Director, Technology

The Director of Technology Operations at WFP is responsible for ensuring the reliability, security, and operational excellence of WFP's global technology infrastructure and services. This role focuses on operational excellence and risk management to maintain uptime, security posture, user satisfaction, cost efficiency, and business continuity, enabling WFP's digital capabilities worldwide.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end IT service delivery ensuring WFP's business-critical systems are available, performant, and reliable.
• Manage global IT infrastructure including data centers, cloud services, networks, telecommunications, and end-user computing.
• Ensure field-first operating model with robust connectivity and IT support reaching country offices and emergency operations.
• Lead IT service management functions (service desk, incident management, problem management, change management) achieving high user satisfaction.
• Manage vendor relationships for infrastructure, applications, and services ensuring value for money and contract compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement in operational efficiency, automation, and service quality.
• Establish and maintain comprehensive cybersecurity program protecting WFP systems, data, and users from evolving threats.
• Lead threat detection, vulnerability management, and incident response capabilities appropriate to WFP's high-risk operating environment.
• Ensure compliance with UN cybersecurity frameworks, data protection regulations, and WFP policies.
• Conduct regular risk assessments and security audits, remediating vulnerabilities proactively.
• Build security awareness and capability across WFP staff and technology teams.
• Serve as WFP's primary liaison with UN system cybersecurity coordination mechanisms.
• Design and maintain business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities ensuring WFP can continue operations during crises.
• Conduct regular disaster recovery testing and tabletop exercises.
• Ensure data backup, redundancy, and recovery capabilities meet WFP's operational requirements.
• Coordinate technology aspects of business continuity planning with organizational resilience efforts.
• Oversee enterprise architecture ensuring WFP's technology landscape is integrated, scalable, and aligned with business needs.
• Manage core enterprise platforms (ERP, HR systems, finance systems, collaboration tools).
• Partner with Chief Digital & AI Officer to ensure new transformation initiatives are technically sound and operationally sustainable.
• Drive platform integration and interoperability, reducing fragmentation and technical debt.
• Establish and enforce technical standards, governance, and architectural principles.
• Manage TEC technology budget (approximately $82M) ensuring disciplined financial stewardship and value for money.
• Lead technology portfolio management, prioritizing investments based on risk, business value, and operational necessity.
• Monitor and optimize technology costs including infrastructure, licenses, and services.
• Ensure transparent reporting on technology spend, performance, and value delivery.
• Manage TEC procurement activities in compliance with WFP and UN regulations.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a globally distributed technology operations team of around 300 headquarters staff and 1,600 field personnel.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, accountability, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Build technical capability and career development pathways for IT operations professionals.
• Ensure appropriate skills, capacity, and organizational structure to meet WFP's operational technology needs.
• Partner collaboratively with Chief Digital & AI Officer ensuring alignment between operations and transformation.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, or related technical field. First university degree with additional qualifying experience and professional certifications may be accepted.
• Minimum fifteen (15) years or more of progressively senior experience in IT operations, infrastructure management, or technology service delivery, including at least 5 years at director or senior management level.
• Proven experience managing large-scale, complex IT operations in distributed or multi-country environments with 24/7 operational requirements.
• Extensive experience in cybersecurity management including security operations, incident response, compliance, and risk management in high-threat environments.
• Strong background in enterprise architecture, systems integration, and platform management for large organizations.
• Demonstrated success managing substantial technology budgets ($50M+) with accountability for cost optimization and value delivery.
• Experience leading large, geographically dispersed technology teams including senior technical managers.
• Track record of achieving high service availability, system reliability, and user satisfaction in demanding operational environments.
• Deep technical knowledge across infrastructure, networking, cloud services, security, and enterprise applications.
• Experience managing IT operations in challenging environments (developing countries, conflict zones, limited infrastructure, high-risk contexts) is highly desirable.
• Background in humanitarian, development, or public sector organizations with complex operational requirements is highly desirable.
• Experience in UN system or international organization with matrix governance and diverse stakeholder management is highly desirable.
• Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, ITIL, TOGAF, or equivalent are highly desirable.
• Experience implementing ITSM frameworks and achieving service excellence in complex organizations is highly desirable.
• Fluency (level C) in English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).

Skills

• IT Operations
• Infrastructure Management
• Cybersecurity Management
• Security Operations
• Incident Response
• Compliance Management
• Risk Management
• Enterprise Architecture
• System Integration
• Platforms Management
• Technology Budget Management
• Cost Optimization
• Value Delivery
• Team Leadership
• Service Availability Management
• System Reliability
• Infrastructure Networking
• Cloud Services
• Enterprise Applications
• IT Operations in Challenging Environments
• Matrix Governance
• Stakeholder Management
• CISSP Certification
• CISM Certification
• ITIL
• TOGAF
• Technology Solution Delivery
• User Satisfaction Focus
• Humanitarian Technology Deployment
• ITSM Frameworks

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese