Director of Technology Operations

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 extreme weather. WFP operates in over 85 countries and employs a diverse workforce dedicated to its mission. The organization emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. WFP has been recognized for its efforts, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, and it continues to invest in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mobility opportunities. WFP's commitment to operational excellence is reflected in its focus on delivering effective humanitarian assistance to millions globally, supported by a strong technological foundation.

Job Overview:
The Director of Technology Operations at WFP is a critical role responsible for ensuring the reliability, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and operational excellence of the organization's global technology infrastructure and services. This position is essential for maintaining the operational backbone of WFP's digital capabilities, which support over 17,000 staff members in delivering humanitarian assistance. The Director will report to the Assistant Executive Director of Workplace & Management and work closely with the Chief Digital & AI Officer. The role focuses on operational excellence and risk management rather than innovation, with success measured by uptime, security posture, user satisfaction, cost efficiency, and business continuity. The Director will oversee global IT operations, cybersecurity, risk management, business continuity, enterprise architecture, and technology portfolio management, ensuring that WFP's technology services are available and secure 24/7/365, particularly in high-risk environments.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Director of Technology Operations will have a wide range of responsibilities, including:

• Overseeing end-to-end IT service delivery to ensure WFP's business-critical systems are available, performant, and reliable.
• Managing global IT infrastructure, including data centers, cloud services, networks, telecommunications, and end-user computing.
• Leading IT service management functions such as service desk, incident management, problem management, and change management to achieve high user satisfaction.
• Establishing and maintaining a comprehensive cybersecurity program to protect WFP systems and data from evolving threats.
• Conducting regular risk assessments and security audits, remediating vulnerabilities proactively.
• Designing and maintaining business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities to ensure WFP can continue operations during crises.
• Overseeing enterprise architecture to ensure WFP's technology landscape is integrated and aligned with business needs.
• Managing the technology budget, ensuring financial stewardship and value for money.
• Leading and developing a globally distributed technology operations team, fostering a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, or a related technical field. A first university degree with additional qualifying experience and professional certifications may also be accepted. The role requires a minimum of fifteen years of progressively senior experience in IT operations, infrastructure management, or technology service delivery, with at least five years at the director or senior management level. Desired qualifications include proven experience managing large-scale IT operations in multi-country environments, extensive experience in cybersecurity management, and a strong background in enterprise architecture and systems integration.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, or a related technical field is required. A first university degree combined with additional qualifying experience and professional certifications may be accepted as an alternative qualification.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of fifteen years of progressively senior experience in IT operations, infrastructure management, or technology service delivery. Candidates should have at least five years of experience at the director or senior management level, with a proven track record in managing large-scale, complex IT operations, particularly in high-threat environments. Experience in leading geographically dispersed technology teams and managing substantial technology budgets is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English (level C) is mandatory, along with intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, or Portuguese, which are considered working languages at WFP.

Additional Notes:
This is an International Professional position open to all nationalities, classified as 'non-rotational,' meaning the incumbent will not be subject to regular reassignment unless the position is reclassified. The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a one-year probationary period and will be required to relocate to Rome, Italy. WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including a basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days of annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. Female applicants and qualified candidates from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.