DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS5 August 2025-23:59-GMT+03:00 Turkey Time (Istanbul)
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 worldโs 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).
ABOUT Head of Programme AT WFP
This position is based in Ankara and reports to Deputy Country Director.THE ROLE
The Head of Programme will manage a cross functional team of programmatic, Results and Monitoring (RAM), and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) professionals. The incumbent is responsible for the delivery of the full programme cycle management of WFPโs Tรผrkiye Country Office (TRCO) operational portfolio from programme development to programme monitoring and evaluation. With an estimated annual budget of $12m, the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) under which this programme sits will be implemented from 2026 to 2028 and is comprised of activities that sit in the thematic areas of meeting the basic food and non-food need of crisis affected people including refugees, emergency preparedness and response (EPR), and social protection. In line with the design of the CSP, this programme should be delivered collaboratively with relevant governmental, UN, and private sector partners, positioning WFPโs operations in Tรผrkiye as complementary to the work of other actors.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):
- Oversee the delivery of the programme portfolio of the TRCO CSP, as the lead of the Unit reponsible for the full programme cycle management of this portfolio at both an operational and strategic level.
- Lead a team, adopting a delegative management style, prioritising professional growth of all team members.
- Ensure that minimum compliance standards for WFP programmatic operations are met at all times, contributing to country office level minimum assurance activities, and actively identifying opportunities to exceed these minimum standards.
- Actively participate in the Resource Management Committee and the TRCO Leadership team, contributing to strategic and operational decision making of the TRCO, consistently acting as a role model of the values, principles and standards of WFP, actively contributing to creating an inclusive and collaborative work environment through respectful and constructive communication and holding self and other team members accountable for their actions.
- Ensure that appropriate evidence and targeting measures inform the quality of the programme design, and establish appropriate monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks, and ensure that programme milestones and successes are shared with the relevant teams for both internal and external communications and advocacy.
- Ensure the integration of cross-cutting expertise, such as accountability to affected populations (AAP), conflict sensitivity, gender, protection, and inclusion considerations into programme design and implementation.
- Develop and foster relationships with governmental stakeholders including those from the Presidency of Migration Management and the Ministry of Agriculture at both national and regional level to enable the effective positioning of WFP to meet national goals and contribute to country capacity-strengthening efforts and providing technical assistance to national institutions.
- Coordinate with a range of stakeholders to ensure that the programme portfolio leverages opportunities external to WFPโs activities, notably private sector opportunities as well as national and sub-national government programmes, other UN Agencies.
- Effectively communicate implementation progress and results of Programme and RAM activities to management and other stakeholders through meetings, review of donor reports and other materials.
- Key actor in leading scale up of operations in times of emergency response.
Other as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education: Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Social Sciences or other field relevant to international development assistance, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.
Experience :
ยท At least 7 (seven) years of relevant post graduate professional experience in people management, programme design, implementation, and policy engagement,
ยท Has experience in liaising with government partners, has good negotiation skills and ability to communicate effectively, and has provided input into policy discussions and decisions.
ยท Has experience in business development/project / programme design and management.
Has engaged in policy discussions and provided input into policy decisions.
Language: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Turkish, Arabic an asset.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE
- Has experience working across the Program portfolio including meeting basic food and non-food needs of emergency affected populations including refugees, emergency preparedness and response, and social protection.
- Has led a Sub Office or a country/area office programme team or a component of a country office programme portfolio.
- Has engaged in policy discussions and provided input into policy decisions.
Leadership Behaviours:
- Leads by Example with Integrity: Lives the WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role modelling care for others
Upholds WFP values, principles, and standards: Demonstrates and encourages others to uphold the WFP values, principles and standards
Respects others and values diversity: Values diversity using respectful and inclusive language, and encourages others to do the same
Stays focused and calm under pressure: Stays focused and calm when under pressure, encourages others to do the same, and offers guidance and support to manage difficult situations
Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn: Demonstrates humility and a willingness to learn and share knowledge, frequently seeking and acting on feedback, and pursuing opportunities to develop
- Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments: Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change
Delivers results for maximum impact: Identifies and aligns objectives to the required outcomes, holding self and/or others accountable for the delivery of results for maximum impact
Delegates appropriately: Delegates responsibly and provides appropriate support empowering others to deliver results
Adapts readily to change: Responds readily to change in different contexts and adapts accordingly
- Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork: Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth
Is inclusive and collaborative: Promotes inclusive teamwork and psychological safety by encouraging colleagues to collaborate by sharing ideas and openly raising issues
Gives timely and constructive feedback: Supports development for others by giving timely and constructive feedback
Builds and shares new perspectives: Seeks out, trusts and listens attentively to diverse views to capture, learn, build and share new perspectives
- Applies Strategic Thinking: Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyse options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things
Communicates and fulfils WFPโs vision: Communicates and fulfils WFPโs vision and operational outcomes to deliver meaningful solutions
Embraces curiosity and new ways of doing things: Demonstrates curiosity, designs and implements new ways of doing things when relevant
Analyses and evaluates data: Gathers data and different perspectives, shares knowledge and uses evidence to inform decision making
Considers the impact of decisions: Implements decisions, considering the risks and implications of actions for teams, projects and other initiatives
- Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships: Builds and nurtures external partnerships and collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives
Builds partnerships: Initiates and builds partnerships by identifying and promoting opportunities for mutual areas of interest and benefit
Collaborates to deliver common objectives: Collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives by sharing information and working together on agreed solutions
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: global.inclusion@wfp.org
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.
- Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships: Builds and nurtures external partnerships and collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives
- Applies Strategic Thinking: Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyse options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things
- Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork: Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth
- Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments: Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change
- Leads by Example with Integrity: Lives the WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role modelling care for others