WFP Regional Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer P4

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 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 effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. WFP has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to humanitarian efforts. The organization invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, fostering a multicultural working environment.

Job Overview:
The position of WFP Regional Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer is crucial for leading the delivery of WFP's corporate Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) approach across the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Bureau (LACRO). The incumbent will support Country Offices in identifying, preventing, and managing food safety and quality risks across diverse operational contexts. This role involves providing technical guidance and leadership tailored to each Country Office's needs, ensuring that food safety standards, policies, and procedures are embedded throughout the supply chain from design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design to final distribution. The job requires frequent travel and engagement with various stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to manage quality risks and uphold compliance with food safety standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the WFP Regional Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer include developing and implementing policies and procedures to align WFP’s FSQA approach with organizational strategies, providing expert technical guidance to country offices, leading the establishment of field operations protocols for risk and incident management, and overseeing the implementation of FSQA regulations. The officer will also develop relationships with relevant functions to maintain food safety and quality throughout the supply chain, provide technical oversight on supplier food safety management, support country offices in managing FSQ risks, advise on engagement with food authorities, and ensure the effective use of corporate FSQ tools and data systems. Additionally, the officer will lead initiatives to enhance national food systems, oversee accurate data collection and reporting, drive cross-functional collaboration, and motivate a team to achieve high performance while fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Food Technology, Health Sciences, Food Control, Nutrition, or a related field. Alternatively, a first university degree with two additional years of relevant work experience in food safety is acceptable. A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Food Safety and Quality, procurement, logistics, and supply chain management is required, along with experience in regional or international roles supporting diverse regulatory environments. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to lead integrated operations and possess additional relevant training in food safety and quality management.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in a relevant field such as Food Technology, Health Sciences, Food Control, or Nutrition. A first university degree combined with additional work experience in food safety is also acceptable. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of food safety and quality assurance in various operational contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Food Safety and Quality, with a strong background in procurement, logistics, and supply chain management. Candidates should have experience working in regional, international, or multi-country roles, supporting operations across diverse regulatory and food system environments. Demonstrated experience in managing and supervising teams, as well as the ability to effectively coach and mentor staff, is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Spanish is mandatory for this position, with a proficiency level of C. Knowledge of an additional official UN language such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Portuguese is desirable, as these languages may enhance communication and collaboration within the organization and with external partners.

Additional Notes:
This is an International Professional position with a fixed-term and rotational contract, including a probationary period of one year. The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Panama City. WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including a basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel allowances, annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. The organization emphasizes mobility as a core contractual requirement, and all applications must be submitted through the online recruiting system. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.