Learning and Development Specialist

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

19 October 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is 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 extreme weather shocks.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE:

Learning & Development Specialist

TYPE OF CONTRACT:

WAE CST-2

UNIT/DIVISION:

PO Staffing Coordination and Capacity Service - POS

DUTY STATION (City, Country):

Rome, Italy-Remote

DURATION:

11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger and supporting progress towards Zero Hunger. Through its global operations, WFP works to ensure that vulnerable people can access the food and nutrition they need.

The Programme Operations Staffing Coordination and Capacity Service (POS), reporting to the Assistant Executive Director for Programme Operations, supports staffing coordination, workforce planning, talent management and capacity development across Programme Operations. POS helps align people, roles and skills to strengthen programme delivery and organizational effectiveness. POS also coordinates cross-functional learning initiatives within the Programme Operations Department to strengthen staff capabilities, support mobility across functions, and ensure staff have the skills and knowledge required to perform effectively. To strengthen this work, WFP is seeking a senior Learning and Development Specialist on a WAE basis to bring additional specialised L&D expertise, help keep Programme Operations learning approaches current and high quality, and support the design, facilitation and delivery of priority learning initiatives. The role will provide senior technical input, practical design support and facilitation capacity for agreed Programme Operations learning priorities.

The position reports to the Lead of Learning & Development within POS and works closely with other POS colleagues, based at WFP Headquarters in Rome, Italy (or remote).

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.

1. Support the coordination of agreed Programme Operations learning and development activities, including workplan tracking, meeting preparation, stakeholder follow-up, documentation of key actions and practical support to keep priority initiatives moving.

2.

2. Support functions and subject matter experts to design and improve practical learning solutions and differentiated pathways for Programme Operations employees, and step in to facilitate webinars, workshops, learning events or other sessions where additional specialist capacity is required;

3.

3. Provide practical advice, design support and quality review to POS and Programme Operations functions on learning approaches, materials, facilitation methods and learning technologies, ensuring that solutions are relevant, engaging and aligned with current good practice in humanitarian L&D;

4.

4. Support and advise on relevant L&D partnerships and identify opportunities for collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve learning & development approaches and initiatives.

5.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR SHORT-TERM/CONSULTANCY CONTRACTS

HR-145♦ 08/2017 REV.

Education: Advanced university degree in Learning & Development, Human Resources, Social

Sciences, or related field.

Experience: • Minimum of 5 years of experience in working across all phases of learning design,

development and delivery.

• Demonstrated experience in leveraging learning and associated technologies and

modern learning platforms in the design, development and delivery of learning and

development solutions.

• Proven experience in L&D with a strategic focus, ideally within WFP, or other

similarly sized UN organization.

• Experience in developing cross-functional learning paths and/or curricula is

considered a distinct advantage, particularly in emergency response, supply chain and

delivery, localization, or food assistance and/or food and nutrition security

programming.

• Experience in working with subject matter experts to build learning solution and

performance support tools, preferably across a range of different business areas is

desirable.

• Experience in a UN agency or international NGO would be an assetPrevious experience

in HR related project management.

Knowledge

& Skills:

Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects at the

same time and accomplish tasks with follow-through to completion.

• Expertise in instructional design, learning technologies, and facilitating both inperson

and virtual training.

• Strong ability to engage and manage multiple stakeholders, with excellent

interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to analyze, design, and deliver learning solutions that foster growth and

measurable results.

• Ability to integrate cross-functional considerations into learning needs analysis,

design, delivery and impact measurement.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate and influence internally with various

stakeholders and subject matter experts across business functions, levels and

geographical areas.

• Strong client orientation. Ability to quickly build knowledge and understanding of

stakeholder’s functional/organizational strategy and translate to learning

requirements of employees.

• Confidence and mental agility to assimilate different perspectives and formulate

recommendations.

• Up to date knowledge of the latest trends in learning design, delivery and learningtechnology.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR SHORT-TERM/CONSULTANCY CONTRACTS

HR-145♦ 08/2017 REV.

• Strong creative problems solving skills; agile, flexible and patient; ability to work

with ambiguity, constructive approach to overcoming challenges and build

consensus across diverse and global teams.

• Ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data on impact of the different

learning initiatives

Languages: Fluency in oral and written English is essential. Good working knowledge of a second

UN language preferably French, Spanish or Arabic is desirable.Support the

coordination of agreed Programme Operations learning and development activities,

including workplan tracking, meeting preparation, stakeholder follow-up,

documentation of key actions and practical support to keep priority initiatives moving.

2. Support functions and subject matter experts to design and improve practical

learning solutions and differentiated pathways for Programme Operations employees,

and step in to facilitate webinars, workshops, learning events or other sessions where

additional specialist capacity is required;

3. Provide practical advice, design support and quality review to POS and Programme

Operations functions on learning approaches, materials, facilitation methods and

learning technologies, ensuring that solutions are relevant, engaging and aligned with

current good practice in humanitarian L&D;

4. Support and advise on relevant L&D partnerships and identify opportunities for

collaborative approaches and initiatives that improve learning & development

approaches and initiatives.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org

NO FEE DISCLAIMER

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruiting system. We do not consider CVs or applications sent by email, LinkedIn, or any other channel.

• We strongly recommend that your Workday profile is accurate and complete, and that all sections are filled in, including your employment history, academic qualifications, language skills, and UN grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.

• If you experience technical issues while submitting your application, you may contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. Please note that this email is only for technical issues with an application - unsolicited applications or documents sent to this inbox will not receive a reply.

• At the application stage, the only required documents are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents (passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc.) may be requested later in the process.

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Welcome to our new recruitment platform!

If you used to have an account on our previous platform, please note that you will need to create a new account for future applications. However, this change will not affect any ongoing recruitment processes.

Understanding contract types in WFP

To ensure that WFP is able to deliver on its mandate, a range of contract types exist depending on the duration and nature of work. Find out more here.

Guidance on the Use of AI in WFP Recruitment Processes

These guidelines are here to help you use AI tools responsibly throughout WFP’s recruitment process. We also want to be transparent about how we use AI on our side. Curious? Find out more here.

Working with WFP

Our greatest strength is the people working around the world providing access to nutritious food and promoting lasting solutions to those we serve. WFP provides its staff with meaningful and impactful careers, continuous learning and training, and a multicultural and stimulating work environment.

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

About WFP

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.

Read more about WFP’s history here, and WFP’s mission here

Hear the voices of WFP

Want to hear what it’s like working for WFP? Check out our newsletter highlighting the career stories of our passionate staff here: Pathway to WFP | LinkedIn

Our values and behaviours

Integrity, collaboration, commitment, humanity, inclusion. These values inspire everything we do every day, allowing us to work towards a world with zero hunger. You can read more about the values here.

Our behaviour guides us in how we accomplish our mission. All WFP employees are expected to demonstrate the standards of behaviour described in the WFP Leadership Framework. Learn more about the WFP Leadership Framework here.

Beware of fraudulent job offers

WFP is aware of fictitious employment offers being circulated via email or originating from online job boards. Many of these schemes consist of an alleged offer of employment or contract with WFP in return for the payment of fees or providing personal or banking information. Read more.