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, physical or mental disability.

We are seeking to fill the position of Innovation Lab Officer NOA, based in the UNHRD Brindisi Hub.

Italian Residents holding a valid passport and/or identity card, and Reside within commuting distance (100-kilometer radius or distance that can be covered within 1.5 hours by car or public transport under average conditions of traffic, weather, and roads) to the office location at the duty station (World Food Programme, UNHRD Brindisi, Ex SS 16 Km 906.9, 72100 Brindisi, Italy), or be willing to relocate to reside within commuting distance to the location of the office at your own cost before taking up the assignment.

Please note that this vacancy announcement is being issued internally and externally.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Global hunger has reached alarming levels in 2022, and WFP, the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2020, remains dedicated and committed to address this global food crisis. The United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) is a network of strategically located hubs established to support humanitarian organizations and the broader international community in responding to emergencies and crises. UNHRD provides essential services such as storage, easy access to critical supplies, and technical assistance.

As the Officer NOA for the Innovation Lab within the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Head of the Innovation Lab. Your role will include exploring innovative solutions and technological advancements to address global humanitarian challenges in emergency preparedness and response. The Innovation Lab is a key resource within UNHRD, shaping strategy, fostering innovation, and ensuring continuity of innovation efforts. Your responsibilities will involve supporting developing strategies, attracting partnerships, contributing to technology optimization efforts, driving innovation projects, and participating to build a culture of creativity and continuous improvement within the Innovation Lab.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive)

1. Collaborate with the Head of the Innovation Lab to implement a strategy and related plan, aligning initiatives with UNHRD’s overall goals and contributing to the organization’s broader supply chain strategy.
2. Support in developing and maintaining partnerships with private and academic sector, suppliers and other stakeholders for the development of Innovation Lab current and future initiatives.
3. Support in optimizing processes to provide better services and enhance operational efficiency by leveraging basic and advanced technology solutions.
4. Contribute to innovation, research, and development initiatives to create agile, climate-responsible solutions for efficient emergency response in collaboration with private sector entities, academia, and stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster innovation.
5. Assist in the implementation of innovation projects from initiation to completion, ensuring a human-centered design approach is applied throughout. Collaborate with design teams and stakeholders to co-create solutions addressing evolving humanitarian needs.
6. Contribute to the development of technical specifications for long-term agreements related to core activities and items. Support in the evaluation of proposals to ensure compliance with UNHRD standards.
7. Analyze best practices from humanitarian, development fields, academia, and private sector to promote continuous improvement initiatives.
8. Identify, evaluate, and adopt innovative technologies and practices within the Innovation Lab.
9. Other duties as required.

ACCOUNTABILITIES STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education: University degree in Industrial Design, Engineering and humanitarian studies, or first-level university degree with years of experience in the functional area

Language:Proficiency in English (Level C) and in Italian (level C) and knowledge of other UN languages is an asset

Experience: Minimum of 1-year professional experience, preferably relevant experience in innovation management, design processes, and/or technology-driven initiatives

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience within humanitarian or development sectors is advantageous.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills for partnership management.
• Proficiency in technology optimization and product design.
• Ability to foster innovation and creativity within a team environment.
• Ability to design and execute innovative product development.
• Commitment to Green Supply Chain initiatives is a plus.
• Familiarity with human-centered design approaches is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team environment and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Capacity to adapt to changing priorities and circumstances, demonstrating resilience and flexibility in approach.
• Proactive attitude towards innovation, with a passion for leveraging technology and creativity to address humanitarian challenges.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK: COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR as outlined in the Generic Job Profile “Head of Operations NOA” apply.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. Please visit the following website for detailed information on working with WFP “ http://www.wfp.org Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

Applicants must be:

• Italian Residents holding a valid passport and/or identity card, and;
• Reside within commuting distance (100-kilometer radius or distance that can be covered within 1.5 hours by car or public transport under average conditions of traffic, weather, and roads) to the office location at the duty station World Food Programme, UNHRD Brindisi, Ex SS 16 Km 906.9, 72100 Brindisi, Italy).

Please note that applications should be sent in English. Only applications received in English will be considered.

Deadline: 24 March 2024

Ref. VA: 831977

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