WFP : Common Back Office Manager – Dar es Salaam

  • Location:
  • Salary:
    negotiable / YEAR
  • Job type:
    FULL_TIME
  • Posted:
    24 hours ago
  • Category:
    Management and Strategy
  • Deadline:
    25/12/2025

JOB DESCRIPTION

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

12 January 2025-23:59-GMT+03:00 East Africa Time (Dar es Salaam)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP’s values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP?

  • WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
  • WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
  • WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
  • A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
  • We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Common Back Office (CBO) initiative proposes to streamline key operational areas of participating agencies by harmonizing procedures and consolidating support services into one facility at the country level. This consolidation is expected to reduce duplication of functions and administrative and transaction costs, while the harmonized procedures are expected to, at the same time, increase the quality and effectiveness of these services.

The CBO unit will provide common identified services in Common Procurement, Common Logistics, Common Human Resources, Common ICT, Common Finance and Common Administration (including Facility Management) to the United Nations participating entities. Additional services could be included as per agreement between the participating entities and the CBO unit through the hosting entity. The CBO day-to-day operations and decisions are managed by the CBO Manager who reports to the host entity for administrative matters.

The CBO Country Governance Board will provide strategic guidance with a view to ensuring the quality of services provided by the CBO, through a participative coordination meeting, where all participating entities have the same representativity and all opinions shall be taken into consideration.

The CBO Manager reports directly to the Head of Hosting Entity in the country and through him/her to the Country Governance Board (CGB) consisting of Heads of participating UN entities, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, being the CGB the “clients” governance mechanism responsible for the overall service performance of the CBO.

The CBO has its own annual budget and staff dedicated to the management and delivery of services to its clients.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The position of CBO Manager reports directly to the Head of the Hosting Entity and is responsible for managing on a daily basis the delivery of CBO services to client entities. This role includes identifying UN Entities’ requirements for services being delivered, including quality and timeliness of services. The CBO Manager is bounded by the Service Level Agreements (SLAs), which set out the respective requirements and responsibilities of client UN Entities and the CBO.

The CBO Manager, with the support of the Service Delivery Platform (SDP), will be responsible for meeting the timeliness of the service delivery, in a first-in first-out manner, and for ensuring the application of the Client Satisfaction and Costing & Pricing principles agreed at the UNSDG level.

DELIVERABLES:

A. Coordination of the governance arrangements:

  • Establish and consolidate the CBO in Tanzania as an integrated center of services meeting with efficiency operational needs of its clients, based on UNSDG Client Satisfaction and Costing & Pricing principles.
  • Serve as Secretary of the CGB. The Secretary shall coordinate the organization of the meetings and prepare a draft agenda for each meeting. The agenda and relevant documentation should be distributed to the members in advance of the meeting. The Secretary shall also prepare reports and any correspondence, as well as maintain a record of decisions, documentation, and reports.
  • Develop a permanent working communication with CGB members and their teams aiming the production of timely solutions and the consolidation of the new flows.
  • Provide regular reports to CGB on all aspects of CGB activities.

B. Supporting financial results and performance:

  • In the six functional areas (Common Procurement, Common Logistics, Common Human Resources, Common ICT, Common Finance and Common Administration, including Facility Management), monitor the established SLAs with CBO client entities and provide quality services in timely manner.
  • Facilitate/initiate the drafting and suggesting amendment to SLAs and KPIs.
  • Develop a strategic planning for CBO, including a Biennial Management Strategy and its Biennial Budget Strategy for Sustainability.
  • Produce an annual report on service delivery for participating Entities, including financial reports provided by the hosting entity and/or service provider.
  • Prepare periodic review of the status of implementation of the annual work plans and of the CBO financial statements.
  • Develop CBO annual work plans and prepare Tanzania CBO implementation updates.
  • Review cost-share mechanism and invoicing procedures. C. Monitoring of CBO day-to-day operations and decisions
  • Determine the appropriate executing modality for the Service Lines (such as outsourcing).
  • Efficiently recruit skilled professionals aligning with CBO standards and facilitate seamless onboarding.
  • Through overall direction, active coaching, and efficient organization of work, lead the staff during the phases of installation and further adjustments of CBO.
  • Provide supervision to the CBO Programme Management Assistant.
  • Develop motivation, team spirit and client-oriented culture.
  • Ensures the continued development and training of the staff.
  • Develop appropriate mechanisms of coordination with program staff in the UN Entities.
  • Establish appropriated mechanisms to receive continuous feedback from client entities.
  • Facilitate the establishment of a Case Management System, guiding setup, and facilitating user training.
  • After a period of experimentation, identify required adjustments to be introduced in the initial structure, processes, tools, allocation of staff and budget.
  • Support RC with the presentation of CBO Tanzania to other UN entities, ensuring the widest adhesion possible.
  • Document the CBO Tanzania experience through identification of best practices and lessons learned.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Education: Advanced University degree in business, public administration, or a related field. (A first University degree may be accepted if the applicant has at least 9 years of relevant post-qualification experience).
  • Language: Fluency in written and spoken English.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

  • At least 7 years of relevant post-qualification work experience, preferably in the UN system.

Knowledge & Skills:

  • Experience and proven ability in the delivery of a range of UN administrative services, within tight deadlines in accordance with established UN requirements.
  • Experience and skills in providing leadership and team management in a multi-cultural, working environment.
  • Communication and negotiation skills in managing high level client relationships.
  • Ability to identify client’s need and match them to appropriate and innovative solutions.
  • Broad knowledge of best practices, techniques for process optimization processes (e.g. optimization of strategic planning, sourcing, logistics, finance processes, performance management, etc.)
  • Broad knowledge of best practices, techniques, and methodologies for developing new strategies and drive efficiencies
  • Experience in change management.
  • Ability to adapt in a rapidly changing environment and pay close attention to details.
  • Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.

Visa Application:

  • WFP supports Visa applications, and the position is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

 

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

 

WFP is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our recruitment process is inclusively crafted to welcome candidates of all backgrounds, celebrating diversity and ensuring a respectful environment for all. We aim for an accessible and fair recruitment journey. Should you need any reasonable accommodations or have accessibility concerns, please reach out to us confidentially at global.inclusion@wfp.org. Our DEI team is here to ensure your full participation in our recruitment process.

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

 

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

 

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

  • We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
  • Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
  • Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
  • Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
  • Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
  • Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements