Program Associate

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Overview
Manage school feeding program activities and ensure effective coordination and implementation.

You have:

Minimum 7 years of experience in school feeding program management, food security, or social development, including at least 3 years in leadership and team supervision positions.
University degree in Administrative Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Project Management, Public Health, Social Sciences, or related fields. Preferred postgraduate training in social program management or public policies.
Fluency in English (oral and written) or Spanish as a native language. Ability to read and understand documents written in English.
Competence in the use of office equipment and software packages like Microsoft Office 365 and ability to learn new systems.
Ability to organize and plan effectively.
Ability to detect data discrepancies and resolve issues requiring attention.
Ability to relate tactfully and courteously to a wide variety of people including project beneficiaries.
Demonstrated service attitude and teamwork.

Details
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

27 March 2025-23:59-GMT-04:00 Atlantic Standard Time (Santo Domingo) 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 Program 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 The World Food Programme (WFP) Ecuador Country Strategic Plan 2023-2027 seeks synergy with the actions of the Government of Ecuador and capacity building focused on four Strategic Objectives: 1. Considering human mobility in all its forms, people experiencing vulnerability and food insecurity in Ecuador can meet their essential needs and build and strengthen their livelihoods before, during, and immediately after emergencies, disasters, and protracted crises. 2. Vulnerable people, particularly those of school-age children and adolescents in the first 1,000 days, can meet their food, nutritional, and basic needs throughout their life cycle, improving human capital in Ecuador. 3. Vulnerable communities, family farmers, and relevant actors in food value chains in Ecuador benefit from more sustainable, inclusive, and healthy food systems and strengthened resilience to climate change and other shocks and stressors year-round. 4. Government institutions and multilateral partners in Ecuador are provided with services for the effective, transparent, and efficient implementation of their operations year-round. WFP’s ability to achieve its Strategic Objectives depends on its activities addressing the different needs and priorities of the women, men, girls, and boys they serve. A world without hunger can only be achieved if everyone has equal opportunities, equal access to resources, and the same possibilities to have their voices heard in decisions that impact their households, communities, and societies. The strategic plan consolidates WFP’s role as a strategic partner of the Government of Ecuador, while maintaining the capacity to complement, when necessary, government food security and nutrition programs. Furthermore, WFP, as a United Nations (UN) agency, is committed to promoting and encouraging respect for human rights, a core objective of the UN. WFP ensures humanitarian protection, guaranteeing the safety, dignity, and rights of the beneficiaries of its programs. In addition to food and nutritional requirements, there is a range of other needs and rights, including physical, social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual aspects, which WFP must take into account. By considering these variables, WFP ensures that everyone benefits equally from its assistance and that discrimination is not perpetuated or exacerbated.

CONTEXT AND ROLE IN THE ORGANIZATION Within the context of “Strategic Objective 2, End Malnutrition,” with an emphasis on the school meals project in Ecuador, the position holder will be responsible for the technical management of work related to the planning, implementation, and coordination of activities that require an in-depth knowledge of the school meals program context, its challenges, and the ability to apply various guidelines and practices. The position holder will independently manage a wide range of specialized program support activities, such as coordinating the implementation of the project’s various models, strengthening team capacities, establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, generating evidence, and ensuring program sustainability. The work performed would have a significant impact on improving project implementation and coordination with other food security programs. The position holder must demonstrate initiative in identifying and resolving issues related to food distribution, compliance with food quality and safety standards, and adapting menus to local and cultural contexts. They may also act as focal points for various working groups, delegations representing the National Program Officer, and the performance of their respective roles. Finally, they will be responsible for defining objectives, resolving various and unforeseen problems, and supervising and guiding a team of support staff within their area of ​​responsibility.

RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Provide specialized expertise and contribute to the development of project activities, plans, and processes within the specific technical area, ensuring their alignment with overall program policies and guidelines. 2. Provide efficient coordination and specialized support in project management for a variety of specific and/or defined programs, ensuring that the various activities are carried out within the established objectives and in compliance with WFP policies and procedures. 3. Within the specific area of ​​responsibility, prepare a variety of detailed reports and perform substantive data analyses (e.g., food assistance needs, resource use, program status and performance), providing recommendations to supervisors and ensuring that deliverables meet corporate and quality control standards. 4. Lead and ensure the accurate and timely recording of data within the specific technical area (e.g., assistance programs, food security and vulnerability assessments), ensuring consistency of information presented to stakeholders. 5. Coordinate and collaborate with internal counterparts on a variety of complex issues to facilitate effective cooperation, implementation, and monitoring of ongoing project activities. 6. Foster relationships and support partnership building with local partners, agencies, NGOs, and government institutions to conduct accurate food security analyses and ensure the efficient delivery of food assistance. 7. Support capacity building for WFP staff, cooperating partners, and the national government within a specific technical area. 8. Act as a focal point for resolving complex inquiries on all matters within the area of ​​responsibility. 9. Assist in coordinating the activities of the support staff team, providing advice, guidance, and training, ensuring that individual and team objectives are met according to agreed standards and timelines. 10. Follow standard emergency preparedness practices, ensuring that WFP can respond quickly and deploy the necessary resources to affected areas at the onset of a crisis.

REQUIRED PROFILE  Academic Training: University degree in Administrative Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Project Management, Public Health, Social Sciences or related fields. Postgraduate training in social program management or public policy will be valued.  Professional Experience: Minimum 7 years of experience in managing school feeding, food security or social development programs, including at least 3 years in leadership and team supervision positions. Experience in the United Nations system will be positively valued. Languages​​ Fluency in English (spoken and written) or Spanish as a native language  Be able to read and understand documents written in English. Those with greater command of the language will be positively valued.

Required Skills and Knowledge  Proficiency in using office equipment and software packages, such as Microsoft Office 365, and ability to learn new systems.  Knowledge of daily work tasks and methods in order to complete processes with minimal supervision.  Organizational and planning skills.  Effective writing and communication skills.  Ability to identify data discrepancies and resolve issues that require attention.  Tact and courtesy to interact with a wide variety of people, including project beneficiaries.  Service-oriented attitude and teamwork.

The vacant position is open to Ecuadorian citizens and foreigners with a work permit in Ecuador.

The World Food Programme is committed to equal opportunities and achieving diversity in its workforce in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. We value inclusion and invite women, people belonging to minority groups, groups of indigenous origin, people of African descent, and people with disabilities to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

We will only contact those individuals who are preselected after reviewing and evaluating their resumes.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

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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 fees in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a request 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 [email protected] 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.
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