DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
28 August 2025-23:59-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 climate change.
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.
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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: Aviation Officer
TYPE OF CONTRACT: Int. Reg. Consultant – level II
UNIT/DIVISION: Aviation Service (SCOA) / Supply Chain Division
DUTY STATION: Rome, Italy
DURATION: 01.10.2025 – 31.12.2025
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
1.1 In the performance of his/her function, the Aviation Officer (AO):
a. Reports directly to the Head, Air Transport Unit (ATU) as 1st level Supervisor, and to the Chief of Aviation Service at 2nd level.
b. Liaises with regional and country aviation authorities and agencies, AOC holders and UNHAS Air Transport Officers.
1.2 With the guidance of the Head ATU:
a. Initiate Requests for Offers for air transport services, in accordance with provisions of ATM.
b. Review offers and prepare proposals to the Air Transport Contract Committee.
c. Monitors, evaluates assigned air transport contracts.
d. Maintains contractor performance reports
e. Administer ATU contracting and operational systems as required.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
2.1 In respect to his/her service management responsibilities, the Aviation Officer,
a. Lead the implementation of aircraft procurement projects of moderate complexity and/or manage contractual activities for UNHAS AFO’s (e.g. issue tenders, evaluate
offers and negotiate/award contracts) and/or air freight/airlift contracts for humanitarian community, to ensure successful procurement of air assets and ancillary services.
b. Identify, develop and maintain strong relationships with all relevant suppliers and air operators to enable WFP Aviation to maximize the value of the service delivered.
c. Manage and coordinate effective relationships with relevant stakeholders to ensure quality control, specification conformity, monitoring and verification of aircraft performance.
d. Work in close collaboration with cross functional counterparts to align aviation procurement activities and promote an integrated supply-chain approach to support humanitarian aviation and food assistance.
e. Coordinate and prepare accurate and timely reports of contractual activities to contribute to informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders, leading to performance optimization.
f. Extract information about contractual activities and propose conclusions to the management or provide reports to oversight platforms when requested or assigned.
g. Manage individual officers or small teams ensuring that gaps of procedural requirements are identified and appropriate development of required process descriptions and enable high performance teams.
h. Establish and maintain an organization capable of administering the provision of a safe, economical, efficient and effective air transportation service for the movement of passengers and cargo.
i. Plans, arranges and coordinates the provision of technical and operational support for air transport service operations.
j. Periodically review and analyse route structures, aircraft payload, cargo traffic statistics to assess viability of routes and service improvements.
k. Monitor aircraft operations and performance, identify and report any likely hazard(s) and operational risk(s) which could affect the continued safe operations of aircraft.
l. Attend meetings, external meetings and events with other UN agencies, or other partners and entities as required.
m. Participate in the development of standard aviation operating procedures within the field or contribute towards global aviation policies and tools for use across WFP, ensuring that aviation objectives are accomplished in compliance with WFP, UN AVSTADS, and ICAO SARPs.
n. Contribute to the planning and coordination or activities relating to the safe execution of aviation operations in accordance with WFP regulations and UN AVSTADS (Aviation Standards).
o. Support or manage aviation projects or operational activities applying standard processes, including the appropriate operational risk management processes, to contribute to effective humanitarian air transportation.
p. Provide technical advice to UNHAS to ensure safe aviation operations are incorporated into local program planning and transport arrangements.
q. Collect, and analyze a wide range of data from diverse sources through research and networking with colleagues to formulate and recommend actions to senior staff to improve performance of aviation activities and operations.
r. Perform any other duties as formally requested by Chief Aviation Service or Head of Air Transport Unit.
DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:
a. Have established good relationships and proactive coordination with Donors/UNHAS stakeholders’ Focal Persons and timely preparation of end reports.
b. Have established good relationships and proactive coordination with UNHAS, provide inputs to the SCDA quarterly/annual reports, stakeholder meetings and supporting Head ATU and/or SCDA Management as required.
c. Have timely reviewed offers, technical & financial and prepared information for evaluation by the Air Transport Contract Committee; and prepared necessary documentation for the decision Memorandum, and ACA completed and circulated.
d. Launched RFO and reviewed offers, technical & financial for Ad-Hoc charter requests.
e. Have performed them all and additional assigned tasks at satisfactory level according to his/her supervisor through the PACE.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
a. Education: Advanced University degree in Aeronautics, Aviation Engineering, Airport Management or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of relevant work experience and/or training/courses. Holds or has held a Commercial Pilot License, Air Traffic Control License or Flight Operations Officer License (or equivalent), Aeronautical Engineer or Maintenance Engineer License.
Experience:
a. Have had a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the aviation industry; and
b. Have held a supervisory or management position in air operations or has successfully completed an Aviation Safety Management course or equivalent.
c. In addition, the core and functional capabilities required by standard Aviation Officer job profile, the incumbent should possess good organization and coordination skills.
d. Experience in commercial aviation. Specific focus in humanitarian air operations/food aid or experience in UN peacekeeping aviation operations is desirable.
e. Experience liaising with country authorities to facilitate air operations.
f. Experience establishing methodologies for risk analysis and problem solving.
Knowledge & Skills:
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office programmes and other related tools.
• Knowledge in humanitarian aviation activities and/or WFP field operations is desirable.
Languages: Fluent in English Language (Level C) and a second UN language as per WFP requirements.
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
We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
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.