Change and Transition Lead, One Payroll 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 to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and extreme weather shocks. WFP operates globally, with a mission to achieve zero hunger, and is recognized for its commitment to diversity and equal employment opportunities. The organization has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to humanitarian efforts. WFP employs a diverse workforce and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment that values integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, and inclusion. The organization is headquartered in Rome, Italy, and has numerous offices worldwide, employing thousands of individuals across various functions and regions. WFP is committed to the professional development of its employees, offering training, mentorship, and opportunities for internal mobility, thereby ensuring a dynamic and supportive workplace.

Job Overview:
The Change and Transition Lead for the One Payroll Programme at WFP is a pivotal role focused on managing the transition to a centralized payroll processing system. This position is crucial as WFP seeks to modernize its administrative and HR processes by consolidating payroll operations onto a single SAP S/4HANA platform. The role encompasses overseeing the organizational readiness and adoption of the new payroll solution throughout its implementation phases, which include the current build phase, Phase 1 go-live in 2027, and Phase 2 in 202

• The Change and Transition Lead will work closely with various stakeholders across the organization to ensure that the transition is smooth and that all affected parties are adequately prepared for the changes in their operating models. This role requires a strategic approach to change management, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate complex technical changes into operational realities for a diverse workforce.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Change and Transition Lead will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties, including:

• Developing and maintaining the change management strategy and plan for the One Payroll Programme, ensuring alignment with program phases and milestones.
• Conducting stakeholder mapping and organizational impact assessments to identify changes in roles and responsibilities due to the centralization of payroll processing.
• Translating the future state operating model into clear role definitions and accountability frameworks for both Headquarters and Country Offices.
• Defining readiness criteria for each implementation phase and providing independent assessments of organizational readiness at critical decision points.
• Advising senior leadership on the organizational dimensions of the program and designing governance structures to facilitate effective decision-making.
• Directing the communications strategy to ensure consistent messaging and timely information flow to all affected populations.
• Overseeing the training and enablement approach to ensure that staff are equipped to operate within the new system and processes.
• Maintaining change governance aligned with program governance and coordinating across technical, HR, and finance workstreams.
• Directing the transition from program delivery to operations, ensuring sustainable support models are established and lessons learned are captured for future reference.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Finance, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with additional years of relevant professional experience is acceptable. The role requires at least eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in change management, organizational transformation, or program delivery, with demonstrated experience in leading change and adoption dimensions of enterprise system implementations. Candidates should have experience in international, decentralized organizations and engagement with field operations, as well as experience advising senior leadership at the director level and above.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Business Administration, Human Resources, Economics, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Finance, or a related area is required. A first-level university degree combined with additional relevant professional experience may also be considered sufficient for this role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in change management, organizational transformation, or program delivery. Candidates should have a proven track record of leading change initiatives and managing the adoption of new systems within complex organizations, particularly in international settings. Experience in engaging with senior leadership and advising on organizational readiness is essential.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, intermediate knowledge of another official United Nations language, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, is considered an asset and will be advantageous for candidates.

Additional Notes:
The position is offered as a Regular Consultant Contract at Level 2, with a duration of 11 months. The role is based in Rome, Italy, at WFP's headquarters. The organization emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion, encouraging candidates from various backgrounds to apply. WFP does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. 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.