Head of Operations

The Head of Operations oversees the Supply Chain and Programme functions of Gaza Operations to ensure the effective delivery of WFP programs and activities. The role emphasizes building and maintaining relationships with local government, civil societies, UN agencies and other partners in Gaza to reinforce WFP’s visibility and acts as Officer in Charge in the absence of the Emergency Coordinator/ Head of Office.

Responsibilities

• Play a key role in development and implementation of country strategies, policies and plans aligned with regional, WFP and wider UN strategy, policies and processes to meet the complex food assistance needs of beneficiaries in Gaza.
• Hold accountability for the effective management of operations and related resources within the strip under delegated authority.
• Provide coaching and support to Supply Chain and Programme staff as well as other functional units to enable effective performance.
• Provide effective leadership to ensure the continued development of a cohesive and high performing team.
• Play a key role in building cohesive and collaborative cross-functional relationships to ensure uniform approach to WFP’s programme delivery within Palestine.
• Hold accountability for comprehensive and accurate operational reports on Gaza situations and performance for both internal and external audiences to provide required donor information and to inform strategic directions, operational planning and decisions.
• Develop productive relationships with local partners to enable the effective positioning of WFP to meet country goals.
• Support the Emergency Coordinator in planning and implementation of operations work plan including the implementation and evaluation of audit and compliance recommendations.
• Play a key role in strategic direction, operational guidance, and leadership for the implementation of the emergency response strategy in the affected area.
• Engage with local authorities and beneficiaries to ensure compliance with WFP policies and that progress is made in the achievement of objectives.
• Take responsibility for an equitable and inclusive workplace which incorporates all dimensions of the WFP diversity and inclusion framework.
• Deploy frequently to the field to monitor the humanitarian situation on the ground and ensure teams are adequately capacitated, working effectively and in line with WFP values and standards of conduct.
• Forge and nurture external partnerships to improve assistance packages, develop and sustain liaison with local government authorities, international and local NGOs, civil societies, UN agencies, donors, beneficiaries and other partners and media engaged in the field of food security.
• Ensure the delivery modalities for in-kind and cash transfer include clearing the procurement plan for the emergency operation.
• Other as required

Requirements

• Advanced University degree in Economics, International Development or Social Sciences or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
• Proficient in English is required.
• Intermediate proficiency in Arabic is desirable.
• Typically, more than 10 years of experience (of which six international) of senior level experience in large scale emergency operations with a background and interest in international humanitarian development.
• Extensive experience leading multicultural teams in complex contexts and improving performance.

Skills

• Emergency Operations
• Supply Chain Management
• Programme Management
• Humanitarian Development
• Team Leadership
• Multicultural Team Leadership
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partnership Building
• Performance Improvement
• International Development
• Operational Oversight
• Government Relations
• Civil Society Engagement
• UN Coordination
• English Language Proficiency
• Arabic Proficiency

Languages

English, Arabic