Director, Private Sector Partnerships

Organizational context: The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building peace through food assistance. The Partnerships and Innovation (PI) Department spearheads WFP's external engagement, focusing on resource mobilization, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. Within PI, the Private Sector Partnerships (PSP) Division leads global engagement with corporations, foundations, and individuals to achieve Zero Hunger.

Job purpose: The Director, Private Sector Partnerships (Chief Fundraising Officer) provides strategic leadership for WFP's global private-sector engagement. This role is pivotal in driving partnership growth, resource mobilization, and innovation to achieve WFP's mission and ambitious goal of US$1 billion in private sector income annually by 2030. The Director will strengthen WFP's private-sector ecosystem, positioning the organization as a partner of choice for companies, foundations, philanthropists, and individuals.

Key responsibilities
include developing and implementing the global private-sector partnerships strategy, managing a diverse portfolio of fundraising and partnership channels, and representing WFP in high-level forums. This position is crucial for enhancing WFP's reputation, expanding revenue streams, and securing the resources and capabilities needed to support WFP's strategic objectives worldwide.

Responsibilities:
The role involves leading the development and execution of WFP's global private-sector partnerships strategy, aligning it with organizational objectives. This includes providing strategic oversight for the entire private-sector engagement portfolio, aiming for sustainable income growth, enhanced partner value, and diversification across various funding streams like corporate partnerships, foundations, and individual giving. A key responsibility is monitoring global trends in philanthropy and fundraising to identify market opportunities and risks, offering strategic insights to senior management to bolster WFP's competitiveness and long-term growth. The position drives the expansion of existing markets and the creation of new partnership opportunities and funding models to diversify WFP's resource base. It also involves championing the business case for strategic investment in private-sector engagement, ensuring adequate allocation of resources, capabilities, and technology to meet income growth targets and enhance organizational effectiveness. Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including senior executives and philanthropic leaders, is crucial for positioning WFP as a partner of choice. The role also entails leading innovative partnership approaches, blended finance solutions, and managing high-value partnerships, ensuring effective stewardship, governance, and risk management. Furthermore, it requires representing WFP in high-level external forums, advising senior leadership, and fostering collaboration across different WFP offices to ensure a coordinated global approach to private-sector engagement. Finally, the role encompasses overseeing divisional performance, financial management, risk mitigation, and fostering a culture of innovation, performance, and inclusivity within the team.

Education:
An advanced university degree in Economics, International Development, Social or Political Sciences, Marketing Communications, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first university degree combined with significant relevant experience and/or advanced training courses may be considered.

Work

experience:
Requires at least fifteen years of senior-level experience, including six years internationally, in a relevant field. Proven success in managing global private-sector partnerships is essential, covering fundraising, brand building, capacity building, and network management. Experience leading large, multicultural teams and demonstrating excellent commercial acumen and financial management skills are also key. The role demands a track record of influencing at the highest levels and the ability to analyze complex issues to develop strategies. A strong understanding of business principles and processes is necessary, along with the capacity to quickly learn UN/WFP specific systems.

Skills:
Private Sector Engagement, Partnership Development, Resource Mobilization, Fundraising, Strategy Development, Relationship Management, Financial Management, Team Leadership, Advocacy, Innovation Management, Business Development, Stakeholder Engagement, Performance Management, Risk Management, Cross-cultural Team Leadership

Required languages: English

Desired languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, English