Food Safety and Quality Assurance Expert (SSA L10)

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance as a means to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP operates in numerous countries around the globe, with a mission to ensure that no child goes hungry. The organization is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging candidates from all backgrounds to apply. WFP has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to global humanitarian efforts. The organization emphasizes a healthy and inclusive work environment, where employees are valued for their skills and commitment to the mission. WFP invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. The organization operates in multiple countries, providing a diverse and multicultural working environment that allows employees to engage in impactful humanitarian work.

Job Overview:
The Food Safety and Quality Assurance Expert will play a crucial role in the World Food Programme's efforts to enhance Egypt's National School Feeding Programme (NSFP). This position involves providing specialist advice and analytics to ensure the effective design of integrated supply chain operations that will facilitate the transition from snack-based school feeding to a national hot meal program. The expert will work closely with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE) to assess the current infrastructure and operational conditions necessary for implementing a safe and efficient hot meal provision system. The role requires a comprehensive understanding of food safety risks, quality assurance, and the ability to develop context-appropriate delivery models that align with national strategies and regulations. The expert will also be responsible for conducting feasibility analyses, mapping school capacities, and providing technical guidance on compliance with food safety standards. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to a high-impact program aimed at improving access to nutritious meals for millions of children in Egypt.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Providing technical inputs to national school and infrastructure mapping by identifying food safety risks related to meal preparation, storage, water and sanitation conditions, waste management, energy sources, and hygiene practices in school or community kitchens.
• Analyzing food safety and quality implications of different delivery modalities, including risks associated with sourcing, processing, storage, transportation, and last-mile distribution.
• Supporting the classification of schools and delivery options from a food safety perspective by defining minimum eligibility criteria and required controls.
• Providing technical guidance on compliance with national food safety regulations and standards, including inspection requirements and alignment with existing control systems.
• Defining food safety and quality requirements for procurement and contracting processes, including supplier eligibility criteria and hygiene standards.
• Advising on the design of food safety assurance systems across the supply chain.
• Drafting or reviewing food safety and hygiene components of the National School Meals Operational Manual.
• Identifying food safety capacity gaps and proposing training measures to support safe implementation.
• Assessing food safety readiness for phased implementation in selected governorates. 1
• Developing training materials and delivering Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions. 1
• Contributing to the development of a risk management note summarizing key food safety risks. 1
• Providing technical backstopping during the launch of the pilot phase of the hot meals program.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Nutrition, Supply Chain Management, Public Health, or a related field. A first-level degree with additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. The position requires at least 8-10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in food safety system design, implementation, and quality assurance, including a minimum of 5 years in senior technical, advisory, or food safety management roles within large-scale catering or comparable food service operations. Experience working with the Egyptian food safety regulatory environment is strongly preferred, along with prior experience working with UN agencies or large public-sector programs.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in Food Science, Food Safety, Nutrition, Supply Chain Management, Public Health, or a related field is required. A first-level degree with additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree, indicating that practical experience can complement formal education in this field.

Experience:
The position requires a significant level of experience, specifically at least 8-10 years in progressively responsible roles related to food safety and quality assurance. Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years in senior technical or advisory roles, demonstrating hands-on experience in designing and implementing food safety management systems for large-scale catering operations. Experience in managing high-risk food safety environments and providing technical advice to government counterparts or international organizations is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but the primary requirement is strong communication skills in both English and Arabic to effectively engage with stakeholders and produce necessary documentation.

Additional Notes:
The contract type for this position is a Special Service Agreement (SSA, L10) with a duration of 6 months. The duty station is Cairo, Egypt, and the assignment is expected to commence in the coming months, continuing through the rollout of the program for the 2026/2027 school year, subject to project timelines and funding availability. The role is full-time and involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including government counterparts and technical experts. The World Food Programme emphasizes a commitment to diversity and equal opportunity in its hiring practices.