JOB DESCRIPTION

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

5 January 2026-23:59-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).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world”s largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. WFP’s Technology Division (TEC) is the digital business engine of our organization, providing WFP with multi-pronged and resilient technical capabilities to support the flexibility and rapid response required in humanitarian operations. TEC continues to increase activities to meet the growing demand for digital products and services as WFP matures in the adoption of digital transformation.

WFP has launched its digital transformation program with a strong focus on utilizing data for better informed decision-making. We are investing heavily in our deployment of Palantir Foundry, a leading data integration platform which enables solving optimization problems with data at scale, alongside platforms for deep field data collection, visual analytics, and corporate reporting.

Under the supervision of the Head of Data and Analytics Branch, TEC Division, the DOTS Senior Data Engineer  will be a key team member in leading the design, implementation, operation, and optimization of Foundry based data integration and engineering services to support WFP HQ and Field Offices worldwide.

The role focuses on the engagement with multi-disciplinary business teams to surface their data needs in order to co-create solutions intended to leverage data to make better informed operational decisions. This requires a strong background in data analytics as well as in-depth understanding of data governance, ontology, data modelling and technical components of a data project in Foundry, beginning to end.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific tasks:

Data Integration & Analytics Solutions:

• Liaise with business teams, external contractors, internal team members and provide project planning, business requirement definition, technical guidelines, and manage timelines and deliverables to achieve agreed upon project specifications.
• Ensure timelines are respected and milestones are met for all projects.

• Escalate issues to the Operational Data Analysts (Workflow Owners).

Foundry Data Solutions Engineering:

• Engage with business solution owners, Product Managers, Release Managers, Business Engagement Managers (BEMs), corporate digital solutions teams; collect business requirements and provide input / write specifications. Analyze functional specifications and use them to create / review technical specifications.
• Manage and monitor implementation activities:
  • Document Business requirements.
  • Understand and validate new and existing system change requests, based on business knowledge of WFP processes and terminology.
  • Document Functional Specifications.
  • Obtain requestor”s sign-off.
  • Review and validate technical specification and estimations.
  • Provide technical input and support to implementation partner
  • Foundry Data Solutions Engineering
• Implementation done by incumbent:
  • Develop data integration pipelines utilizing Python/SQL in the Foundry platform.
  • Write Technical Specifications to define corporate data model and workflow for relevant projects.
  • Implement and execute internal unit test for solution, including regression test.
  • Write test scripts / scenarios and prepare test data (if needed).
  • Help users in user acceptance test to get sign off.
  • Provide documentation for implementation and test.
  • Hand over implementation and documentation to implementation partner as needed.
  • Responsible for the overall technical architecture of the solution and introducing new platform features as required.

Maintenance support for Foundry Data Solutions:

• Serve as second level support for technical data pipeline issues on the Foundry platform.
• Scope and implement critical hotfixes for Foundry solutions and corporate data model.
• Review as Technical Expert tickets or if needed implement them in a timely manner accordingly to service level agreements.
• Report status of maintenance and of implementation on a timely basis.

Business end-user support:

• Provide training on Foundry data integration/pipeline development and analytics tools adhering to development best practices.
• Provide inputs to end-user training guidelines and best practices.
• Other tasks as needed.

Developer team management:

• Manage a team of junior and intermediate developers by reviewing backlog item estimates, peer reviewing code, approving pull requests and unblocking any issues encountered.
• Onboard developers to a project by providing them detailed technical background knowledge on the pipelines, objects, design of workflow, business logic and platform components.
• Other tasks as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

University degree in computer engineering or computer science, data modelling, data science or business intelligence (desired).

Experience:

• Minimum 4 years of relevant work experience with data integration, analytics, and reporting tools, including, but not limited to, Palantir Foundry, SAP Business Intelligence suite, and Tableau.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Deep understanding of data integration, ETLs, and data mining methodologies.
• Hands-on experience developing data integration pipelines and object views in the Palantir Foundry platform utilizing Python/PySpark and SQL.
• Rich experience and proven skills in working towards a common goal in a team of diverse skills, experience, and cultural backgrounds, with heavy emphasis towards business and non-technical team members and stakeholders outside the team.
• Must have excellent knowledge of relational data modelling and data warehousing models.
• Ability to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, ability to present technical concepts in concise business language to multiple audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to lead business engagement discussions.
• Available to travel, both in Italy and abroad.

Languages:

Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

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 committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact:  [email protected]

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

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.
• If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at [email protected] for technical support only.
• Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.
• 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
• 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