Programme Policy Officer (Head of Field Office)

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 alleviating hunger and improving nutrition. WFP's vision is to create a future workforce that is diverse, skilled, and high-performing, operating in an inclusive environment that reflects its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, notably being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, and continues to invest in the professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, fostering a culture of growth and opportunity within the organization.

Job Overview:
The Programme Policy Officer (Head of Field Office) will play a crucial role in managing and directing WFP's field operations in the Adamawa region of Cameroon. This position requires collaboration with local authorities and partners to ensure the effective deployment of food and nutrition assistance programs aimed at supporting displaced persons, refugees, and vulnerable households. The officer will be responsible for managing the office operations, ensuring efficient use of resources, and maintaining a high-performing team. The role also involves ensuring the safety and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security of WFP staff and assets, representing WFP in various working groups, and collaborating with government and partners to optimize food assistance deployment. The officer will lead data collection and monitoring efforts, prepare comprehensive reports on operations, and maintain relationships with various stakeholders in the field of food and nutrition security.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Programme Policy Officer include: managing WFP field operations in the Adamawa region, ensuring the rapid deployment of food assistance programs; overseeing office management to promote transparency and efficiency; ensuring effective financial resource management in line with WFP policies; taking responsibility for the security of staff and operations; representing WFP in multisectoral working groups; collaborating with local authorities and partners to optimize food assistance deployment; leading data collection and monitoring systems; preparing accurate reports on operations; maintaining liaison with various stakeholders; supervising food warehouses and monitoring logistics; and ensuring gender and protection perspectives are integrated into all areas of work.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in economics, international development, social sciences, or a related field. They should have at least five years of professional experience in humanitarian assistance, particularly in areas related to displaced persons and refugees, resilience building, and food transfer modalities. Strong knowledge of asset and budget management, effective communication with communities, and negotiation skills with government and partners are essential. Familiarity with the United Nations system and previous experience in crisis response will be advantageous.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in relevant fields such as economics, international development, social sciences, or a related discipline. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of humanitarian assistance and the socio-economic factors affecting food security and nutrition.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian assistance, particularly in contexts involving displaced persons and refugees. Experience in designing resilience programs, managing cash transfers, and understanding donor expectations is highly desirable. Previous roles as a head of field offices in complex emergency operations will provide a comparative advantage, as will experience in crisis response and resilience building.

Languages:
Fluency in French (level C) is mandatory for this position. Additionally, an intermediate knowledge of English (level B) is considered an asset. Candidates with intermediate proficiency in a second official UN language, such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, or Portuguese, will also be favored.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Fixed Term (FT) contract at the NOB grade level, with a duration of 12 months. The duty station for this role is Ngaoundere, Cameroon. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. The organization does not charge any fees for application or recruitment processes, and all employment decisions are based on organizational needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks to ensure a safe and inclusive work environment.