Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer will lead the design and delivery of WFP in-kind food assistance programmes in Timor-Leste and support emergency preparedness and response efforts across the Asia and Pacific region. The role involves strengthening disaster management systems, coordinating emergency response operations, and managing multisectoral projects to enhance readiness and delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Responsibilities

• Assess and identify emergency preparedness capacity gaps and design and deliver capacity building plans at national and subnational levels.
• Lead or support hazard-specific or thematic contingency planning, table-top simulations and capacity strengthening exercises.
• Lead or support anticipatory action planning and testing.
• Enhance policy, plans, or capacities related to disaster management including emergency reserves, humanitarian staging areas/hubs, and strategic/subnational prepositioning.
• Support and embed with national disaster management partners.
• Engage with partner actors to enhance early warning and preparedness at community and systems level.
• Lead programme design and delivery of direct food assistance (in-kind, cash), including targeting, registration, distribution planning, monitoring, and accountability.
• Identify potential bottlenecks to timely anticipatory action/response and guide readiness actions.
• Support and lead coordination with government counterparts, UN partners, NGOs, and Red Cross Societies for effective and efficient response.
• Coordinate and support technical functions including logistics and cash to ensure timely, quality, and effective readiness and response.
• Manage complex multisectoral projects/operations, track progress, identify risks, and propose mitigation measures.
• Engage in senior level coordination with governments, donors, and partners.
• Travel within the country and region as necessary.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in humanitarian diplomacy and leadership, social sciences, public policy/administration, development studies, international relations, supply chain management, or another relevant field, or first university degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or advanced training/courses.
• Availability to start in person in the Asia Pacific region as soon as August 2026.
• Experience working with WFP and knowledge of WFP’s internal processes, policies, and systems.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in relevant areas including at least 5 years progressively responsible professional experience.
• Experience in multiple facets of emergency preparedness and response programming relevant for WFP work in the region, including demonstrated ability to design, lead and coordinate delivery of food and cash-based assistance in anticipation of or in response to natural shocks and/or slow-onset drought.
• Experience to assess, deliver with, or strengthen government-led emergency response including technical assistance to disaster management systems.
• Proven ability to build partnerships with diverse stakeholders including government authorities, humanitarian partners, military actors, and to engage with affected populations.
• Experience coordinating diverse, multicultural and cross-functional teams to maximize capabilities for effective, timely support.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to write and deliver high level briefs providing clear insight and recommendations for decision making.
• Preferable: Experience working in the Asia and the Pacific region.
• Understanding of WFP’s work, mandate and humanitarian principles.
• Strong analytical, written and oral communication skills.
• Client orientation with excellent interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to build partnerships and influence the work of others.
• Experience in building capacity for technical staff as well as in influencing/advising senior managers.
• Proven ability to produce outputs independently.
• Flexibility to travel when necessary.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is essential.
• Candidates with languages relevant to the region (e.g., Portuguese) are encouraged to apply.

Skills

• Humanitarian Diplomacy
• Emergency Preparedness
• Emergency Response Programming
• Food Assistance Programmes
• Cash-Based Assistance
• Disaster Management Systems
• Government-Led Emergency Response
• Partnership Building
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Multicultural Team Leadership
• Analytical Skills
• Brief Writing
• WFP Internal Processes
• Technical Assistance
• Capacity Building
• Senior Management Advising
• Project Management
• Travel Flexibility
• English Language Proficiency

Languages

English, Portuguese