About this role
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
9 February 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Berlin)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, ethnic 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: https://www.wfp.org and 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 & 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).
JOB TITLE: Innovation Community Manager
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultancy
UNIT/DIVISION: WFP Innovation Accelerator (INNA)
DUTY STATION (City, Country): WFP Munich, Germany
DURATION: 6 months
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 100 million people every day - delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.
The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as Most Innovative Non-Profit Organization 2021 for its work in identifying, nurturing, and scaling disruptive start-ups and innovations to end global hunger. Based in Munich, Germany, the Innovation Accelerator provides WFP employees and start-ups with funding, hands-on support, and access to WFP’s global operations. Through the Accelerator, WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation - such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence, and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2023, Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 60.7 million people globally. Most recently, the Accelerator runs programs for external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.
More information here: http://innovation.wfp.org and https://youtu.be/OnKkQlRdh2c
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The incumbent will report to the Head of Innovation Network and is expected to:
Design and implement a strategy to build, grow and sustain a long-term, thriving, and active innovation community:Design and implement guidelines and best practices for the community to optimize member experience;
Support the development of the innovation project a communications tool kit and collection of base documents for process-standardization and best practice creation and sharing;
Design communication tools and assets to support the innovation community;
Define roles, responsibilities, and categories of innovation champions;
Develop systems to actively engage champions into innovation processes, such as project support, mentorship, facilitation of relevant workshops and exchange with the wider WFP innovation network;
Create training to help innovation champions to build relationships that nurture the development of the community and its members;
Conceptualize, develop, and implement the Regional innovation Hubs and Country Office innovation units together with WFP Regional Bureaus, Country Offices and other stakeholders.
Coordinate and engage the Innovation Community and act as the knowledge management focal point for Innovation Community:Manage and run WFP Innovation Champions Community;
Plan and manage in person and virtual events, meetings and engagements for Innovation Community;
Help Country Offices foster innovation, integrate new methodologies, and engage local innovation eco-system;
Organize, monitor, and grow innovation community database;
Attract high-potential social innovations from within WFP and external networks through events and workshops;
Spread knowledge on existing innovations, help enable exchange between regions, country offices, HQ functions and with the external innovation eco-system;
Prepare input, talking points, briefings, PowerPoint presentations and reports for management, inter-agency opportunities and donor-related activities;
Build and maintain effective relationships at HQ, Regional Bureau, Liaison Offices and Country Office level and participate in meetings, as needed;
Assist with project reporting requirements and information management between the Accelerator, project leads and external parties.
Support the overall Innovation Accelerator operations:
Provide analysis & content preparation (data on projects, PowerPoint presentations, briefs, etc.) for corporate priority topics and executive management meetings;
Participate and carry out discussions with colleagues in other divisions or external stakeholders on topics related to innovation;
Support other core processes of the Innovation Accelerator (e.g. innovation sourcing; innovation bootcamps; sprint programme; thought leadership; scale-up enablement; innovation services; knowledge management) as required;
Support the Head of the Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management with any other activities as required.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
- WFP Innovation Champions Community strategy designed and updated.
- Calendar of Community engagement activities put into action.
- Database of Champions including innovation engagement opportunities kept up to date.
- Ensure that all work and materials developed during the contract are well documented. and available to the WFP Innovation Accelerator team.
- Effective support of operations of the Innovation Accelerator.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education
Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree is a plus.
Experience
At least 3 years of progressively responsible national and/or international experience in fundraising, partnerships, communications, reporting and/or business-related positions. Experience in innovation and change management is beneficial.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Experience in relationship management within a global organization required.
- Strong communication skills and experience with managing and engaging in a community.
- Experience and talent in facilitation and organization of meetings, events, and workshops.
- Strong conceptual thinking to develop new business strategies and coordinate projects.
- Ability to produce high-quality written materials, including graphically based PowerPoint presentations as well as text documents.
- Ability to interact with leaders and external audiences with maturity and tact.
- Collaborative spirit able to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy.
- Strong time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles, and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully, and to work to tight deadlines.
- Excellent problem-solver, follow-through skills and sense of accountability and process ownership.
- Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
- Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.
- Willing to work in and travel to different field locations and challenging
operating environments.
Languages
Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or
Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) is considered advantageous.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework
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: [email protected]
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
All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs or spontaneous applications by email.
If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at [email protected] for technical support only.
Please note that applications sent to this email address cannot be considered.
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.
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
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational 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.
Other facts
About World Food Programme
WFP is a first responder to emergencies caused by conflict and disasters. We provide food, cash and other assistance to millions of people left in urgent need and at risk of going hungry.
What you'll do
- The Innovation Community Manager will design and implement strategies to build and sustain an innovation community, manage engagement activities, and support the overall operations of the WFP Innovation Accelerator. Responsibilities include developing communication tools, organizing events, and fostering relationships within the community.
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