Senior Programme Assistant ,World Food Programme

World Food Programme

Vacancy Announcement No: ODN/003/2012

VA issued on: 06 February 2012

Closing date: 17 February 2012

Post Title:Senior Programme Assistant

Grade: Service Contract SC7 (G7 equivalent)

Duty Station: Regional Bureau for East & Central Africa, based in Nairobi

Salary: As per UN Salary Scale

This vacancy announcement is open to both male and female candidates. Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is looking for a suitably qualified candidate to fill the post of Senior Programme Assistant in support of the Regional Bureau for East & Central Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the National Programme Officer, the Senior Programme
Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: (These duties are generic and thus are not all-inclusive nor are all duties carried out by all Senior Programme Assistants)

• Actively engage in supporting project cycle management by ensuring reviews and processing of new projects and budget revisions to old projects are concisely and effectively undertaken.
• Participate in discussions for document processing and support Country Offices in the preparation and revision project documents
• Support in organizing project planning/review missions, meetings and briefing sessions to identify and analyze problems and recommend corrective measures/strategies
• Maintain records on programme activities, from formulation stage through completion, by extracting relevant information from reports, project committees, budget records and other documentation; make information available for country briefs, country profiles, and other related purposes; ensure project cycle deadlines are met;
• Prepare status and progress reports by providing information and background material for use in discussions and briefing sessions;
• Participates in discussions on new/revised procedures and practices; interprets and assesses the impact of changes and makes recommendations on follow up actions;
• Participate in the preparation, review and management of extra-budgetary funded activities
• Provide guidance, on-the-job training and assistance to support country office staff;
• Perform other related duties as required.

Results Expected: Well functioning unit, providing technical expertise in a specialized area.

Critical Success Factors: Sound judgment; ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data and to resolve operational problems. Ability to work with minimum of supervision; to supervise and train support staff and to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Extensive and in-depth practical knowledge of a specialised area;
ability to plan and organize work.

Education: University degree in one or more of the following disciplines: economics, agriculture, international affairs, business administration, social sciences, development studies or a field relevant to international development assistance

Experience: At least one year of professional experience in one or more of the following programming more specifically programme design and project cycle management, At least one year at G6 level or equivalent.

Knowledge: At least six years of progressively responsible experience of which at least one year closely related to operations, food aid related work or other related field. At least one year at the G6 level or equivalent.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English.

Desirable skills: Proficiency in a second official WFP language; training and/or experience using MS Word and MS Excel, WFP’s Information System (WINGS) and other WFP software; knowledge of WFP financial regulations; and rules and WFP policies and procedures in the area of work.

Closing Date: 17 February 2012.

Applications must be received by the deadline and only short-listed candidates shall be contacted.

Interested individuals meeting the above qualifications are requested to submit their applications by e-mail, together with detailed curriculum vitae, copies of education certificates, names and telephone numbers or email addresses of three work referees.

Please send your application to: wfp.odnhr@wfp.org Please quote the Vacancy Announcement No. and the title of the position in the subject line.

Candidates should also complete and submit a Personal History form (P.11) available on the following link - http://www.unon.org/docs/P11.doc.

Please Note: WFP does not charge fees from applicants at any stage in the recruitment process.