School Meals Digital Solutions Project Manager

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 100 countries, employing thousands of individuals who are committed to its mission. The organization emphasizes diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal employment opportunities for all employees, regardless of race, gender, or background. WFP has been recognized globally for its efforts, including being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 202

• The organization is committed to fostering a healthy work environment and invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs. WFP's vision is to create a diverse and high-performing workforce that embodies its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion.

Job Overview:
As the School Meals Digital Solutions Project Manager, you will play a pivotal role in leading the global implementation of School Connect, a digital solution designed to enhance accountability and improve the quality of school meal programs. This position is situated within the School Meals and Social Protection Service, where you will collaborate closely with country offices and regional teams to ensure the effective rollout of this innovative platform. Your responsibilities will include ensuring data quality and transparency in school feeding operations, analyzing data to inform program improvements, and strengthening the capacity of countries to manage digital school feeding systems. The role requires a strategic approach to coordinate with various stakeholders, including government institutions and community actors, to align efforts and maximize the impact of school meal programs. You will also be responsible for developing data pipelines and visualizations to support operational decision-making, thereby contributing to the overarching goal of improving children's access to nutritious food and education.

Duties and Responsibilities:
In your role, you will be tasked with coordinating the global deployment of School Connect, ensuring that WFP maintains accountability to assisted populations and stakeholders through reliable data. You will establish support capacity for School Connect in at least two regions, conducting needs assessments and prioritizing regional roll-out strategies. Your responsibilities will also include managing processes and developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to establish best practices for School Connect across various country offices. You will provide technical guidance and training to WFP staff and partners on data analysis and optimization, oversee data projects to support strategic decision-making, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to address data and evidence needs. Additionally, you will be responsible for producing dashboards and reports that track key performance indicators and support programmatic quality and integration.

Required Qualifications:
To be considered for this position, candidates must possess strong project management and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously. You should have a solid understanding of data architecture and experience with data collection, business analysis, and data visualization tools such as Tableau or PowerBI. Familiarity with WFP systems and data technologies is highly desirable. Excellent communication skills are essential, as you will be required to engage with both technical experts and non-technical staff. A strong attention to detail and the ability to anticipate future complications through problem-solving are also critical for success in this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in international affairs, economics, engineering, business administration, business analytics, computer sciences, or other relevant fields. This educational background will provide the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of the role and the challenges faced in implementing school meal programs globally.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience is required for this position. This experience should include project management in complex environments, as well as a track record of successfully leading and supervising project teams. Candidates should be comfortable presenting to senior management and have a strong grasp of data management and analysis techniques.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in one other UN language is highly desirable. This linguistic capability will facilitate effective communication with diverse stakeholders and enhance collaboration across different regions.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Rome, Italy, and is classified as a Consultant Level 2 role. The contract duration is for 11 months, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. The organization does not charge any fees for applications or recruitment processes, ensuring a fair and equitable hiring process for all candidates.