Consultant Information Technology

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 4 June 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome) 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 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). JOB TITLE: Project Lead, Telecommunications Security Standards Project {TESS+} TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultant WAE (Level III) UNIT/DIVISION: TESS+/TEC DUTY STATION (City, Country): WFP Rome, Italy (working remotely) DURATION: NTE 31.12.2026 (78 working days) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: Humanitarian workers are increasingly exposed to security risks. The most complex and some of the largest operations are in conflict and insecure areas. Supporting the security and safety of all humanitarian staff (UN and Non-Government Organisations and partners on the ground) is of paramount importance and is a pre-requisite for our presence on the ground. Security Communications Systems (SCS) are an important tool in ensuring staff safety and security. Advances in technology can help provide faster, cheaper and more effective support to humanitarian staff. WFP and partner agencies are implementing a service to re-standardise SCS and define a new model that can be applied globally. This service is called Telecommunications Security Standards – {TESS+}. A Project Lead with deep experience in technology in a humanitarian context is sought to lead {TESS+} service initiatives. The {TESS+} Project Lead is hosted by the WFP Technology Division (TEC), and will establish strong relationships with stakeholders at the field and corporate HQ levels. S/he will follow the leadership of the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) and guidance of the Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) Technology Advisory Group (TAG), under the supervision of the {TESS+} Senior Programme Manager. ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the supervision of the {TESS+} Senior Programme Manager, lead assigned aspects of the {TESS+} service, and maintain accountability for related deliverables, including: 1.Manage {TESS+} deliverables related to the definition of longer term UN security communication standards, including timely delivery of project milestones and final objectives, according to schedule and budget; 2.Collaborate with and manage {TESS+} stakeholders and partners, including WFP, UN Agencies, UN and partners’ networks (IASMN and ETC memberships) and NGOs, ensuring general consensus on strategies, plans, solutions and processes; 3.Establish {TESS+} field pilots for early testing of technologies and processes, building lessons learned directly into the model; 4.Contribute to all aspects of internal and external communications related to {TESS+}; 5.Lead and provide expert advice on the development of {TESS+} strategic work plans, ensuring compliance with wider UN strategies, policies and standards. Participate in the development of regional or global business strategies, ensuring that operational realities of the service, country or region inform planning; 6.Ensure clarity for {TESS+} field security telecommunications investments, both in the interim and in terms of the new solutions; 7.Build and nurture strategic relationships with business leaders within the UN Security Communications Systems, within the framework of {TESS+}, advocate with the business and, if required, with donors for the essential role of Security Telecommunications support; 8.Coordinate population of the SCS Individual Country Scorecard for {TESS+} focus countries; 9.Act as the {TESS+} training focal point, managing the training work plan and coordinating the {TESS+} core team to deliver quality training content for use by stakeholders; 10.If required, contribute to partner activities related to the {TESS+} service. DELIVERABLES {TESS+}: -Continue to work on the roadmap for the longer term SCS standards in line with the vision of the {TESS+} service and relevant stakeholders; -Pilot projects and document lessons learned; -Identify and define specific solutions to utilise in different environments, of varying security and telecommunication complexities and programme sizes; -Provide required inputs to seek approval from necessary inter-agency bodies, partners and stakeholders, and formalisation through UNDSS directives; -Coordinate population of the SCS Individual Country Scorecard by the {TESS+} core team and work with collaborators on the creation of a scorecard database system; -Manage the {TESS+} training work plan, guide the core team on training deliverables, and produce training content. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Education: Advanced University degree in an ICT related subject. Experience: -12+ years’ international experience in UN ICT or UN security at regional / HQ / Field level (combined); -Has participated or provided critical input in emergency missions and designed / provided input on Security and / or Telecommunications Services; -Has led multi-functional and cross-geographic teams and/or projects; -Has gained considerable experience in the operational areas of security/emergecy communications and technologies. Knowledge & Skills: -Has a full understanding of Security and/or Emergency Communications, and supported in the monitoring and evaluation of security/emergency operations activities to assess and inform improvement of activity impact; -Has contributed to the development of global and regional security or ICT operations strategy, and supporting policies and guidance; -Has partnered with colleagues across humanitarian agencies to understand their priorities and provide expert advice; -Has served as an effective spokesperson representing IT interests to other businesses; -Has an understanding of procurement and general resource management rules in the UN. Languages: Fluency (level C) in English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese. 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Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process. 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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