Deputy Head of Access

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 security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. WFP's core values include Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, and it strives to create a diverse and inclusive work environment where all employees can thrive. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, notably being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its work in combating hunger and promoting peace. The organization emphasizes the importance of personal and professional development for its employees, offering various training and mobility opportunities across its global offices.

Job Overview:
The Deputy Head of Access will play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and principled delivery of humanitarian assistance in South Sudan, a country facing significant challenges due to ongoing conflict and instability. This position requires a deep understanding of the complex humanitarian landscape and the ability to navigate the political and operational hurdles that impede access to vulnerable populations. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day access notifications and clearances for WFP operations, analyzing the context and key actors, and building strong relationships with stakeholders to advocate for humanitarian principles. The role also involves providing strategic advice to senior management, leading training initiatives for staff on humanitarian negotiation policies, and contributing to emergency response efforts. The Deputy Head of Access will be expected to document key meetings and negotiations, ensuring that institutional memory is maintained and that WFP's operations are informed by accurate and timely information.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee national access officers in managing access notifications and clearances for WFP and Logistics Cluster movements, addressing challenges as they arise.
• Analyze the operational context and key actors, contributing to regular and ad-hoc reports on the impact of constraints on WFP’s operations.
• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders to influence access for WFP and its partners, engaging in meetings and field missions.
• Advocate for humanitarian space and principles in consultation with the Head of Unit, facilitating the implementation of WFP operations.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior management for negotiations with authorities, representing WFP when necessary.
• Lead training initiatives for staff on humanitarian negotiation policies and advocate for consistent practices among partners.
• Support emergency response efforts by analyzing situations, advising on negotiations, and coordinating responses.
• Document missions, meetings, and negotiations to contribute to institutional memory and inform strategic reports to donors and other stakeholders.
• Assume the role of Officer in Charge in the absence of the Head of Unit. 1
• Perform other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in political science, law, history, international relations, anthropology, or a related field. For those with a master’s degree or higher, at least 5 years of postgraduate experience in humanitarian programming is required, with a focus on operational humanitarian access and civil-military coordination. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree must have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience. Familiarity with WFP/UN programming, humanitarian principles, and the context of armed conflict and food security in South Sudan is essential. Strong knowledge of humanitarian response in complex emergencies, demonstrated experience in access negotiation, and civil-military coordination are critical for success in this role.

Educational Background:
A university degree is required, with coursework in political science, law, history, international relations, anthropology, or a related field. Advanced degrees are preferred and may reduce the required years of experience.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant experience in humanitarian programming, particularly in operational humanitarian access and civil-military coordination. A minimum of 5 years of experience is required for those with a master’s degree, while candidates with a bachelor’s degree must have at least 7 years of relevant experience. Familiarity with WFP operations and the humanitarian context in South Sudan is highly desirable.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English (level C) is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Arabic is considered advantageous and may enhance communication with local stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as an International Consultancy Level II and is based in Juba, South Sudan, with a contract duration of 11 months. The role is full-time and involves significant responsibilities in a challenging environment. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and encourages applications from diverse candidates. The organization does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and emphasizes the importance of a thorough background check for all selected candidates.