• Organization: UN WFP - World Food Programme
• Location: Rome
• Grade: P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position - Senior level
• Occupational Groups:
  • Environment
  • Meteorology, Geology and Geography
  • Climate Change
• Closing Date: 2019-04-07

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This role is based  in Headquarters (HQ), Rome, Italy.

The role reports directly to the Chief of Vulnerability Analysis Unit (OSZAF), within Policy and Programme Division. 

JOB PURPOSE

To lead the analytical strategy for Earth Observation and Climate data, designing and implementing operational systems for the provision of geospatial information relevant for food security analysis and the support for food security and nutrition policies and programmes, based on the integration of  in-house developments,inter-divisional coordination, external partnerships and innovation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Develop VAM strategies,policies and guidance in the uptake and streamlining of new geospatial approaches and methodologies. 
• Provide strategic advice and leadership to COs in the applicability and benefits of Earth Observation and Climate data to strengthen their capacity to provide evidence based programmatic solutions for food security and resilience, and enabling them to provide specialized technical assistance to relevant Government institutions in Natural Hazard management and Agricultural development.
• Closely track all major developments in the Earth Observation sector, with particular focus in the European Space Agency Sentinel program, the new Earth Observation start-ups and service oriented  platforms    such  as  NASA-SERVIR, identifying  development  relevant  for  WFP  and integrating them in operational systems.
• Provide WFP senior management, operations and COs and RBs with  regular, near  real time, detailed, accurate and actionable information on growing season outcomes and the development of  natural  hazards, developing scenarios  and  implications  for  the  food  security  status  of vulnerable  populations.
• Direct current VAM operational systems and tools,such as the Seasonal Monitor, Country Climate Analysis, population and settlement dynamics and land cover changes in conflict scenarios, high resolution agricultural mapping and monitoring and the Asset  nformation Monitoring System.
• Lead a strategy of continuous improvement in current VAM operational tools, by actively pursuing opportunities for innovation in applicability of state of the art geospatial methodologies to food security analysis. Further develop a close working relationship with WFP's innovation Accelerator and other innovation focused entities.
• Expand the dissemination and open visualization of agro-climatic and Earth Observation information streams in the scope of the VAM DataViz platform.
• Lead, motivate and manage a team of technical staff, providing coaching and guidance as required to enable high performance and ensure appropriate career development.
• Forge and nurture strategic and operational partnerships with leading actors in the Earth Observation and Climate sector (European Space Agency, NASA, JRC, RI,private sector entities) to ensure the integration of new developments into WFP operational practices and enhance WFP status as a leading operational user of new Earth Observation data-streams. 
• Develop inter-agency collaboration to develop common approaches and articulation in  what concerns application of Satellite data to agricultural mapping and monitoring for Food Security.
• Foster inter-divisional relationships and collaborate cross-functionally to align VAM-Geospatial activities with wider programs and activities  and ensure an optimum approach to programmatic support.
• Position WFP as a critical partner in multi-stakeholder  initiatives such as GeoGLAM's Early Warning Crop Monitor.
• Represent WFP in high-level meetings and technical conferences, contributing to technical discussions, promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience, and identifying areas for potential collaboration

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: 

• Advanced University Degree in Physics, Engineering or Earth Sciences with post­ graduate qualifications in Remote Sensing, Meteorology or Physical Geography or other related field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or advanced training/courses

Experience:

• At least 10 years of proved and extensive professional experience in analysis of Earth Observation and Climate Data applied to Early Warning, Crop and Rangeland Monitoring and Food Security Analysis.
• Professional experience in reputed international institutions in the field of applied meteorology and/or remote sensing. 
• Experience in setting up operational Earth Observation and climate data processing chains and operational systems for drought risk monitoring,flood mapping, agricultural production estimates and climate characterization. Developed strategic relationships with UN agencies,Space Agencies, academia, Government institutions and donors in the remote sensing, early warning and agricultural monitoring arena.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or WFP’s working language, Portuguese.

Knowledge & Skills: 

• Expert level understanding and familiarity of Earth Observation principles, current developments and data analysis. Expert level usage of major GIS software packages (ArcG S, QG S) and other relevant analytical software or programming languages (R and Python).
• Solid experience in the analysis of time series of (medium resolution) gridded satellite or climate data, geostatistics, climatology, and the derivation of outputs and indicators tailored to food security and vulnerability analysis.
• Proven experience with applications of the  Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite platforms and awareness of their full potential in food security applications, livelihood mapping and conflict impact analysis.
• Expert knowledge in the design and implementation of operational Earth Observation processing chains.
• Solid skills in the analysis and interpretation of forecast data at both medium and seasonal range for scenario development for food security and livelihoods implications. Ability to design and carry out analysis of long term climate records, extracting information relevant for WFP programmatic interventions.
• Solid knowledge of UAV data collection, its information potential and integration with satellite data.
• Experience with principles of household surveys, specifically agricultural and seasonal questionnaire components and their ana lysis. Ability to analyse food security data in the context of natural hazard impacts.
• Solid experience in leading large scale field agricultural assessments and in the design and implementation of in-situ data collection for analysis and calibration of satellite data.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Non-Rotational Nature

Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is however classified as “non-rotational” which means the incumbent shall not be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as rotational.

WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance.

Please visit the following websites for detailed information on working with http://www.wfp.org  Click on: “Where we work” and “Our work” to learn more about WFP’s operations.
http://icsc.un.org  Click: Quick Links > Salary Scales > by date
http://www.unstaffmobility.org  Learn more about countries where the UN operates

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

7 April 2019

.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

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.

Вакансия размещена с целью ознакомления. 

Пожалуйста, нажмите кнопку "откликнуться", зарегистрируйтесь как Соискатель, заполните резюме. Мы отправим Ваше резюме работодателю и, если он заинтересуется Вашей кандидатурой, Вы обязательно получите отклик.

Благодарим Вас за Ваши усилия!