Partnerships, Communications, and Reporting Officer (SC8)

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 are committed to the mission of eradicating hunger and ensuring security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all. WFP is recognized for its efforts in humanitarian assistance and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its work in combating hunger and promoting peace. The organization values diversity and inclusion, striving to create a workplace that reflects the communities it serves, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. WFP is committed to professional development and offers various training and mentorship programs to its employees, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.

Job Overview:
The Partnerships, Communications, and Reporting Officer (SC8) will play a crucial role in supporting the World Food Programme's mission in Sri Lanka. Reporting directly to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director, the incumbent will be responsible for identifying, developing, and strengthening partnerships that align with WFP's strategic objectives. This position requires a proactive approach to enhancing the partnerships strategy, ensuring it aligns with the Country Strategic Plan and key donor priorities. The officer will work to expand and diversify the fundraising portfolio, focusing on innovative financing opportunities and building strategic engagement with International Financial Institutions (IFIs). The role also involves managing external partnerships, conducting data analysis, and ensuring partner visibility. The officer will contribute to the preparation of partnership proposals and agreements, support emergency response efforts, and oversee country-specific communications activities. This position is vital for maximizing resources and leveraging support for WFP's work in Sri Lanka, ensuring that the organization can effectively respond to the needs of vulnerable populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead efforts to identify, develop, and strengthen quality partnerships in support of WFP's strategic objectives.
• Enhance and implement the partnerships strategy to align with the Country Strategic Plan and donor priorities.
• Expand and diversify the fundraising portfolio, focusing on innovative financing opportunities.
• Build and lead strategic engagement with IFIs, collaborating with CO management and strategic partnerships officers.
• Guide national staff in managing external partnerships and opportunities.
• Support the partnerships portfolio through partner profiling, data analysis, and outreach planning.
• Facilitate corporate dialogue with partners by preparing quality briefing materials.
• Gather and share partner intelligence using key information systems.
• Explore opportunities to expand existing partnerships and scope new partners. 1
• Contribute to the preparation of partnership proposals and strategic agreements. 1
• Support the development of partnerships with member states and civil society to advocate for SDGs and Zero Hunger. 1
• Oversee country-specific communications activities aligned with WFP's strategies. 1
• Strengthen staff and partner capacity on operational information management and performance reporting. 1
• Support emergency response efforts by providing secretariat support to Operational Task Forces. 1
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the Country Director.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s degree) in Communications, Journalism, International Relations, Political Science, Law, Marketing, Development Studies, Information Management, or a related field. Alternatively, a first university degree in a related field with additional years of relevant professional experience and/or training may be accepted. The ideal candidate should have excellent writing and editing skills, strong organizational abilities, and the capacity to manage multiple deadlines and projects. Familiarity with corporate tools such as Salesforce, WINGS, and WFPGo is an asset, along with proficiency in MS Office applications.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (master’s degree) in relevant fields such as Communications, Journalism, International Relations, Political Science, Law, Marketing, Development Studies, Information Management, or a related area. Candidates with a first university degree in a related field may also qualify if they have additional relevant professional experience and training. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of partnerships, communications, and reporting within the humanitarian context.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of one year of progressively responsible professional experience in partnerships, external relations, communications/media, donor visibility, information/knowledge management, or performance reporting within the UN, government, INGO/NGO, development, or private sector. Those with an advanced university degree should have at least one year of relevant experience, while candidates with a first university degree should have five or more years of related work experience. Demonstrated experience in drafting high-quality briefs, press materials, and social content is essential, as well as the ability to coordinate inputs across units and utilize data/analytics for outreach and reporting.

Languages:
Fluency in English (Level C) is mandatory for this position. Additionally, fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil is highly desirable, as it will facilitate engagement with national counterparts and local media. Proficiency in these languages will enhance the officer's ability to communicate effectively and build relationships within the local context.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Service Contract (SC) with a duration of one year, based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The role is open to Sri Lankan nationals only. WFP emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. The organization offers an attractive compensation package, which will be detailed in the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. All applications must be submitted through WFP's online recruiting system, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further stages of the recruitment process.