Programme Policy Officer (HoSO)
Type of Vacancy: Expired Notices
Details of the Post
JOB PURPOSE:
In this context, WFP’s MCO is seeking a Programme Policy Officer (PPO) to advance its technical assistance efforts aligned with Saint Lucia’s national priorities. The PPO will lead the development and management of programmes and partnerships, focusing on strengthening social protection systems, enhancing emergency preparedness and response and building long-term resilience. Key responsibilities include setting priorities, developing and monitoring workplans, coordinating technical support, managing risks, fostering collaboration across functional teams, and engaging with partners including national government institutions, civil society, United Nations agencies and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. The PPO will also coordinate closely with WFP MCO in Barbados and other WFP Satellite Offices including Dominica, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):
- Contribute to the strategic design and development of activities and projects in Saint Lucia and across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), ensuring coherence with WFP’s mandate and programmatic areas, regional strategies, and national priorities.
- Provide project management support to specific and defined programmes and projects of considerable size/complexity, ensuring a coordinated approach with wider programmes and strategies that complies with WFP standards and procedures.
- Develop, monitor, and adjust workplans to achieve results, ensuring the efficient and effective use of assigned financial resources to deliver objectives within agreed scope, budget, and timelines.
- Identify and manage risks that may affect programme delivery and propose appropriate mitigation measures.
- Liaise with internal and external counterparts to strengthen collaboration, coordinated implementation, monitor progress, and address potential challenges to programme implementation.
- Strengthen WFP’s leadership and visibility in relevant forums—such as those on food security, social protection, disaster resilience and disaster risk financing—through active participation, presentations, briefings, and the development of information products and related materials.
- Conduct research and analysis on policy and operational issues to inform programme development, and systematically capture and share key lessons learned and best practices to enhance strategic planning and implementation.
- Support government counterparts and partners in identifying opportunities for WFP support, and provide technical expertise for the planning, formulation, and implementation of programmes that strengthen social protection systems and improve emergency response capacity.
- Establish and maintain operational partnerships to identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve institutional capacities in social protection, Anticipatory Action, Disaster Risk Financing, and other key areas of WFP’s expertise.
- Contribute to resource mobilization by articulating programme needs and opportunities, and monitor the resource situation of projects—including commodity and cash availability—seeking guidance from senior colleagues as required.
- Contribute to the MCO’s emergency preparedness efforts, including contingency planning, cross-functional coordination, and stakeholder engagement, to ensure WFP’s readiness to respond to shocks and disasters.
- Contribute to the preparation of accurate and timely reporting on programmes and activities that enable informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
- Provide guidance and supervision to junior staff, serving as a point of reference and supporting them in addressing queries and delivering quality outputs.
- Others as required.