the post of Senior Programme Assistant (Pipeline & Resource Analysis) in support of the Regional Bureau for East & Central Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Resources Analyst, the incumbent of the position will be responsible for the following duties: (These duties are generic and thus are not all-inclusive nor are all duties carried out by all Senior Programme Assistants)

• Monitor commodity and cash requirements, availability and shortfalls (pipeline) for all operations in the region
• Coordinate commodity loans and borrowings between countries within the region and between regions
• Collate operational pipeline data and prioritize operations within the Regional Bureau according to severity of pipeline shortfalls
• Provide food-demand plan aggregated by common corridors to support management of the Forward Purchase Facility (FPF) and provide information to guide regional bureau decision-making when multiple projects compete for the same FPF stocks
• Advise RB management and HQs on resource allocations
• Reviewing the prevailing pipeline systems (including databases) and processes, and assess existing gaps, overlaps and the extent to which the systems can be made effective and efficient
• Review communication and co-ordination mechanisms, both within programme sections and also with Logistics, Procurement, and P4P and M&E
• Make recommendation on ways of minimizing human errors and reducing delays in requests for information
• Improve the existing pipeline reporting templates (Regional and Country office templates) so that they reflect the changing information needs
• Make recommendations on how to manage the current heavy workload, especially request for information, and also suggest ways of anticipating the requests and putting systems in place to cater for this
• Reconciliation with COMPAS on stock movements against loaned stocks / repayments
• Offer training and support to pipeline staff and alternates in Country offices so as to enhance their skills in pipeline management
• Review and provide pipeline and resource related information to corporate documents such as executive briefs, SPRs, Blue book etc.
• Prepare and make presentations on pipeline & resource management for the unit during workshops or when requested by other units during their workshops
• Evaluate, develop, and recommend procedures. Participates in discussions on new/revised procedures and practices; interprets and assesses the impact of changes and makes recommendations on follow up actions;
• Perform other related duties as required.

Results Expected:

• Well functioning unit,
• Providing technical expertise in a specialized area.

Critical Success Factors:

• Sound judgment;
• Ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data and to resolve operational problems. Ability to work with minimum of supervision;
• To supervise and train support staff and to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Extensive and in-depth practical knowledge of a specialised area;
• Ability to plan and organize work.

Education:

• University degree in one or more of the following disciplines: economics, agriculture, international affairs, business administration, social sciences, development studies or a field relevant to international development assistance.

Experience:

• At least six years of progressively responsible experience of which at least one year closely related to operations, food aid related work or other related field.
• At least one year at the G6 level or equivalent.

Knowledge:

Knowledge in one or more of the following programming more specifically programme design and project cycle management.

Language:

Fluency in both oral and written communication in English.

Desirable Skills:

• Proficiency in a second official WFP language;
• advanced knowledge of MS Word and MS Excel,
• WFP’s Information System (WINGS) and other WFP software;
• Knowledge of WFP financial regulations; and rules and WFP policies and procedures in the area of work.

Closing Date:

16 March 2012. Applications must be received by the deadline and only short-listed candidates shall be contacted.

Interested individuals meeting the above qualifications are requested to submit their applications by e-mail, together with detailed curriculum vitae, copies of education certificates, names and telephone numbers or email addresses of three work referees.

Please send your application to: wfp.odnhr@wfp.org Please quote the Vacancy Announcement No. and the title of the position in the subject line.

Candidates should also complete and submit a Personal History form (P.11) available on the following link - http://www.unon.org/docs/P11.doc.

Please Note:

WFP does not charge fees from applicants at any stage in the recruitment process.