Consultant Engineer

World Food Programme; Roma; In loco; EUR 90.000 - 130.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

World Food Programme in Rome seeks a Civil Engineer specialized in community infrastructure to lead technical advisory for FFA programmes, guiding project management, design, and contract oversight to ensure compliant delivery in humanitarian settings.

You will support engineering strategies, donor-funded projects, and internal initiatives by developing procedures and procurement guidance with the FFA Unit and reporting to the Senior Engineer MSDT.

Competenze

• University Degree in Civil Engineering with postgraduate/master specialization in project management or water infrastructure.
• Eight+ years of relevant civil engineering experience in community infrastructure.
• Knowledge of construction contract formats and contract management.

Mansioni

• Act as primary engineering focal point for assigned COs, providing technical guidance in both emergency and non-emergency settings.
• Develop and present strategic engineering concepts to strengthen CO engineering capacity.
• Coordinate Engineering–Programme Framework across FFA, School Meals and other programme units.
• Support procurement processes and contract management for construction activities in a UN environment.
• Provide technical support to WFP programmes and ensure engineering standards are respected in programming.

Conoscenze

Project management

Water infrastructure design

Contract management

Engineering guidance

Formazione

Civil Engineering degree

Master specialization in project management or water infrastructure

Strumenti

FIDIC contracts

Public procurement procedures

Construction management

Descrizione del lavoro

ABOUT WFP

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.

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.

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 Description

This position is based at WFP Headquarters in Rome, with frequent travel to various WFP operations. It requires a competent civil engineer with project management experience, particularly in community infrastructures.

The Community Infrastructure Engineer (CIE) will report to the Senior Engineer MSDT and a designated supervisor from FFA Unit, supporting and ensuring the effective implementation of engineering best practices, standards, and technologies across Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) activities - formerly known as Food Assistance for Assets (FFA). The role may also extend to other areas such as School Meals, Nutrition, Smallholder Agricultural Market Support (SAMS), Climate initiatives, or any activities requiring specific engineering services or construction expertise.

The engineer shall be able to demonstrate strong competence and progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following areas: project management, water infrastructure design and construction, and planning and programming engineering projects with community-based interventions. Experience as a project manager focused on infrastructure design and construction is essential.

The engineer should also have experience in construction contract management, including knowledge of international construction contract law and familiarity with FIDIC or related contract formats.

Key responsibilities include providing technical advice to the FFA Unit for developing operational procedures, technical steps, and processes for a range of FFA programmes that require engineering support. Additionally, the engineer will support WFP Engineering in developing contractual strategies, offering expertise and guidance on engineering design and review, project management, construction procurement processes, and contract management for construction activities. The role also involves supporting public procurement contracts in a UN environment and providing technical support to WFP programmes.

ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

TECHNICAL ADVISORY ROLE (TA)

Act as the primary engineering focal point for assigned COs, providing technical guidance and proactive support in both emergency and non-emergency settings, ensuring preparedness, and supporting effective response. Assist COs in decision-making, anticipate their needs, and align efforts with WFP’s infrastructure and construction strategies. Maintain regular engagement with COs, ensuring updates, documentation, and reporting are systematically captured.

Expected KPI

• Advice on contracting strategies, review of design/tender documents prepared by CO, optimization of design solutions
• Support for tender evaluations
• Guidance on project management, works supervision and contract management (claims, suspensions, terminations, determinations, etc.)
• Maintain project records (project files, global engineers list, activity trackers).
• Anticipate CO needs and support decision making to ensure preparedness and effective response.

STRATEGIC GUIDANCE AND CAPACITY STRENGTHENING

Provide strategic engineering guidance to WFP offices by developing and presenting innovative concepts to countries and project challenges. Support integration of engineering into CSPs and funding opportunities, including IFIs. Strengthen CO engineering capacity by aligning activities with WFP’s strategic goals, standards, and processes, and by promoting sustainable, effective engineering practices.

Expected KPI

• Preparation of project proposal for donors and partners (concept solution, budget, timing, etc.)
• Support to COs for internal funding opportunities such as CBF, EEP and similar (request + reporting) or from private sector, standby partners, etc.
• Support for the use of global LTA (SoW, negotiation, work order, etc.)
• Strategic Advice to strengthen CO Engineering teams (structure, roles, TORs, etc.) and support on the recruitment process

PROGRAMME/ENGINEERING COORDINATION

Establish and coordinate an Engineering - Programme Framework for the implementation of programme activities with engineering elements.

Expected KPI

• Design an integrated Engineering–Programme Framework for coordination across key programme areas, including FFA, School Meals, Post-Harvest, and other key programmes units.
• Draft and support on the development of framework technical documents, such as guidance, SoP, directive, etc. and guaranteeing their regular updates (e.i. the ERM-P tables).

CAPACITY STRENGTHENING (under FFA Units)

Develop and update guidance across different mediums and capacity strengthening and advocacy for Global HQ and COs staff.

Expected KPI

• Development of guidance material on how programme and engineering staff work together on FFA programmes both in terms of CO structures and processes for design, planning, implementation and monitoring, ensuring that engineering standards are respected in programme, and that engineering interventions abide to programming principles and procedures.
• One-to-one or group FFA and Engineering Trainings, Workshops, Webinars, or consultations organized on technical aspects, technologies and best practices on how programme and engineering work together.
• Contribute to develop strategic and communication materials on linkage between engineering and programmes.

FFA SUPPORT (under FFA Unit)

Direct support to Global HQ and COs on engineering aspects of Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) activities, based on ROs and COs requests and following prioritization process

Expected KPI

• ROs and COs are supported on engineering aspects linked to the roll‑out and implementation of FFA activities, as requested.
• ROs and COs are supported on FFA asset selection process, budget development and asset technical specifications as requested.
• FFA good practices and advice are shared with ROs and COs to fit Regional and country‑specific requirements.
• Establishment of a direct line of consultation with HQ Global Engineers to keep track of FFA assets that require engineering support and act upon them.

PARTNERSHIPS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND VISIBILITY

Strengthen WFP’s partnership, engagement, and communication by providing clear engineering inputs that enhance donor visibility and support operations. Produce strategic content - technical data, success stories, digital platform content - showcasing how engineering drives efficiency, wellbeing and community impact, ensuring coherent messaging. Coordinate with COM, Programme and Partnership to ensure coherent message on engineering works.

Expected KPI

• Quality and timeliness of engineering inputs for donor materials.
• Number and quality of visibility products developed or supported, and of inputs into the digital platform.
• Increased recognition of engineering contributions in CO/RO/GHQ communications.

Any other duties assigned as per requirement by the supervisor/s.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education

• University Degree in Civil Engineering with a post-graduate or master’s degree specialization in project management or water infrastructure.

Experience

• Eight or more years of relevant civil engineering experience at increasing levels of responsibilities in community infrastructure

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge and/or experience in engineering design.
• Good knowledge of public procurement procedures as well as international contract formats and construction management procedures.
• Experience working within the humanitarian community and in field conditions.
• Experience with community-based participatory practices and product asset programmes.
• Detailed knowledge of construction contract formats and contract management obligations.

Languages

Professional fluency (proficiency/level C) of English. Knowledge of additional UN languages (French, Arabic, Spanish or Portuguese) are an additional advantage.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

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

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.

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.