Specialized Support Coordinator

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 work tirelessly to ensure effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people globally. WFP is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. The organization has been recognized for its efforts, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its work in combating hunger and promoting security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security. WFP's mission is centered around the values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion, fostering a healthy and inclusive work environment for its employees. To learn more about WFP, visit their website and follow them on various social media platforms for updates on their initiatives and impact.

Job Overview:
The position of Specialized coordinator" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Support Coordinator is crucial for providing effective coordination and specialized support to a full range of policy and program activities aimed at meeting food assistance needs. The role is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and reports directly to the Head of Satellite Office. The job holder will be responsible for technical work that includes planning, implementing, and coordinating activities that require a thorough understanding of the program/project context and issues. This position demands the ability to apply a range of guidelines and practices independently, handling a wide array of specialized program or policy support activities. The work performed in this role has a substantial impact on other parts of the program, necessitating initiative in identifying and resolving a variety of issues and effectively managing unforeseen situations. The job holder may also act as a technical focal point in the area of vulnerability assessment and analysis, contributing to the overall mission of WFP in the Caribbean region.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide specialized expertise and contribute to the development of project activities, plans, and processes within the specific technical area of work, ensuring alignment with wider program policies and guidelines.
• Offer efficient coordination and specialized project management support to a range of specific and/or defined programs, ensuring that activities are performed within established targets and in accordance with WFP’s policies and procedures.
• Prepare a variety of detailed reports and conduct substantial data analysis related to food assistance needs, resource utilization, program status, and performance, making recommendations to supervisors while ensuring adherence to corporate standards and quality control.
• Lead and ensure accurate, timely recording of data within the specific technical area of work, such as assistance programs and food security assessments, ensuring consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Coordinate and liaise with internal counterparts on complex matters to enable effective collaboration, implementation, and monitoring of ongoing project activities.
• Foster relationships and support partnership-building with local partners, agencies, NGOs, and government institutions to perform accurate food security analyses and ensure efficient delivery of food assistance.
• Support the capacity building of WFP staff, cooperating partners, and national government within the specific technical area.
• Act as an escalation point for complex query resolution on all matters within the area of responsibility.
• Manage a team of support staff, providing advice, guidance, and training to ensure individual and team objectives are met to agreed standards and deadlines. 1
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to ensure WFP can quickly respond and deploy needed resources to affected areas at the onset of a crisis.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a post-secondary certificate in a related functional area, along with seven or more years of progressively responsible work experience in the relevant business stream, particularly in general administrative work. The ideal candidate should have participated in implementing technical programs and have experience with increased levels of responsibility. Additionally, candidates should have provided input to policy discussions, demonstrating a solid understanding of the operational context in which WFP operates.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is the completion of secondary school education, along with a post-secondary certificate in a related functional area. This educational background is essential to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge necessary to perform the duties associated with the role effectively.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible work experience in the relevant business stream, with a focus on general administrative work. Candidates should have a proven track record of implementing technical programs and managing projects with increasing levels of responsibility. Experience in providing input to policy discussions is also essential, as it demonstrates the candidate's ability to engage in strategic decision-making processes.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in the UN language in use at the duty station is mandatory. Additionally, proficiency in the local language of the duty station, if different, is also required. This linguistic capability is crucial for effective communication and collaboration with various stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Fixed Term, Full Time role with a contract duration of 12 months, which is eligible for extension based on satisfactory performance and operational requirements. The duty station is located in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and the selected candidate may be required to travel regionally and internationally to support missions, emergency responses, and training. Full medical clearance will be necessary for travel. The compensation package includes a competitive salary, up to 30 days of annual leave, pension contributions, health, life, and disability insurance, sick leave, compassionate leave, and parental leave for both birth and non-birth parents. The salary details can be found on the WFP salary survey website.