The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency, fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to end global hunger. Every day, WFP works around the globe 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.
We are building a Shipping Officer Talent Pool that will be comprised of highly competent professionals who can play a key role in helping achieve zero hunger. All applicants will go through a comprehensive selection and assessment process to demonstrate their technical and organisational capabilities and the potential to grow and work across different field locations. Successful applicants will remain in the Talent Pool for 12 months, and can be considered for short or long-term international professional employment opportunities at entry and mid-management levels (P2, P3 and P4), in Country Offices, Regional Bureaux and Headquarters.
Strategic Purpose of the Function
The WFP Ocean Transportation Service provides timely and cost-efficient ocean transportation services to WFP Country Offices to meet programme needs. The Shipping Service is responsible for managing transportation by liner or charter vessel. Working with a network of freight forwarders, ship brokers and ships agents, WFP in 2013 moved cargo from 60 load ports to 75 discharge ports across five continents, shipping two million metric tonnes in support of emergencies and on-going programmes.
Job Purpose
· P2 level: Shipping Officers at the P2 level operate with a high degree of independence, to ensure effective shipping operations and are heavily involved in day–to-day activities and analytical work. They contribute to daily planning and coordination of WFP shipping operations including monitoring of services provided by contracted external organizations to ensure cost-effective operations and that set objectives are achieved in full.
· P3 level: Shipping Officers at the P3 level operate in a specific area of shipping, have wide responsibilities and make significant contributions to ensure effective shipping operations. They provide guidance to junior staff and support their learning and development needs. They plan and coordinate WFP shipping operations including the activities and services of external contracted organizations to ensure the provision of cost-effective shipping services and that set objectives are achieved in full.
Qualification Requirements
Education:
· Advanced University degree in Transport Economics, Supply Chain, Shipping, Logistics or other relevant field, or First University degree with relevant logistics qualifications or two additional years of logistics experience in port, freight forwarding and shipping operations from the minimum experience requirement stated below.
Experience:
· P2 level: At least three years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in the relevant field.
· P3 level: At least five years of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience in the relevant field.
Functional Capabilities*(scope of capabilities will vary by grade level)*:
· Supply Chain Management and Optimization for Shipping - Identifies opportunities for improved coordination and appropriately engages with upstream and/or downstream actors to solve bottlenecks. Demonstrates an understanding of industry Supply Chain best practices to establish a continuous process of optimization and improvement.
· Planning, Project & Resource Management - Demonstrates the ability to design and manage the full lifecycle of project management, including planning, engaging with partners and key stakeholders, budgeting, strategically allocating material and human resources, implementation and reporting.
· Information Management & Reporting - Ability to proactively identify gaps in information and findings, analyse and evaluate information, develop statistics, and translate into information management products to facilitate decision making and demonstrate performance.
· Shipping Market Analysis, Contracting & Operational Execution - Utilizes market research and analysis to negotiate and conclude large contractual agreements with third parties; manages implementation with commercial actors in a way that mitigates risk, incentivizes optimal performance, ensures close coordination with other actors and achieves defined goals.
· Shipping Performance Monitoring & Quality Control - Develops and enforces standards within own region/ transportation modality that ensure all shipping processes are carried out in accordance with quality standards and minimize losses.
· Specialized Technical Knowledge in Shipping - Demonstrates ability to contribute to advancements in the field of sea-based supply chain management and on-time delivery of shipments to beneficiary regions through effective utilization of WFP’s extensive network of ports, vessels, and service partners.
Organisational Capabilities:
· Purpose – ability to align individual purpose to WFP’s mission.
· People- support our people to be the best equipped to serve our beneficiaries.
· Partnership – lead across boundaries to deliver the best for our beneficiaries.
· Performance – deliver practical, sustainable, solutions to achieve WFP’s mission.
Language:
· Fluency in oral and written English.
· Although intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) is mandatory for fixed-term posts, for some roles exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Desirable Requirements*(scope of requirements will vary by grade level)*:
· Experience in commercial or government transportation sectors.
· Experience in determining with Country Office and other Supply Chain actors best shipping modality/timing and liaising with agents and suppliers to ensure cargo readiness.
· Experience in managing network of freight forwarding and charter protecting agents at load and discharge ports.
· Experience in managing the discharging operations for chartered vessels and the contracting of stevedoring services.
· Experience in negotiating and concluding ocean transportation contractual arrangements with commercial shipping lines and ship owners.
· Experience in supervising professional/national staff.
Terms and Conditions
For fixed-term appointment, 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 about the UN grading system and the compensation package, please visit icsc.un.org
HOW TO APPLY:
ApplicationProcedures:
Go to: http://bit.ly/1xL3edG
Step 1: Click on “Description” to better understand the actual accountabilities and requirements at different levels.
Step 2: Click on “Apply” to create an online CV and answer application questions to submit your application.
Deadline for applications:31 January 2015
