Senior Innovation Consultant (Emergency Preparedness & Response)

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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 World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We are currently seeking to fill a Senior Innovation Consultant (Emergency Preparedness & Response) position in the Innovation Division, based in Munich, Germany.

Brief description of WFP Innovation Accelerator, INNA:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 100 million people every day - delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as Most Innovative Non-Profit Organization 2021 for its work in identifying, nurturing, and scaling disruptive start-ups and innovations to end global hunger. Based in Munich, Germany, the Innovation Accelerator provides WFP employees and start-ups with funding, hands-on support, and access to WFP’s global operations. Through the Accelerator, WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation - such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence, and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2023, Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of more than 60.7 million people globally. The Accelerator runs programmes with external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Austrian Development Agency, and others.

More information here: http://innovation.wfp.org and https://youtu.be/OnKkQlRdh2c

General Information:

Job title: Senior Innovation Consultant (Emergency Preparedness & Response)

Unit: WFP Innovation Accelerator (INNA)

Country: Germany

Duty Station: Munich

Initial contract duration: 5 months (extendable)

Expected Start Date: 01.08.2024 (estimated)

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The incumbent, reporting to the Head of SDG2 Acceleration, is expected to:

1. Drive the implementation of core accelerator activities:

• Support the delivery of acceleration programmes from sourcing, bootcamps, pitch events to sprint programs in cooperation with a broad range of partners.
• Coordinate the work of multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the on-time, on-budget and on-scope delivery of projects, including impact measurement and reporting.
• Manage relationships with programme partners and relevant stakeholders in order to build long lasting relationships.
• Contribute to expanding the support network and collaborations around the relevant acceleration programmes to enhance the value of our offerings.

2. Work with high-impact ventures in their path to scale in a sustainable way:

• Coach innovation teams using methodologies such as human-centered design, lean start-up and systems thinking; advising them on key decisions regarding user needs, product roadmap, business model, partnership building and growth plans.
• Define key performance indicators and milestones for the innovation projects, and follow up on their implementation, impact measurement and reporting.
• Drive the creation and sharing of knowledge in one or more areas of innovation, venture building and ecosystem activation in humanitarian settings.
• Liaise and coordinate with relevant stakeholders including programme teams, programme partners and other relevant WFP units as applicable.

3. Drive the development of the “Emergency Preparedness & Response” innovation portfolio:

• Manage an innovation portfolio “Emergency Preparedness & Response” to ensure the build up of capabilities, knowledge and best practices across our programmes.
• Contribute to the identification and acquisition of new partners and participate in fundraising campaigns, preparation of proposals and negotiation of new contracts.
• Plan and participate in outreach campaigns and relevant events to amplify the scope and impact of our work.
• Help shape the strategy, value proposition and offerings of the innovation portfolio to best meet the needs of the people and organization we serve.

4. Support the overall WFP Innovation Accelerator operations:

• Manage an innovation portfolio “Emergency Preparedness & Response” to ensure the build up of capabilities, knowledge and best practices across our programmes.
• Provide analysis & content preparation (e.g. data on projects, presentations, briefs) for corporate priority topics and management meetings
• Participate and carry out discussions with colleagues in other divisions or external stakeholders on topics related to innovation
• Support other core processes of the WFP Innovation Accelerator (e.g. sourcing campaigns, bootcamp facilitation, sprint coaching, event hosting, speaking engagements, event management) as required
• Support the Head of the Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management with any other activities as required
• Proactively contribute to a positive and high-performing team culture.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree in business administration or innovation management is a plus.

Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible international experience in a start-up leadership role, start-up accelerator, innovations in private businesses, or innovations in emergency preparedness and response” in the humanitarian sector.

Languages: Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) is considered advantageous.

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• In-depth understanding of humanitarian ecosystem, assistance and action within the sector and end-to-end value chain of emergency preparedness and response.
• Proficiency in designing and implementing humanitarian solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness of response within the sector.
• Knowledge of new and complementary technologies including space tech and digital solutions for needs around emergency preparedness and response.
• Experience in innovation project life cycle - from ideation, minimum viable product, testing, prototyping, and implementation.
• Knowledge and experience of funding models of start-ups and impact innovations.
• Experience working in a large-scale organization or with a client/in partnership with a large-scale organization.
• Proven track record of driving projects - effectively delivering impactful elements of projects in a fast-moving environment, ideally for new businesses, new business models, start-ups etc.

REQUIRED SKILLS | WFP COMPETENCIES

• Able to generate new and original solutions to complex problems and to design new product ideas.
• Able to interact with a broad range of stakeholders and external audiences with maturity and tact.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to write strategy documents, develop business plans, and write and deliver presentations.
• 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.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Sets a high level of ambition for the project and own work to achieve impact for the hungry people we serve.
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following website for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org

Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Closing Date: 17 June 2024

VA Reference number: 833191

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Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.

WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.