Director, Technology

Organizational context: The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, dedicated to saving lives and building a pathway to peace and prosperity. Operating in over 85 countries, WFP manages one of the most complex global IT environments, delivering essential technology services from conflict zones to remote field locations. This role is crucial for maintaining the operational backbone of WFP's digital capabilities.

Job purpose: The Director, Technology Operations, D2, is accountable for ensuring the reliability, security, and operational excellence of WFP's global technology infrastructure and services. This senior leadership role is the operational backbone of WFP's digital capabilities, ensuring critical systems are available, secure, compliant, and performant 24/7/365. The primary objective is to deliver reliable, secure, and cost-effective global technology operations that enable WFP staff to work seamlessly across geographies and emergency contexts, with zero tolerance for major security breaches or prolonged system outages affecting humanitarian operations. The role involves overseeing global IT operations, cybersecurity, risk management, business continuity, enterprise architecture, and financial management of the technology budget, while leading a large, distributed team and fostering a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:
The Director of Technology Operations is responsible for ensuring the reliability, security, and operational excellence of the World Food Programme's (WFP) global technology infrastructure and services. This role acts as the operational backbone for WFP's digital capabilities, ensuring critical systems are available, secure, and performant 24/7/365. Key accountabilities include overseeing end-to-end IT service delivery, managing global IT infrastructure (data centers, cloud, networks), and leading IT service management functions to achieve high user satisfaction. A significant focus is placed on cybersecurity, risk management, and compliance, establishing a comprehensive program to protect WFP systems and data from evolving threats and ensuring adherence to UN cybersecurity frameworks. The role also involves designing and maintaining business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities to ensure operational continuity during crises. Furthermore, the Director oversees enterprise architecture, platform management, and technology portfolio and financial management, including a budget of approximately $82 million. This leadership position requires managing a large, globally distributed team, fostering a culture of operational excellence, and developing technical capabilities within the team. Success is measured by system uptime, security posture, user satisfaction, cost efficiency, and business continuity.

Education:
An advanced university degree in computer science, IT, engineering, or a related technical field is required. Alternatively, a first university degree combined with significant relevant experience and professional certifications may be considered.

Work

experience:
Requires a minimum of 15 years of progressive senior experience in IT operations, infrastructure management, or technology service delivery. This must include at least 5 years in a director or senior management role.

Skills:
IT Operations, Service Delivery, Infrastructure Management, Cybersecurity, Risk Management, Compliance, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Enterprise Architecture, Platform Management, Technology Portfolio, Financial Management, Team Leadership, Vendor Management, IT Service Management, Cloud Services, Networking, Telecommunications, End-User Computing, Threat Detection, Vulnerability Management, Incident Response, Data Protection, Security Audits, Data Backup, System Integration, Budget Management, Procurement, Talent Development, Automation, UN Cybersecurity Frameworks, ITSM Frameworks, Crisis Management, Stakeholder Management, Service Orientation, Technical Credibility, Operational Excellence, Risk Awareness, Integrity, Professionalism

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

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