Programme Policy Officer (Team Leader), Service Contract L8, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.

VACANCY DETAILS

Job Title: Programme Policy Officer (Team Leader)

Grade: Level 8

Type of Contract: Service Contract

Duration: 1 Year (renewable)

Reporting To: Mission Director in the State Rural Livelihood Mission, Uttar Pradesh

Unit: Nutrition & School Feeding Unit

Duty Station: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Date of Publication: 14 June 2024

Deadline of Application: 28 June 2024

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This vacancy is open to Indian National only
This vacancy is open to internal and external candidates.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted
A Written test will be used for Screening Candidates
Only recommended candidates will be retained on roaster for a period of two years and may be considered for similar positions from roaster
The Base Salary for this position is INR 1,30,728/- per month + 8.33% of Base Salary towards Social Security also employee will be covered with medical benefits as per WFP ‘s Plan. All Tax liability for payments from this contract are to be borne by the subscriber.   

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (Not all inclusive) 

The Programme Policy Officer (Team leader), under the direct guidance of the Mission Director at UPSRLM, the overall guidance of the Head of the Nutrition and School Feeding and in close coordination with the Programme Policy Officer (Nutrition) based at the WFP CO, will be responsible for the following:

Support to on-ground implementation of the project:

• Conduct capacity building of the women led microenterprises as well as the SRLM mission staff at all levels on different aspects of seamlessly running the THR production unit.
• Ensure that the THR production units across the State meet the daily and monthly production targets.
• Set up systems and processes for smooth and streamlined functioning of all the THR units in the State.
• Develop the bid documents for State and unit level procurement of the different raw materials for production of take-home rations in collaboration with UPSRLM and follow up with vendors as required.
• Regularly research and analyse operational issues and challenges with respect to the functioning of the THR unit to undertake corrective action and inform/revise policy and processes as appropriate.

Monitoring the project:

• Regularly visit the THR production units across the State to monitor the implementation of the project, identify gaps in implementation at the Unit level and suggest mid-course correction to the unit staff as well as to the UPSRLM district staff . The incumbent is expected to travel about 7-8 days per month.
• Develop and monitor data gathering systems ensuring that rigorous quality standards are maintained.
• Review on a monthly basis the implementation of the project along with the Project Management team, WFP and UPSRLM
• Develop regular reports for the consumption of different stakeholders in UPSRLM on the project status.

Coordination

• Coordinate with government counterparts at both State and district level across DWCD and SRLM as need be to facilitate implementation of the project including follow up for financial receipt submission/reimbursement.
• Liaise with project stakeholders for timely implementation and speedy resolution of issues identified in the projects
• Ensure necessary coordination between UPSRLM, WFP CO, SO, field staff and others for quality implementation of the project.
• Liaise with internal and external counterparts to ensure effective collaboration, monitor ongoing projects and highlight potential risks to project delivery.
• Support the identification, development and management of potential partnerships in discussions with UPSRLM to improve the financial viability of the THR production units.

Staff management

• Provide guidance to the PMU members and field staff responsible for implementing the projects in consultation with the supervisor and assist them with analysis, queries etc.
• Hold regular meetings and/or use other innovative and effective ways to ensure proper information sharing and communication within the team/staff members
•  Meet with staff members under supervision on a regular basis to review progress, provide feedback, support development, provide support and coaching as necessary.

Documentation and knowledge management

• Design knowledge products and training modules for building capacity of the women and SRLM staff engaged in the production of the THR.
• Compile and identify best practices in the implementation of the project in the different production units for wider dissemination
• Assist in the development of information, education and communication material and strategies relevant to the larger project.

Perform other related duties as required. 

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Advanced University degree in Management, Marketing, Economics, Nutrition/Health, Social Sciences or other field relevant to rural development, or First University Degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

EXPERIENCE

1 years of progressively responsible work experience preferably in the development sector. Previous experience of working in partnership with the government/UN agency/INGO or on projects targeted at addressing malnutrition at the community level is desirable.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Has gained experience in implementing technical programs on ground
• Has implemented programmes and provided input into designing operations.
• Has worked closely with government counterparts
• Has led large teams
• Excellent interpersonal skills required, including strong professionally communication ability;
• Advocacy and networking skills with a broad range of stakeholders including government, private sector, civil society, academia, NGO and international cooperation
• Knowledge of research methods with familiarity in quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Advanced computer skills with proficiency in Windows, Microsoft office.
• Knowledge of UN system would be an asset.
• Knowledge of WFP programmes is an advantage
• Ability to handle pressure and in high pressure situations.
• Tact and diplomacy

 CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

• Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of actors from government, private sector and civil society.
• Very strong communications skills, both in writing and speaking
• Solid planning and problem-solving skills and action oriented
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an autonomous manner;
• Maturity, initiative, courtesy, tact and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to handle any other additional tasks as requested by the supervisor.
• Ability to undertake travel within the country.

LANGUAGE

Fluency in spoken and written English and Hindi is a key requirement.

WFP COMMON STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR:

This is a Leading Through Others Level 1 role and following behaviours are expected:

• Leads by Example with Integrity
• Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments
• Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork
• Applies Strategic Thinking
• Builds & Maintain Sustainable Partnerships

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered, interested candidates are invited to apply via (https://www.wfp.org/careers/job-openings). Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The World Food Programme (WFP), operating in India since 1963, aims to provide technical support to strengthening the government’s food safety-nets programmes in order to improve access to nutritious food for millions of vulnerable households throughout the country. Through its Country Strategic Plan (2023-27), WFP India aims to support India in achieving their targets under Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 17. Strategic Outcome (SO) 2 of WFP’s current CSP is aimed at reducing all forms of malnutrition in India,

This primarily translates into WFP working with National and State governments to improve the nutritional status of the population through introduction of nutritionally viable solutions and best practices in existing systems and enhancing the nutritional effectiveness of the three food based safety nets namely the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the PM POSHAN scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. Social behaviour change communications (SBCC) accompanies all activities to help target audiences to know more about the benefits of good nutrition, appropriate child feeding practices and appropriate health and hygiene practices.

WFP Collaboration with the State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) and the Department of Women & Child Development (DWCD) in Uttar Pradesh

Aligned to this overarching vision around improved nutrition, WFP has been working in Uttar Pradesh across several Departments and with various stakeholders including the State Rural Livelihood Mission and the Department of Women & Child Development to ensure the availability and consumption of nutritious, quality assured and safe take home rations through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. Under this project, a total of 204 Supplementary nutrition production units have been set up across the State to cater to ICDS requirements in 43 districts; these units will be run by women led microenterprises. Each unit will produce a variety of different food products for different ICDS beneficiary groups such as children between 6 months to 6 years of age, adolescent girls and pregnant/ lactating women. This model will then be expanded across the State in a phased manner to cover all the districts.

WFP works closely with both SRLM and DWCD for the roll-out of the supplementary nutrition production through a combination of technical assistance and direct support to set up the supplementary nutrition production units.

WFP provides technical assistance at the State level and also to the various units set up across the State, in tandem with the officials of SRLM. WFP technical assistance is focussed primarily on the processes around the production of the supplementary nutrition. WFP also provides technical assistance for monitoring the implementation and production across the units; identifying gaps/ areas for improvement and helping to fill the gaps through proven solutions.

WFP has already set up block level production units in Bighapur, Unnao and Malwa, Fatehpur districts-these fully automated production plants function as Centres of Excellence and are used for training workers from other districts for the scale up of the production units in the remaining districts in the State.

To support the roll out of this alternative model for production of supplementary nutrition, WFP in close collaboration with UPSRLM has set up a Project Management Unit in UPSRLM to efficiently support the implementation of the project. Under the PMU, staff with different skill sets are positioned at various levels and team lead is expected to lead the PMU.

WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment.