Programme Policy Officer (Head of Programme)

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 a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of climate change. WFP is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from various backgrounds to apply. The organization operates globally, with a vision of a diverse, committed, skilled, and high-performing workforce that embodies its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion. WFP has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to humanitarian efforts worldwide. The organization invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, offering a dynamic career path across its country, regional, and global offices.

Job Overview:
The Programme Policy Officer (Head of Programme) is a pivotal role within the WFP, responsible for overseeing the effective implementation of program activities in the Rakhine Area Office. This position emphasizes strong coordination, monitoring, reporting, and engagement with cooperating partners to ensure that program objectives are met efficiently and effectively. The officer will provide operational oversight, ensuring compliance with established procedures and maintaining quality assurance standards across all program interventions. The role involves managing and coordinating program activities, including monitoring and evaluation (M&E) functions, to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of program outputs aligned with organizational objectives. The officer will also be responsible for identifying operational risks and challenges, developing mitigation measures, and ensuring that all program activities are executed in accordance with WFP's standards and guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key accountabilities of the Programme Policy Officer (Head of Programme) include supporting the Head of Area Office in achieving monthly implementation targets and program objectives, providing technical guidance and operational support for all program activities, and coordinating day-to-day planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and budget management of program interventions. The officer will identify operational risks and challenges, manage all Field Level Agreement (FLA) processes, lead caseload planning and resource allocation, monitor Cooperating Partners’ performance, review commodity stock levels, and oversee beneficiary verification and targeting exercises. Additionally, the officer will coordinate joint programming initiatives with UN agencies and other stakeholders, prepare and submit monthly distribution plans, strengthen the capacity of Area Office staff and partners, support emergency preparedness and response activities, represent WFP at various forums, and ensure effective coordination with internal and external stakeholders to achieve program compliance and accountability.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in business/public administration, finance, accounting, international development, audit, or a related field. Alternatively, a first university degree with an additional two years of relevant work experience and/or training in audit, performance, and risk management is acceptable. The role requires at least three years of progressively responsible experience in planning activities or related fields, with a strong emphasis on leadership in implementing programs and contributing to policy discussions. Candidates should have emergency field experience and management oversight of external partners, demonstrating deep technical knowledge through exposure to technical teams.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as business/public administration, finance, accounting, international development, or audit. A first university degree combined with additional relevant work experience and training is also acceptable. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of program management and operational oversight within the humanitarian context.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of relevant experience in progressively responsible roles related to program planning and implementation. Candidates should have demonstrated leadership capabilities in managing programs, contributing to policy discussions, and overseeing external partners. Experience in emergency field operations is highly desirable, as is a background in managing complex program activities in challenging environments.

Languages:
Fluency in both spoken and written English and Burmese is mandatory for this role. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries, ensuring that program objectives are met and that all documentation is accurately prepared and submitted.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term contract for a duration of 12 months, based in Sittwe, Myanmar. The role is open exclusively to Myanmar nationals, with a strong encouragement for female applicants and qualified candidates from minority groups to apply. WFP offers a competitive benefits package, including salary, pension, leave, and medical insurance. The organization 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.