Cash Transfer Payments Specialist 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 extreme weather shocks. WFP operates globally, with a mission to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe. The organization is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. WFP has a strong focus on creating a healthy and inclusive work environment, living by 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 exciting career paths across its country, regional, and global offices.

Job Overview:
The Cash Transfer Payments Specialist position at WFP is crucial for designing and implementing adaptive and cost-efficient financial products and services that align with WFP's excellence in cash transfers and government-to-person (G2P) service provision. This role focuses particularly on cash assistance in emergencies and complex settings, requiring a strategic approach to engage with private and financial sector partners. The specialist will lead the design of innovative cash transfer solutions, ensuring that WFP remains at the forefront of cash assistance methodologies. The position demands a strong understanding of digital payment ecosystems and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships to enhance WFP's operational efficiency and service delivery in challenging environments.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Cash Transfer Payments Specialist will be responsible for leading WFP's external engagement with private and financial sector partners regarding cash assistance in emergencies. This includes designing an innovation portfolio for cash transfers, representing WFP in external forums, and supporting the organization's positioning on cash service provision. The specialist will act as a bridge between cash and Information and Data Management (IDM) to ensure that advances in IDM support WFP's cash transfer excellence. Additionally, the role involves advising Country Offices on cost-efficient payment products, supporting negotiations with financial service providers, and ensuring compliance with corporate priorities and operational needs. The specialist will also be tasked with designing cross-border payment solutions and implementing cash service provisions to governments and partners, while generating insights and benchmarks to inform WFP's cash assistance strategies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Finance, Economics, Management, Business Administration, International Development, Public Administration, or a related field relevant to digital payments and financial services. Alternatively, a first university degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training may be acceptable. The role requires a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in digital payments, financial services, banking, fintech, or related fields, particularly in humanitarian cash assistance and government-to-person payments. Desired qualifications include demonstrated experience in managing large-scale payment programs in challenging contexts, working with digital payment ecosystems, and supporting innovation in payment technologies.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as Finance, Economics, Management, Business Administration, International Development, or Public Administration. Candidates with a first university degree and additional relevant work experience or training may also be considered. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of digital payments and financial services in humanitarian contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas such as digital payments, financial services, banking, fintech, and humanitarian cash assistance. Candidates should have experience in designing and implementing large-scale payment programs, managing stakeholder relationships, and navigating complex regulatory environments. Experience in supporting the adoption of emerging payment technologies and working within cash coordination structures in emergencies is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English (level C) is mandatory, along with intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language, which may include Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, or Portuguese. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication within the diverse and multicultural environment of WFP.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as an International Professional role and is open to candidates of all nationalities. The selected candidate will be employed on a limited fixed-term contract for one year, which is renewable. The position is based in Rome, Italy, and the selected candidate will be expected to relocate. The role offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including a basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel allowances, annual leave, education grants for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.