Data Engineering Head

World Food Programme; Roma; In loco; EUR 80.000 - 100.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

A global humanitarian organization in Rome is seeking a Data Engineering Head to lead the design and optimization of data architectures. You will manage complex data engineering solutions while ensuring compliance with governance and protection standards. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in data engineering, strong Python skills, and expertise in cloud platforms. This full-time position offers competitive compensation in a multicultural and inclusive environment.

Servizi

Attractive compensation package

Training and professional development

Inclusive work environment

Competenze

• 10-12 years of experience in data engineering and management.
• 5 years of project-based experience with data processing frameworks.
• Strong Python programming abilities.

Mansioni

• Lead the building and management of data architectures.
• Implement and maintain complex data engineering solutions.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop implementation roadmaps.

Conoscenze

Python programming

Data management

Team management

Cloud platforms

Data pipeline architecture

DataOps automation

Formazione

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent)

Strumenti

AWS

Docker

PowerBI

Descrizione del lavoro

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

17 November 2025-23 : 59-GMT01 : 00 Central European Time (Rome)

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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, ethnicity 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: 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 and professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship and other programmes 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

Data Engineering Head

TYPE OF CONTRACT

CST Level 2

UNIT / DIVISION

TECX

DUTY STATION

WFP HQ, Rome, Italy

DURATION

3 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. WFP Technology Division (TEC) is the digital business engine of the World Food Programme providing the business with multi‑pronged and resilient technical capabilities able to respond with the agility required in humanitarian operations, be they manmade or in a natural disaster setting. The TEC Division continues to increase its activities to meet the constantly growing demand from the organization and implement the initiatives related to digital transformation.

Under the WFP Global Data Strategy a key pillar for implementation is effective data management. WFP is seeking a senior Data Engineer to lead the building, management and optimisation of data architectures and services to support the production of analytics, use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) tools and algorithms in compliance with data governance, protection, privacy and security requirements. The Data Engineering Lead will actively work with data analysts, data scientists and architects (enterprise data integration and application architects) to ensure the platforms and tools are fit for purpose.

Under the supervision of the Chief Data Officer the Data Engineering Lead will be a key team member in leading the design, implementation, operation and optimisation of data engineering services to support initiatives.

ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify critical data extraction, transformation and loading requirements for enterprise and local solutions.
• Validate technical designs and provide technical recommendations on the options available.
• Implement and maintain complex data engineering solutions to acquire and prepare data. Create and maintain data pipelines to connect data within and between data stores, applications and organisations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including Business Analytics and Design teams, to develop implementation roadmaps to address data‑related technical problems and meet their data infrastructure needs.
• Develop roadmaps for the development and implementation of data engineering tools to assist analytics and data scientist team members in building and optimising products.
• Utilise next‑generation AI tools to support data infrastructure as code with the aim to reduce vendor costs.
• Support data scientists and data analysts in understanding data features and testing use‑cases of data features in analytical environments.
• Collaborate with key organisation stakeholders to ensure compliance with data governance, protection, privacy and security requirements across systems and architectures.
• Support projects validating the design artefacts, applying data engineering best practices and standards, estimating effort and budget for engineering resources. Provide oversight and quality control on project deliverables from data engineers.
• Develop and implement onboarding programme for new data engineers joining WFP.
• Develop and monitor performance metrics for projects and the engineering team.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

• Implement an enterprise data engineering framework for WFP which will be used by all WFP data engineers for engineering activities (including performance metrics and DataOps practice).
• Implement an annual and 3‑year workplan for the data engineering services team.
• Validation and inputs on data engineering artefacts from TEC Division processes.
• Continuous improvement of the Modern Data Platform and data ecosystem.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders and other partners to ensure best practices for data engineering are fostered and followed.
• Align with GDO and other TEC teams to ensure requirements are met and aligned to enterprise data architecture and strategies.
• Co‑achieve data engineering team, recruit resources as needed.
• Implement the Humbot platform and use of AI bots.
• Promote a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and respect.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, statistics, applied mathematics, data management, information systems, information science or a related quantitative field. A first‑level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• 10‑12 years of progressively responsible experience in data engineering, management, integration, modelling, optimisation and other relevant areas.
• A minimum of 5 years hands‑on, project‑based experience with one or more higher‑level Python or Java‑based data processing frameworks such as Beam, Dataflow, Glue, Scalding, Storm, Spark etc.
• A minimum of 5 years hands‑on project experience in designing data integration and pipeline architectures (including ingesting data through methods such as message queues, database connections, flat files, REST or specific APIs).
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in leading, managing and coaching small teams of data engineers deployed on multiple projects.
• Strong Python programming abilities and experience working with data containerisation, orchestration and workflow technologies such as Docker, Luigi, Airflow or similar tools.
• A minimum of 3 years of hands‑on experience with practices and techniques for building data pipelines for large‑scale generative models (including cleaning, filtering, classifying and labelling).
• Familiarity with concepts of bias and fairness (identifying, assessing and minimising harmful biases, discrimination and unfair outcomes in algorithmic systems and data) is particularly desirable.
• A minimum of 3 years of hands‑on experience automating DataOps tool chains.
• Cloud platform experience: Palantir, AWS, Azure, GCP.
• Experience with database programming languages (SQL etc.) is required.
• Experience working with analytics applications like Microsoft PowerBI, Tableau, Qlik, AWS Quicksight and others for data discovery.
• Experience working in cross‑functional teams and collaborating with stakeholders in support of analytics initiatives is required.

Highly Desirable

• Understanding of Source‑to‑Target Mapping (STTM) documents containing data structures, business and data transformation logic.
• Understanding of data structures and data modelling (dimensional & relational) concepts such as Star schema or Fact & Dimension tables to design and develop ETL patterns/mechanisms to ingest, analyse, validate, normalise and cleanse data.
• Knowledge or experience of DataVault (DV2).

Languages

• Fluency (level C) in English.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish and/or WFP’s working language Portuguese.

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:

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides 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.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).

Once your profile is completed please apply and submit your application.

Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language.

Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates etc. may potentially be requested at a future time.

Please contact us in case you face any challenges with submitting your application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organisational 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.

Key Skills

• React Native, AI, Enterprise Software, React, Node.js, Redis, AWS, Software Development, iOS, Team Management, Product Development, Mobile Applications

Employment Type

Full‑Time

Experience

Years

Vacancy

1