About UN World Food Programme
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting
hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our
lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that
the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious
food they need.
In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil
conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild
their shattered lives. On average, WFP reaches more than 80 million people with food
assistance in 75 countries each year. The organization has the global footprint, deep field
presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food
and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile
areas.
WFP’s People Vision
WFP’s greatest strength is its more than 14,000 dedicated people working tirelessly around the
world to reduce hunger, often under difficult conditions where security threats and risks to
personal safety are considerable. The global context in which WFP operates is rapidly changing
which means the need for effective people management is becoming more important than ever
before. In this context, WFP launched its People Strategy in November 2014. It articulates
key strategic focus to build an engaged workforce, with the right skills, in the right roles enabling
WFP to continue fulfilling its humanitarian response role while simultaneously building its
capabilities to address the long-term goals of Zero Hunger.
To support the People Strategy delivery, WFP is committed to transforming its Human Resources
function into a strategic business partner. Strategic HR business partners will be the “account
managers” for delivering HR services in all units of WFP. Services will be adapted to serve each
unit in line with the People Strategy, HR programs and best practices. The HR business partners
will engage closely with WFP leaders to drive the implementation of the People Strategy,
encompassing a comprehensive workforce and talent management strategy in support of
business objectives and the delivery of the best outcomes for the people WFP serves.
About the role
In this transformational context, we are recruiting a high caliber candidate to fill the role of
Head of Human Resources/Senior Strategic Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) to lead
the People Strategy implementation and HR service delivery in WFP’s West and Central Africa
Regional Bureau, based in Dakar, Senegal. The Regional Bureau Dakar (RBD) covers a span of
19 countries across West and Central Africa, 16 with field operations and three with capacity
development activities. In addition, RBD has oversight over Nigeria, and since 2015 has staff deployed in country operating air services and providing technical capacity. As of August 2015,
the region has 43 active projects and a volume of work for 2015 valued at more than USD 1.5
billion. To support this portfolio, the West and Central Africa region has close to 3,000 staff.
As part of the Global HR leadership team, this role is accountable for driving the
strategic people agenda for the West and Central Africa Region, and is the catalyst to
lead cultural change and innovation.
Key responsibilities include:
Partner with the Regional Director to drive the People Strategy implementation in a
highly evolving operating environment for the delivery of the region’s operational goals
and WFP’s strategic objectives;
Participate in business planning as a member of the RBD leadership team, and provide
comprehensive HR strategic partnering to translate the region’s operational goals into a
people plan;
Proactively work with the Regional Director to drive workforce planning which enables
RBD to forecast and plan ways of building a diverse and high-performing workforce to
meet its medium and long terms operational needs. This includes building national
staff’s capacities and engagement in ways that respond to the region’s strategic and
operational needs;
Lead, plan and execute organization development initiatives as needed by the RBD
leadership team, such as organization design, change management, employee
engagement and career development;
Utilize the talent development processes and tools delivered by the WFP HR Centre of
Expertise in order to develop the diverse talent pipeline for both the region’s current and
future capability requirements;
Partner with the leadership teams to shape a high performance culture in the region by
reinforcing successful performance results and line managers’ accountability to create
an environment that fosters the best outcomes for our beneficiaries;
Support managers to deliver on WFP’s mandate through enhancing their capability to
manage their people, implement changes and drive performance;
Play an integral role in employee engagement through knowledge about and advocacy
of people. Help to strengthen the organizational culture and climate in which people have
the capability and commitment to continually drive strong results;
Provide executive coaching to senior leaders and leadership teams in the region;
Interface with key roles and functional areas including HR Operations, HR Centre of
Expertise, other Regional HRBPs, Finance, Legal, and third party service providers;
Responsible for building strategic HR capacity in the region, and country offices under its
management oversight.
Qualifications & Experience Required
Experience:
At least 11 years of postgraduate progressively responsible experience as a HR
Business Partner, with most recent 5 years at global level;
At least 3 years in a strategic partnership role, supporting and influencing senior
executive leadership;
Strong organization development and change management experience;
Experience leading teams and navigating in a large, complex and matrix corporate
environment;
Designing and implementing HR strategies and business processes globally.
Functional Skills & Competencies:
Expertise in identifying and driving HR solutions that enable delivery of strategic
objectives;
Ability to work and deliver results within a highly complex organizational environment
(i.e. with diverse team, matrix structure, highly evolving operational context and staff
working hardship locations);
Ability to translate WFP’s People Strategy into actionable plans that are relevant to the
RBD’s strategic agenda and operational context;
Expert ability to assess, develop, recruit, retain and coach high calibre people;
Knowledge of talent management solutions;
Deep business acumen;
Strong change management and project management skills;
Strategic thinker with strong partnerships, negotiation and analytical skills to influence
senior management level;
Exceptional communication skills and understanding of working with different cultures.
Education:
Advanced University degree in Human Resources Management or a university degree in
Human Resources Management, combined with a professional certification in the area
of Human Resources Management is required.
Language:
Fluency (proficiency/level C) in both of English and French is required.
Terms and Conditions
Selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of
one year. He/She will be required to travel abroad sometimes to remote or difficult locations.
Competitive remuneration
WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post
adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave,
home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance.
For more details please visit icsc.un.org
Qualified female applicants and qualified applicants from
developing countries are especially encouraged to apply
WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
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.
REF: 15-0018148
Fighting Hunger Worldwide
HOW TO APPLY:
Application procedures:
Step 1: Create your online CV.
Step 2: Click on “Description” to read the position requirements and “Apply” to submit your
application.
NOTE: You must complete Step 1 and 2 in order for your application to be considered for this
vacancy.
Deadline for applications: 5 October 2015
