DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

11 January 2025-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

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).

JOB TITLE:

Lead Software Developer

TYPE OF CONTRACT:

CST II

UNIT/DIVISION:

Forecasting and Early Warning Unit / Analysis, Planning and Performance Division

DUTY STATION (City, Country):

Rome, Italy

DURATION:

11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The Forecasting and Early Warning Unit at the World Food Programme (WFP) plays a critical role in anticipating and mitigating the impacts of food insecurity worldwide. By leveraging cutting-edge data analytics, forecasting models, and real-time information, the unit supports decision-making processes to preempt crises and ensure timely interventions in vulnerable regions. Key tools like HungerMapLIVE enable WFP and its partners to monitor global food security trends, predict potential crises, and respond proactively to emerging threats, ultimately helping to safeguard the livelihoods of millions of people.

As the Lead Software Developer, you will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing existing tools such as HungerMapLIVE, ensuring they continue to provide reliable and actionable insights. Beyond maintaining current systems, you will drive the development of a comprehensive end-to-end early warning system that integrates various data sources, predictive models, and analytics. This system will empower WFP’s country operations to act swiftly and effectively in response to emerging food security risks, making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The consultant will join the Unit’s team in Rome under the direct supervision of the Head of Unit, and will be responsible for the following activities:

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Technical Leadership, System Design, and Management:

• Lead the end-to-end design, development, and integration of an early warning tool, building upon the HungerMapLIVE ecosystem and other relevant WFP tools.

• Provide technical direction and supervise the development team, ensuring that all solutions are aligned with best practices for scalability, performance, and security.

Software Development and Architecture:

• Architect, design, and implement cloud-based solutions using AWS, Python, and ReactJS, ensuring they are efficient, maintainable, and capable of supporting the growth of the HungerMapLIVE ecosystem.

• Optimize the system architecture for new and existing features to ensure seamless integration with other WFP platforms and tools.

• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders, to ensure technical solutions meet business and operational requirements.

• Translate complex user needs into actionable technical requirements and ensure the alignment of development efforts with WFP’s corporate IT architecture and guidelines.

• Innovation and Problem-Solving:

• Proactively identify technical challenges and develop robust solutions to address them, with a focus on continuous improvement and the integration of innovative technologies.

• Explore and implement new technologies, frameworks, and methodologies to enhance the capabilities of HungerMapLIVE and other related tools.

• Code Quality, Security, and Compliance:

• Establish and maintain high standards for code quality, security, and documentation across all development efforts.

• Ensure that all solutions adhere to WFP’s security policies and relevant data privacy regulations, with a particular focus on protecting sensitive information related to food security monitoring.

• Perform any other task as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Development and Deployment of Enhanced Early Warning System: Delivery of an initial version of the integrated early warning tool within a defined timeframe, capable of processing real-time data and offering predictive insights aligned with HungerMapLIVE and WFP requirements.

• Comprehensive Technical Documentation and Codebase Standards: Submission of detailed technical documentation covering system architecture, development processes, and code standards to ensure continuity and quality across future updates and maintenance efforts

• System Integration and Testing Reports: Delivery of a fully integrated and tested system that seamlessly interacts with other WFP platforms and tools, accompanied by regular testing reports to ensure functionality, performance, and security.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics or similar. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

At least 8 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in IT related fields, more specifically software engineering and architecture

Knowledge & Skills:

Technical Proficiency:

• Advanced knowledge of AWS: Deep understanding of AWS services (e.g., EC2, Lambda, S3, RDS, etc.) and their application in developing scalable, secure cloud-based solutions.

• Expertise in Python: Proficiency in Python, with experience building and deploying data-driven applications, APIs, and microservices. Experience with libraries relevant to big data and machine learning is a plus.

• ReactJS Expertise: Strong proficiency in front-end development using ReactJS, including experience with state management, component-based architecture, and building responsive, user-friendly interfaces.

System Architecture and Design:

• Experience designing and implementing distributed systems, with a strong focus on scalability, fault tolerance, and high availability.

• Familiarity with modern software design patterns and practices, including microservices, serverless architectures, and event-driven programming.

Leadership and Mentorship:

• Proven experience leading software development teams, providing technical direction, setting development standards, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.

• Ability to mentor junior developers and foster a culture of continuous learning within the team.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

• Experience working in cross-functional teams, particularly with data scientists, UX/UI designers, and product managers, ensuring alignment across technical and business objectives..

Agile Methodologies:

• Familiarity with Agile development practices, including Scrum or Kanban, and experience leading teams in an Agile environment.

Security and Compliance:

• Strong understanding of security best practices, particularly in the context of cloud infrastructure and web applications.

• Experience ensuring compliance with relevant data protection regulations and security standards.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD):

• Proficiency in CI/CD tools and practices, with experience automating build, testing, and deployment pipelines to ensure efficient and reliable code delivery

Language:

Excellent spoken and written English; spoken and written French highly desired.

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