Associé à la Sécurité et à la Qualité Alimentaire – SSA-6

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance as a means to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates in numerous countries worldwide, employing a diverse workforce committed to its mission. The organization emphasizes the importance of diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging candidates from various backgrounds to apply. WFP has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to humanitarian efforts globally. The organization invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training programs, mentorship, and internal mobility opportunities, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Job Overview:
The position of Associé à la Sécurité et à la Qualité Alimentaire (Food Safety and Quality Associate) at WFP in Brazzaville is crucial for ensuring food safety and quality within the operations of the organization in the Republic of the Congo. The incumbent will serve as a technical resource for all matters related to food safety and quality, supporting procurement and logistics teams in evaluating local suppliers to ensure compliance with WFP's food safety standards. This role involves conducting food inspections and monitoring the performance of inspection companies to ensure that purchased or received food items meet WFP's requirements. The associate will also contribute to managing food safety incidents, mitigating risks, and reporting on relevant platforms, while integrating food safety principles into various programs beyond the supply chain, including nutrition and support for smallholder farmers. The position requires a proactive approach to enhancing the capabilities of local suppliers and WFP staff regarding food safety and quality.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Key responsibilities include evaluating local suppliers against WFP's minimum food safety requirements, identifying gaps, recommending corrective actions, and supporting the implementation of action plans. The associate will implement and monitor food inspection processes in accordance with framework contracts and terms of reference to ensure product compliance with WFP specifications and local regulatory requirements. Providing technical advice on food inspections, tenders, and procurement processes is essential. The role also involves ensuring local purchases comply with national and international food safety standards, including Codex Alimentarius. The associate will assist in implementing food safety tools and protocols in line with WFP's global food safety strategy, conduct risk analyses to identify potential issues, and implement preventive measures to avoid incidents. Supporting the reporting and investigation of food safety incidents to learn from them and prevent recurrence is also a critical duty. The associate will provide real-time support on food safety issues to the Country Office and alert responsible agents in case of critical concerns. Integrating food safety principles into nutrition programs, school feeding, and support for small farmers is vital for improving product quality. The associate will also support food fortification initiatives and contribute to enhancing local products to meet WFP standards. Training WFP staff, suppliers, and partners on food safety topics and developing training materials for internal and external stakeholders to promote continuous improvement in food safety knowledge are also part of the responsibilities. Additionally, the associate will strengthen collaboration with government authorities, regulatory bodies, and private sector actors for better governance of food quality in the country, collect and analyze data on food safety trends, supplier performance, and risk indicators, and prepare regular reports to support risk management and decision-making.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a university degree in Food Science and Technology, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, or related fields. Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years of experience in food quality assurance, preferably in the food industry, supply chain, or humanitarian context. Practical experience in implementing food safety management systems (FSQMS) and supplier audits, including ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 17025, FSSC 22000, or HACCP, is essential. Experience working with local suppliers, smallholder farmers, and regulatory authorities in food safety is an asset. Technical and general skills required include strong data analysis and laboratory report interpretation skills, excellent writing and analytical abilities, good knowledge of food safety incident management tools and practices, and the ability to collaborate with multiple teams across supply chain, program, nutrition, and public and private sectors. Problem-solving skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to adapt food safety strategies to local realities are also important.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree in relevant fields such as Food Science and Technology, Food Safety, Quality Assurance, or similar disciplines. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of food safety and quality management in humanitarian operations.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in food quality assurance is required. This experience should preferably be in the food industry, supply chain management, or a humanitarian context, demonstrating the candidate's ability to navigate the challenges associated with food safety in diverse environments. Practical experience in implementing food safety management systems and conducting supplier audits is essential for this role.

Languages:
Fluency in French is mandatory for this position, as it is the primary language of communication in the Republic of the Congo. A good knowledge of English is desirable, as it may facilitate communication with international colleagues and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The contract type for this position is SSA-6, with an initial duration of 6 months. The role is based in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. WFP emphasizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. The organization does not charge any fees for application or recruitment processes, ensuring a fair and transparent hiring process. Candidates are encouraged to submit a complete and accurate profile, including employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills, to enhance their chances of being shortlisted.