Assistant Executive Director, Programme Operations

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

21 September 2025-23:59-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 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:
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).

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking an Assistant Executive Director (United Nations Assistant Secretary-General level) to serve as a core member of its Senior Leadership Group. This role is pivotal in steering WFP’s global programme operations, encompassing assessment and analysis, programme and policy development, and supply chain operations. The AED plays a crucial role in ensuring that WFP’s actions effectively support people, communities and nations in meeting urgent needs during emergencies, reducing vulnerabilities, and improving food security—while leading efforts to deliver on WFP’s dual mandate of saving lives and changing lives through agile, inclusive, and forward-looking operations.

The AED, Programme Operations will champion initiatives to empower women and youth, support refugees and displaced communities, combat malnutrition, and ensure every hungry child benefits from a nutritious school meal. The AED will also play a critical role in advancing WFP’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, the UN80 reform agenda and ensuring WFP’s leadership in innovation, climate resilience, and localization. The role demands strategic foresight, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to humanitarian principles and sustainable development.

EXPECTED RESPONSIBILITIES- Provide strategic and visionary leadership across WFP’s Programme Operations Department, ensuring alignment with WFP’s mandate and goals, and addressing urgent food security and humanitarian challenges.- Foster and enhance global partnerships focused on empowering women and youth, supporting refugees and displaced populations, combating malnutrition, and ensuring access to school meals for children.- Champion WFP’s contribution to the UN80 Initiative by championing operational efficiency, mandate alignment, and structural reform, ensuring WFP remains a model of innovation and cost-effectiveness within the UN system.- Maintain relations with relevant actors, including other United Nations agencies, entities and bodies, with Member States to ensure coordinated, holistic responses to humanitarian and development needs, positioning WFP actions to complement and enhance broader inter-agency efforts.- Drive the implementation of WFP’s Strategic and Management Plans by enhancing emergency response capabilities, supporting national systems, and fostering a culture of innovation and digital transformation.- Promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering an environment of respect and collaboration across all levels of the organization.- Engage and represent WFP in high level fora (e.g. United Nations, Governments, Executive Board, Humanitarian and Development Communities, etc.), asserting the organization’s position and ensuring that WFP interests are at the forefront of discussions and considerations.- Lead and foster inter-agency partnerships to enable coordinated and holistic preparedness and response to humanitarian and development needs, ensuring WFP actions complement inter-agency efforts.- Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement, setting high standards of integrity and ethical behavior for all staff.- Undertake additional responsibilities as required to support WFP’s mission and the Senior Leadership Group.

CORE REQUIREMENTS

Education:
- Advanced degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in Internat