Innovation Lead Consultant

World Food Programme

6d ago

Job
Full-time
Senior & Expert Level
Consulting
Research & Development
Munich
Remote
17d left

AI generated summary

You need a bachelor's degree, 5-10 years in innovation roles, tech understanding, project life cycle experience, strong communication, collaboration skills, and commitment to WFP's mission.
You’ll lead innovation programs, manage teams, build partnerships, coach in methodologies, define KPIs, drive growth strategies, and support operational processes for effective project delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree is a plus.
At least 5 to 10 years of progressively responsible international experience in a start-up leadership role, start-up accelerator, innovation functions, or relevant experience in the private, humanitarian or international development sector.
Understanding of technology innovations (e.g. mobile apps, blockchain, artificial intelligence) and business model innovations (e.g. innovative finance, sharing economy).
Experience in innovation project life cycle - from ideation, minimum viable product, testing, prototyping and implementation.
Experience working cross-functionally and getting things done in a scrappy and hands-on way.
Worked in a large-scale organization or with a client/in partnership with a large-scale organization.
A proven track record of driving and implementing projects - effectively delivering impactful elements of projects in a fast-moving environment, ideally for new businesses, new business models, start-ups etc.
Able to generate new and original solutions to complex problems and to design new product ideas.
Strong conceptual thinking to develop new strategies & innovative projects.
Able to interact with a broad range of stakeholders and external audience with maturity and tact.
Excellent communication/presentation skills, with the ability to write strategy documents, to develop business plans and to write and deliver presentations.
Collaborative spirit, able to partner with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy.
Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
Sets a high-level of ambition for the project and own work to achieve impact for the people we serve.
Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.
High proficiency in oral and written English. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead The Implementation Of Core Accelerator Activities
Scope, deliver and manage acceleration programmes and innovation services in cooperation with a broad range of partners; including bootcamps, pitch events, sprint programmes and other types of innovation engagements.
Lead, plan and orchestrate the work of multi-disciplinary innovation teams, ensuring the on-time, on budget and on-scope delivery of the relevant projects, including impact measurement and reporting.
Build strong relationships with programme partners and create meaningful connections with relevant innovation ecosystems and communities of practice.
Build up expertise relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals, to identify opportunities for innovation in alignment with the strategic objectives of WFP.
Work With High-impact Ventures To Help Them Scale Sustainably
Coach innovation teams using methodologies such as human-centered design, lean start-up and systems thinking; advising them on key decisions regarding user needs, product roadmap, business model, partnership building and growth plans.
Define key performance indicators and milestones for the innovation projects, and follow up on their implementation, impact measurement and reporting.
Drive the creation and sharing of knowledge in one or more areas of innovation and venture-building in humanitarian settings.
Liaise and coordinate with relevant stakeholders including programme team, programme partners and other relevant WFP units as applicable.
Co-lead the strategic and organizational development of the SDGx Acceleration unit:
Lead a functional chapter of the SDGx Acceleration unit to continuously improve our value proposition. Define and drive alignment across all workstreams (e.g. Strategy, Project Management, Portfolio Management, Design, Ecosystem).
Contribute to the establishment of strategic objectives and ensure work plans are in place to meet key results.
Build up the right capabilities, knowledge and best practices, making sure that people are equipped with the right tools and skills to deliver results.
Ensure that resources are adequately deployed and that programme demands are being met with the latest know-how.
Define and run initiatives and projects that help to constantly improve the SDGx unit in alignment with the broader accelerator and WFP.
Lead a team of Innovation Consultants to reach the goals of the SDGx Acceleration unit:
Guide and grow a team of Innovation Consultants and/or other disciplines by establishing priorities, providing coaching and making sure people are engaged in the right value-creation activities.
Engage in creative leadership methods to foster the right conditions for collective and individual learning and growth.
Cultivate an open and high-performing team culture to help the team thrive in constantly changing environments.
Conduct performance feedback and development sessions.
Drive the growth strategy of the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the SDGx Acceleration unit:
Build up a network of public, private and philanthropic donors to identify and realize partnering opportunities for Acceleration Programs;
Take an active role in lead generation, proposal preparation and negotiation of new contracts and funding agreements;
Define and implement outreach campaigns and communication plans to amplify the scope and impact of the SDGx acceleration programmes.
Help shape the strategic evolution of the SDGx unit’s innovation portfolio and value proposition to best meet the needs of the people and organizations we serve.
Support The Overall Innovation Accelerator Operations
Provide analysis & content preparation (data on projects, PowerPoint presentations, briefs, etc.) for corporate priority topics and management meetings.
Participate and carry out discussions with colleagues in other divisions or external stakeholders on topics related to innovation.
Support other core processes of the WFP Innovation Accelerator (e.g. sourcing campaigns, bootcamp facilitation, sprint coaching, event hosting, speaking engagements, event management) as required.
Support the Head of the Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management with any other activities as required.

FAQs

What is the deadline for applications for the Innovation Lead Consultant position?

The deadline for applications is 12 January 2025 at 23:59 GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Berlin).

Where is the duty station for this position?

The duty station is in Munich, Germany, but remote work is also an option.

What is the duration of the consultancy for this role?

The duration of the consultancy is 6 months.

What qualifications are required for the Innovation Lead Consultant position?

A Bachelor’s degree is required, and a Master’s degree is a plus.

How many years of experience are necessary for applicants?

Applicants need to have at least 5 to 10 years of progressively responsible international experience in relevant fields.

Is knowledge of another language required for the position?

High proficiency in oral and written English is required, and intermediate knowledge of another official UN language is a plus.

What kind of projects will the Innovation Lead Consultant be responsible for?

The consultant will lead the implementation of core acceleration activities, manage innovation services, and drive the creation and sharing of knowledge in innovation and venture-building within humanitarian settings.

Are there opportunities for professional development within WFP?

Yes, WFP invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through a range of training, coaching, mentorship, and internal mobility opportunities.

Does WFP promote diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices?

Yes, WFP celebrates and embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunities for all candidates.

Is there a fee associated with applying for this position?

No, the United Nations does not charge any application, processing, or other fees in connection with the application or recruitment process.

World Food Programme

Non-profit

Industry

10,001+

Employees

1961

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.