IT Consultant

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 individuals 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 vision is to create a diverse, committed, skilled, and high-performing workforce that operates in a healthy and inclusive work environment, embodying the organization's core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, and continues to invest in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, ensuring that they are well-equipped to meet the challenges of humanitarian work.

Job Overview:
The IT Consultant position at WFP is a critical role within the Technology Division, specifically in the TECM Connectivity Services Team. The consultant will be responsible for overseeing the evolution of WFP's global network services, which includes leading the design optimization, deployment, and lifecycle management of edge devices across field offices. This role requires a senior technical and coordination capacity, ensuring that the SD-WAN infrastructure is scalable, high-performing, and resilient. The consultant will serve as a technical reference point, contributing to strategic initiatives and governance while driving continuous improvement in network services. The position demands a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to work collaboratively with various teams to ensure effective implementation of network upgrades and enhancements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: overseeing and coordinating external consultants and Service Desk teams during network upgrades; leading the global decommissioning of legacy network infrastructure; providing technical leadership in the deployment of new network infrastructure; planning and rolling out SD-WAN upgrades; driving optimization of SD-WAN configuration and performance; managing day-to-day operations and ticketing workflows; acting as a senior liaison with field IT officers; mentoring staff on firewalls, network infrastructure devices, and monitoring tools; ensuring monitoring governance via WhatsUp Gold; collaborating with the cybersecurity team on policy enforcement; supporting centralized authentication and NAC rollout; contributing to network architecture and requirements definition; enhancing capacity planning reporting systems; designing and maintaining an SD-WAN lab environment; leading testing in constrained environments such as VSAT scenarios; overseeing logistics for global firewall and network infrastructure device deployments; supporting and leading field missions as required; and documenting network processes by leading the development of a structured documentation framework, defining and enforcing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and ensuring continuous improvement of technical documentation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field, or have equivalent working experience. Additionally, Cisco and Fortinet certifications are desirable. The role requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in IT network administration, support, and services. Strong organizational, written and verbal communication, and interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities effectively. Experience in IT operations environments, particularly within large international organizations, is preferred. Candidates should have a Cisco CCNP certification or equivalent knowledge, as well as Fortinet NSE4 and NSE5 certifications or equivalent knowledge. Familiarity with ITIL foundation principles would be an asset.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field. Candidates with equivalent working experience may also be considered. Relevant certifications, particularly from Cisco and Fortinet, are highly desirable and will enhance a candidate's profile for this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in IT network administration, support, and services. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in IT operations environments, preferably within large international organizations, which will provide them with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in this role. Experience with network infrastructure design, deployment, and management is crucial, as well as familiarity with SD-WAN technologies and best practices.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional UN languages, such as Arabic, French, or Spanish, is considered desirable and will be advantageous for candidates, as it aligns with WFP's diverse operational environment and enhances communication with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a Regular Consultant Level 2 role within WFP. The consultant will be based in Rome, Italy, and is expected to engage in both local and global operations. The role may involve field missions as required, and candidates should be prepared for potential travel. WFP emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. The organization offers an attractive compensation package, which can be referenced in the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement. Additionally, WFP is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.