Programme Policy Officer (Early Warning System Specialist)

The Programme Policy Officer (Early Warning System Specialist) provides high-level technical advisory support to strengthen the coherence, quality, and effectiveness of an end-to-end early warning system under a climate resilience initiative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The role involves strategic guidance, quality assurance, and technical validation to ensure integration and alignment with international standards, supporting anticipatory action and impact-based forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to formulation of WFP-wide programme policies aligned with organizational strategy and field realities.
• Provide advice and support on moderately complex issues to ensure consistency with WFP policies and Executive Board decisions.
• Provide technical advice or mobilize expertise on programme and policy issues including assessment, analysis, and development of strategies to support government efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
• Assist government counterparts and partners in identifying useful food assistance applications and support planning and implementation of food assistance programmes.
• Establish and maintain operational partnerships to improve assistance packages and support advocacy work.
• Enhance WFP’s leadership status in relevant forums through participation, briefings, and information products.
• Manage operational research and evidence building on food assistance issues.
• Review outputs from national EWS consultant and provide independent technical feedback.
• Advise on technical approaches and deliverables of firms responsible for procurement, installation, and calibration of equipment.
• Advise on integration of system components into a coherent end-to-end EWS, ensuring effective linkage and alignment with operational decision-making needs.
• Provide on-demand technical backstopping to WFP and partners, clarifying technical expectations and recommending solutions.
• Provide strategic advice on institutional arrangements and governance for long-term sustainability of the system.
• Support delivery of targeted technical sessions or workshops on impact-based forecasting and decision support tools.
• Contribute to quality assurance by reviewing key project milestones and providing actionable recommendations.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Meteorology, Hydrology, Climate Science, Environment, Disaster Management or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in the design and implementation of early warning systems, particularly in flash flood forecasting and risk management.
• Prior experience working in developing country contexts and familiarity with institutional arrangements for disaster risk management is an asset.
• Strong communication and coordination skills, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical and actionable recommendations for diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent written and spoken English (level C).

Skills

• Early Warning Systems
• Flash Flood Forecasting
• Risk Management
• Disaster Risk Management
• Meteorology
• Hydrology
• Climate Science
• Technical Advisory
• Quality Assurance
• Impact-Based Forecasting
• Strategic Guidance
• Methods Validation
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Communication for Technical Concepts
• Spoken English

Languages

English