Business Support Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. Established in 1961, WFP operates in over 80 countries, employing thousands of staff members who are committed to the mission of eradicating hunger and improving nutrition. WFP is recognized for its efforts in providing food assistance and has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its work in combating hunger and promoting peace. The organization values diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employees have equal opportunities regardless of their background.

Job Overview:
The Business Support Assistant position at WFP is designed to deliver standard business support processes for a specific professional area of work, facilitating effective service delivery. The role involves gathering information to support document drafting and report preparation, responding to queries, and managing routine administrative and financial tasks. The assistant will play a crucial role in maintaining accurate information systems and files, ensuring data integrity, and providing guidance to junior colleagues. This position is vital for the smooth operation of WFP's business support functions, contributing to the overall mission of the organization to provide humanitarian assistance effectively. The assistant will work closely with various teams and individuals, taking feedback to improve service delivery and ensure that the needs of clients are met promptly and accurately.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Gather information with clear direction to support the drafting of documents and preparing reports by other staff.
• Respond to queries and escalate where appropriate, in order to provide a timely and accurate service to clients.
• Support processing and managing routine administrative and financial tasks in various functional areas, to contribute to the effective and timely management of resources.
• Provide revision and proof-reading services for standard documents, to contribute to the development of accurate documentation.
• Take responsibility for the maintenance of set standard systems and files, to ensure information is accurate and readily available for the function.
• Identify simple discrepancies in statistics and data, such as missing information, and report to senior staff in order to support clients to deliver their work.
• Take responsibility for data integrity to facilitate availability of accurate information in corporate systems.
• Provide guidance on routine business support methods and practices to junior colleagues to ensure services are delivered consistently and to the required standards.
• Work with a variety of individuals, taking on feedback where appropriate to assist in business support delivery for staff.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the completion of secondary school education as a minimum qualification. Candidates should possess four or more years of progressively responsible work experience in the relevant business stream, particularly in general administrative work. Proficiency in the use of office equipment and computer software packages, such as Microsoft Word, is essential. Candidates should have a good understanding of work routines and methods to complete processes under minimal supervision. The ability to communicate tactfully and courteously with a wide range of individuals is necessary, along with the capability to identify data discrepancies and rectify problems requiring attention. Additionally, candidates should be able to offer guidance or basic on-the-job training to more junior staff members.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have completed secondary school education. Higher education qualifications may be advantageous but are not explicitly required for this position. The emphasis is on practical experience and the ability to perform the duties outlined in the job description effectively.

Experience:
The role requires a minimum of four years of progressively responsible work experience in a relevant business stream, with a strong emphasis on general administrative tasks. Candidates should demonstrate a solid understanding of business support processes and have experience in managing administrative and financial tasks effectively. Experience in a humanitarian or international organization may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and is based in Port Sudan, Sudan. The World Food Programme is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and encourages applications from individuals with disabilities. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and emphasizes the importance of submitting accurate and complete application profiles. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and only shortlisted candidates will be notified. WFP offers an attractive compensation package and invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mobility opportunities.