Business innovation manager - VA 831464

World Food Programme; Roma; On-site; EUR 100,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

The World Food Programme seeks a Senior Business Innovation Manager to lead BIU/UN Advisory Alliance projects from scoping to delivery. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, support leadership on priority initiatives, and drive strategic change across the UN system.

Required are 7+ years in management consulting or innovative finance, strong analytical skills, and experience with complex stakeholder engagement. Rome/Italy and Munich/Germany based with a 6–11 month contract.

Qualifications

• Degree in business, economics or engineering.
• At least 7 years in management consulting or innovative finance.
• Strong analytical and data analysis skills.
• Experience with cross-functional stakeholder engagement.
• Excellent time management and ability to juggle priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of BIU/UNAA projects from scoping to implementation.
• Support senior leadership in prioritizing organizational initiatives.
• Guide cross-functional discussions on objectives, timelines and outputs.
• Contribute to UN Reform/UN80 implementation and inter-agency work.
• Mentor juniors and manage knowledge-sharing across teams.

Skills

English (fluent)

Strategic thinking

Analytical ability

Process optimization

Stakeholder management

Time management

Self-motivation

Commitment

Excel advanced

Education

Degree in business/economics/engineering

Tools

Excel

Job description

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

14 January 2027-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

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 extreme weather shocks.

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:

Business Innovation Manager

DUTY STATION (City, Country):

Rome, Italy/Munich, Germany

DURATION:

6-11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Over the past years the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has responded to an unprecedented level of emergencies, while maintaining ongoing operations. This increased demand stretches the organization which means WFP has to find new approaches and ways of working to ensure we are channeling every available resource to the people we serve.

The Business Innovation Unit (BIU)/UN Advisory Alliance (UNAA) was established in 2015 to manage change and to promote innovation as part of WFP’s Innovation division:

• BIU/UNAA acts as the “management consulting arm” of WFP
• BIU/UNAA is composed of staff with top-tier management consulting backgrounds as well as UN experience

We execute projects on behalf of Executive Directors, Assistant Secretary Generals, and Directors across the UN system, and have become a trusted advisor to WFP and other entities (e.g. UN Women, UNFPA, UN Secretariat,..). Our focus is on end-to-end solutions, including problem assessment, data analysis, operational model design, change plan and implementation monitoring.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Execution of Business Innovation projects Overall BIU/UNAA priorities Other activities

DELIVERABLES:

Depending on time of joining, the candidate’s specific experience and current corporate priorities, the candidate will be responsible for the full delivery of a project work stream or a small project. Examples of specific deliverables are:

• WFP/UN System Senior Leadership Support

  • Support senior leadership on prioritization of key organizational initiatives
  • Guide cross-functional discussions to align on objectives, activities, timelines and outputs
  • Guide analytical and project management support
  • Act as an advisory to the initiative sponsor and driving implementation

• UN Reform/UN80: Guide UN Reform/UN80 implementation and be part of an inter‑agency project team

  • Support delivery of key interagency UN Reform initiatives (e.g., Business Operations Strategy, Common Back Office, Global Shared Services), engaging with entity and Secretariat stakeholders as required
  • Perform key data analyses to drive high-priority UN80 work packages (e.g., UNCT reconfiguration, entity merger assessments, etc.)
  • Contribute to the communication efforts on UN Reform/UN80

• Additional BIU/UNAA needs

  • Support knowledge management reviews and best practices sharing
  • Guide and supervise more junior staff, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with more complex analysis and queries
  • Additional project support based on pipeline and new projects contracted during time of contract, as required

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Preference for a degree in business, economics or engineering

Experience:

About 7 years of progressively responsible national and/or international experience in a business or international relations related position. At least 7 years experience in management consulting or innovative finance required. Additional work experience desirable.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Ability to contribute to developing new strategies and innovative projects
• Good analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative: ability to perform advanced analysis in excel and produce high-quality written materials, including powerpoint presentations as well as text documents;
• Experience with optimization processes (e.g. optimization of strategic planning, sourcing, logistics, finance processes, performance management, etc.)
• Collaborative spirit to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures, with credibility and diplomacy;
• Time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles, and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully, and to work on tight deadlines;
• Self-motivated and able to work with a certain degree of autonomy and/ or in team;
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.

Languages:

In addition to a high proficiency in written and spoken English, knowledge of a second UN language is a plus.

Visa:

WFP supports Visa applications and the position is based in Rome, Italy.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

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: [e-mail]

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.

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.