Vacancy title:
Senior Technical Advisor – Food Assistance and UN Grants Operations

[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Business Management and Administration, Category: Management]

Jobs at:
World Vision

Deadline of this Job:
Friday, May 2 2025

Duty Station:
Uganda | Uganda | Uganda

Summary
Date Posted: Friday, April 18 2025, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

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JOB DETAILS:

The Senior Technical Adviser – Food Assistance and UN Grants Operations is further expected to provide technical, macro-level thought-leadership on Emergency Response, Talent Management, Sustainable Livelihood Programming and Capacity Building in all areas of food assistance programming (including Local and Regional commodities Procurement), and UN grants management. This position requires leveraging WV’s influence and excellence in programming to advocate for increased assistance to the needy; and focuses on substantive donor engagement in close collaboration with Support Offices, DM Resource Development, SME’s and other regional sector staff (e.g. HEA, Food Security & Livelihoods, Nutrition, WASH, Children in Emergencies, Protection, etc.)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

FOOD ASSISTANCE AND UN GRANTS OVERSIGHT AND TECHNICAL GUIDANCE 40%

Activities

• Support field offices in developing proposals and securing funding from donors for food, cash and market assistance programs.
• Establish and maintain high standards of performance for food assistance and UN grants within geographical area of responsibility.
• Support in the development of tools, templates, and policies to improve the quality and efficiency of food assistance and UN grants implementation. Implement capacity-building initiatives to enhance the skills and capabilities of staff involved in food assistance and UN grants management and implementation.
• Provide training and support to ensure staff are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality programs.
• Identify expertise in the areas of food assistance and UN grants for inclusion in emergency response roster.
• Provide leadership and guidance needed by Field and Support Offices in the close-out processes for food assistance and UN projects within the stipulated 90 days.

End Results

• Detailed reports on the implementation of food, cash and market assistance programs, highlighting achievements and areas for improvement.
• Field Offices align its program delivery with donor, industry and WV standards resulting in food assistance and UN grants operational excellence
• Created and distributed comprehensive toolkits and manuals for food assistance and UN grants management
• Developed and delivered training programs for staff on food assistance and UN grants best practices and compliance requirements.
• Organized capacity-building workshops and seminars to enhance staff skills and knowledge.
• Healthy talent pool in place that support food assistance and UN Grants with speed and integrity.
• Completed projects are closed within the stipulated 90 days allowing more match funds to be available for the next projects and improved financial management for each FO.

RISKS OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT 40%

Activities

• Provide oversight and guidance to WV Field offices that ensures they have the appropriate capability to effectively secure food assistance resources; and to successfully implement high quality programmes which meet programme objectives with fiscal accountability.
• Ensure that all food assistance programmes and UN Grants comply with Partnership food assistance and grants management standards/procedures, respectively.
• Develop and enforce standard operating procedures to maintain high performance and accountability across food assistance and UN grants portfolios Coordinate with regional audit teams for efficient audit planning, country risks classification and information sharing.
• Conduct monthly incidents analysis of field offices to observe trends, determine risks levels and recommend sustainable mitigation actions.
• Address any issues identified during audits and implement corrective actions to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
• In collaboration with MEAL and FO leadership, ensure a robust community complaints and feedback system that informs ongoing programming modification and proactive addressing of potential risks/existing risks.

End Results

• Efficient resource management ensured and high risks areas within food assistance identified and well managed
• Partnership standards on grants management and food assistance programming met. Risk mitigation strategies are in place and regularly updated to address emerging challenges.
• Updated and enforced manuals, guidelines, SOPs for food assistance and UN grants, ensuring consistency and quality across all operations.
• Systematic and scheduled audits conducted and consensus on country risks classification
• Liabilities minimized, organizational reputation maintained and trusts built
• Food assistance and UN grants implemented in compliance with WV Partnership and donor standards.
• Robust/Fit for purpose community complaints and feedback system in place.

Coordination and Representation 10%  

• External coordination and strategic meetings with donors and partners.
• Actively represent WVI in external coordination structures such as clusters and working groups related to food assistance. Represent WVI in all technical conversations within your region of responsibility as it related to food assistance and UN grants operations.
• Advocate for WVI’s priorities and programs, ensuring that the organization’s contributions and needs are well-communicated and understood.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors and partners to secure funding and support for WVI’s initiatives.

End Results       

• WVI visibility, organizational competencies and thought leadership ensured
• Secured funding agreements and partnerships resulting from successful advocacy and representation efforts.
• Developed and implemented plans for engaging with key stakeholders to support WVI’s programs.

Build and maintain strategic engagements with FO and RO teams.

• Maintain regular and strategic engagements with Field and Regional Office teams, including SLT, Senior Directors of Operations, Regional Humanitarian Emergency Affairs Directors, Resource acquisition Director and Response Directors.
• Strengthen an effective working relationship between you and the WVUS Food Security & Livelihood and Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs teams, respectively, in managing US government funded grants (USDA, RFSA, BHA, etc.) by participating and contributing in core team meetings for effective grants implementation.
• Establish effective working relationship and coordination mechanism with other GCDM and GPR sector specialists that ensures well integrated programming of food assistance, resilience & livelihood in emergencies and other sectors

End Results

• Effective and collaborative engagement maintained with Regional and Field Office Teams that enhances Food Assistance Programming Support and swift resolution of emerging issues
• Healthy relationships maintained with the WV US colleagues and emerging issues addressed in a timely manner leading to growth of food assistance and livelihood grants
• Food Assistance, Resilience and Emergency Livelihoods Programming are well integrated with other sectors across humanitarian and development landscape.

Food Assistance Thought Leadership 10%

• Serve as lead resource person within your geographical areas of responsibility to provide food assistance thought leadership and technical guidance to Field and Regional Offices, respectively.
• Act the custodian and resource person for the interpretation and operationalization of the WVI partnership food assistance manual series and all relevant guidance documents on the implementation of food assistance and un grants operations management.

End Results

• Good representation of food assistance and UN Grants management issues at regional level
• Strong utilization and proper interpretation of guidance documents.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

• Required Education, training, license, registration, and/or Certification
• Bachelor degree required in the field of Project Management, Business, Operations Management, Food Sec & Livelihood, Economics or equivalent; Masters Degree in the same disciplines above is an advantage.
• 10 years experience in humanitarian work (5 of which must be in food and cash assistance management) as a manager or adviser in a country office food programming unit.
• Familiarity with both relief and development settings is a requirement.
• Formal training and specialist knowledge in Food Assistance, Cash Based Transfers, and other UN agencies partnerships related systems and procedures strongly preferred - strong knowledge of major food assistance/cash assistance donors and regulations ( WFP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNOCHA, UNDP, FAO, USDA, EC, ECHO etc).
• Training in community mobilization, Train of Trainers/ facilitators preferred
• Ability to analyze and express ideas in a sensitive manner within the context of a humanitarian approach and must have excellent presentation skills.
• Candidates must have knowledge of emergency response guidelines and the various categories/levels classification

Required Professional Experience          

• At least 10 years of experience in humanitarian work, with a minimum of 5 years in project management, technical advisory services, grant management, program design, donor relations and related fields
• Must have at least 5 years or more management role in food assistance/cash assistance/UN partnerships
• Proven track record in coordinating medium to large scale country operation.
• Extensive experience in engaging with donors, governments, and stakeholders.
• Track record of strong and positive relationships with significant food assistance stakeholders (i.e. WFP, UN agencies, NGOs and major donors).

Sector Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of food assistance and UN grants programming in humanitarian and development settings.
• Experience in related sectors such as Health and Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihood, Child protection and Education.

Stakeholder Relationships

• Established strong and positive relationships with significant humanitarian assistance stakeholders, including major food, cash and market assistance grant donors.
• Proven ability to engage and collaborate effectively with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.

Regulatory Knowledge

• Thorough understanding of the regulatory environment and compliance requirements for food assistance programs.

Humanitarian Industry Standards

• Good understanding of humanitarian industry standards, procedures, technical approaches, thematic priorities, and funding mechanisms.

Financial Management

• Experience in budget development and management, ensuring financial accountability and cost-effectiveness.

Professional Maturity

• Professional maturity and the ability to provide counsel and expertise to Field and Regional Offices professionals.

Required Language(s)   

English Communication

• Excellent spoken and written English communication skills.
• Ability to effectively convey complex information in both verbal and written forms.

Additional Languages

• Knowledge of an additional international language (French, Spanish, and/or Portuguese) is highly preferred.
• Proficiency in multiple languages enhances the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and operate in various international contexts.
• Required travel and/or work environment accommodations
• The role requires at least 60% travel, including travel to fragile contexts and countries.
• The candidate must be willing and able to travel frequently to support regional and field offices, including in high-insecurity environments.

Position’s physical requirements            

• Must be able to pass Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT).
• Ability to able to work in remote and fragile context will limit amenities

Preferred Experience, Knowledge and/or other Qualifications

• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the donors and governments.
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage and collaborate with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills to handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality results with minimal supervision.
• Self-motivated and proactive in addressing challenges and achieving objectives.
• High level of cross-cultural sensitivity and awareness.
• Ability to work effectively in diverse cultural contexts and adapt to different cultural norms and practices.
• Strong mentoring and capacity-building skills to support the development of FO teams and partners.
• Ability to provide guidance, training, and support to enhance the skills and capabilities of others.
• Good analytical skills to assess complex situations and develop effective solutions.
• Strong writing skills to communicate clearly and effectively in both verbal and written forms.
• Proficiency in MS applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and a good knowledge of digital collaborative platforms.
• Ability to use technology effectively to enhance productivity and communication.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 120

Level of Education: bachelor degree

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