Crisis Support Team Leader, WFP

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 5 September 2026 at 23:59 Central Africa Time (GMT+2), as observed in Lusaka, Zambia. WFP upholds and actively promotes diversity while firmly adhering to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all staff members. The organization warmly invites qualified candidates to submit applications without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, HIV status, or disability. ABOUT WFP The World Food Program stands as the foremost global humanitarian entity, dedicated to saving lives amidst crises and leveraging food assistance to foster pathways toward peace, stability, and prosperity. This mission specifically supports individuals recovering from conflict, disasters, and the far-reaching consequences of climate change. At WFP, our workforce is built on a foundation of diversity, dedication, expertise, and excellence, with individuals chosen solely on merit. We foster a supportive and inclusive workplace that upholds our core values—Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion—where teams thrive and achieve results. Our commitment to these principles extends to our partnerships, enabling us to deliver impactful solutions that save and transform the lives of those we serve. For additional details about WFP, please visit our official website at [Click the Apply button below to apply, and Create my CV to build a CV tailored to this offer, professionally] Stay informed by following our social media channels for the latest updates: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. WHY JOIN WFP? The World Food Program (WFP), honored as the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, stands as a distinguished global organization dedicated to addressing hunger and promoting peace through humanitarian efforts. WFP fosters a workplace characterized by inclusivity, diversity, and multiculturalism. WFP prioritizes the growth and advancement of its employees by offering diverse initiatives, including training sessions, professional certifications, coaching, mentorship programs, and other developmental resources, in addition to fostering internal mobility opportunities. A career with WFP offers an enriching opportunity to collaborate across diverse country, regional, and global offices worldwide, partnering with dedicated colleagues committed to delivering impactful humanitarian aid to millions globally. We provide a competitive remuneration package, the specifics of which can be found in the Terms and Conditions We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join our team in the specified role outlined in this vacancy announcement. BACKGROUND AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT: Zambia is confronting heightened risks of severe food insecurity linked to the anticipated 2026/27 El Niño phenomenon. Regional assessments highlight Southern Africa as highly vulnerable to diminished rainfall throughout the primary November–March wet season, with food security challenges anticipated to intensify in the aftermath of the agricultural cycle and subsequent lean period. Zambia approaches this critical juncture with a robust 2025/26 agricultural season and an unprecedented maize harvest, which offers a vital opportunity for proactive preparedness and strategic deployment of national food reserves. Concurrently, the developing El Niño situation poses considerable threats to the 2026/27 agricultural cycle and the nation’s food security outlook. The country’s strategic framework outlines a phased approach—beginning with preparedness and anticipatory measures, advancing through assessment and strategic repositioning, and culminating in a potential escalation of response efforts and recovery initiatives—with humanitarian needs projected to reach their highest point during the 2027/28 lean season. The role demands extensive collaboration with multiple functions, including program management, risk assessment and mitigation (RAM), supply chain, finance, partnerships, communications, field operations, and additional relevant departments, alongside sustained interaction with governmental bodies, cooperating partners, UN agencies, donors, and both regional and corporate WFP structures. Lessons drawn from Zambia’s 2023/24 El Niño response highlight the critical need for prompt, unified decisions regarding beneficiary targeting, transfer methods and amounts, robust coordination among government bodies and agencies, data-driven insights, operational preparedness and prompt resource allocation. With this context in mind, WFP Zambia is seeking a seasoned Emergency Coordinator to lead the Country Office’s El Niño preparedness and response efforts with focused coordination and strategic-operational guidance. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT The Emergency Coordinator will oversee and integrate WFP Zambia’s El Niño preparedness and response efforts, aligning analysis, programmatic decisions, operational planning, supply chain and logistics, resource allocation, partnerships, and implementation into a unified, prioritized, and executable Country Office strategy. The Coordinator will act as the primary liaison among management, SO1, other program teams, RAM, Supply Chain, Finance, Partnerships, Communications, Field Offices, and additional functions. In this role, they will ensure that strategic decisions are effectively translated into actionable steps, clearly defined responsibilities, measurable milestones, and tangible deliverables. The successful candidate will be responsible for spearheading the creation and upkeep of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) along with the integrated response plan and calendar. Additionally, they will supervise the Emergency Task Force, provide critical support to management for informed decision-making, and ensure that WFP’s response remains agile, aligning with emerging evidence, Government and UN Country Team priorities, operational constraints, and resource availability. ACCOUNTABILITIES : Overall Emergency Coordination and Strategic Direction: You will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of emergency response strategies, ensuring seamless coordination across all stakeholders, and providing clear, decisive leadership during critical situations. This role requires a strategic mindset to align emergency preparedness efforts with organizational objectives, while also overseeing the execution of comprehensive emergency plans to mitigate risks and enhance response effectiveness. Additionally, you will monitor emerging threats, assess potential impacts, and adapt strategies as needed to maintain operational resilience and safeguard personnel and assets. Coordinate the Country Office’s overall El Niño preparedness and response framework, ensuring seamless integration across preparedness, anticipatory action, disaster risk financing, emergency response, social protection, early recovery, and related resilience initiatives. Provide strategic and operational guidance to the Country Office Management Team (CMT) regarding emerging issues, risks, priorities, critical decision points, and necessary management actions. Ensure a cohesive, end-to-end operational perspective, where all decisions spanning program management, supply chain logistics, resource allocation, strategic partnerships and execution remain harmonized. Proactively detect and address any critical deficiencies or bottlenecks, escalating concerns promptly to prevent operational disruption. CONOPS, Response Planning, and Milestone Management: Developing comprehensive Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) frameworks, strategizing response protocols, and overseeing critical milestone achievements to ensure seamless execution and alignment with organizational objectives. This role requires meticulous planning, coordination with stakeholders, and adherence to established timelines while maintaining rigorous standards of operational excellence. Lead the formulation, periodic review, and implementation of the Country Office El Niño Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and its integrated response strategy, defining key scenarios, strategic objectives, target populations, intervention approaches, transfer mechanisms, budget considerations, operational frameworks, geographic priorities, scale of response, resource allocation, and the phased execution timeline. Develop and oversee an integrated emergency calendar and critical-path tracker to ensure comprehensive monitoring of key preparedness, assessment, program, supply chain, partnership, funding, and implementation milestones. Convert the CONOPS into actionable tasks, assign clear owners, establish realistic timelines, and define key decision points to ensure structured oversight. Subsequently, track progress and maintain accountability for implementation across all relevant functions to drive alignment and execution. 3. Development and Management of Emergency Response Teams, Alongside Interdepartmental Collaboration: Chair and lead the Country Office Emergency El Niño Task Force, organizing structured, outcome-focused meetings that include well-defined agendas, clear action items, assigned responsibilities, and diligent follow-up. Collaborate with SO1, RAM, Supply Chain, CBT, Finance, Partnerships, Communications, Security, TEC, Field Offices, and other pertinent functions to establish a unified operational framework and align on response priorities. Analyze interdepartmental dependencies and process constraints, proactively addressing and resolving them, while escalating issues necessitating senior leadership intervention as needed. Synthesize insights from diverse functional areas into coherent operational implications and actionable recommendations, ensuring they are integrated rather than confined to siloed technical processes. Evidence-Based Decision-Making, Analysis, and Program Evaluation: This role requires a systematic approach to gathering, interpreting, and utilizing evidence to inform strategic decisions. The successful candidate will conduct thorough analyses to assess program performance, identify trends, and evaluate outcomes. Based on these insights, they will contribute to informed decision-making processes that drive program improvements and organizational growth. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations are essential. Collaborate effectively with the Research Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) unit and other specialized technical teams to guarantee that WFP’s interventions remain grounded in the most current and reliable evidence, such as seasonal and climate projections, market and price tracking, IPC/VAC analysis, hotspot evaluations, vulnerability assessments, crop and harvest evaluations, and additional food security data. Develop actionable insights from analytical outputs to inform strategic decisions on geographic and household targeting, caseload management, intervention design, modality selection, transfer value determination, timing optimization, and assistance scale. Conduct periodic evaluations of scenarios to incorporate any new data, and maintain currency in program and operational assumptions through timely updates. Here’s a professional version of your paragraph: “5. Program and Operational Coordination: Responsible for overseeing the seamless execution of programs and ensuring operational efficiency through meticulous planning, alignment of resources, and real-time problem-solving to meet strategic objectives.” Collaborate with the SO1 Manager and key program leads to ensure that preparedness and response interventions—such as emergency food assistance, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), anticipatory action, nutrition, school feeding, social protection, early recovery, and other relevant resilience measures—are coherent, logically structured, and operationally prepared. Leverage evidence-based insights, market dynamics, government frameworks, and operational constraints to expedite informed decisions across targeting strategies, transfer modalities, value calculations, beneficiary oversight, partner collaborations, and delivery frameworks, ensuring alignment with program objectives and feasibility. Ensure that interventions are strategically layered and systematically sequenced, progressing from preparedness and anticipatory measures through response and early recovery phases. Supply Chain and Logistics Management: Facilitate the seamless coordination of supply chain operations and logistics activities to ensure efficient movement of goods and materials. Facilitate effective alignment between program requirements and Supply Chain/logistics planning, with particular emphasis on leveraging Zambia’s robust domestic food supplies to support anticipated operational scale and strategic opportunities. Collaborate with Supply Chain teams to convert response strategies into actionable requirements for commodity planning, transportation, storage, pre-positioning, distribution capacity, corridor management, and last-mile delivery. Translate the program’s caseloads, rationing schedules, timelines, and geographic priorities against supply chain capacity, stock levels, lead times, and available resources, escalating any emerging pipeline or delivery risks to management without delay. Engaging with governmental bodies, inter-agency groups, partners, and donors represents a key responsibility within this role. The incumbent is tasked with cultivating and maintaining robust relationships across these entities to facilitate collaboration, secure support, and advance shared objectives. This position requires adept negotiation skills, strategic communication, and an ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and donor requirements. Provide high-level assistance to the Country Director in engaging with Government entities, donors, UN agencies, and other stakeholders regarding El Niño preparedness and response initiatives. Additionally, represent the World Food Program (WFP) in designated coordination forums as required. Ensure robust operational alignment with pertinent Government institutions, with an emphasis on harmonizing WFP initiatives with Government-led evaluations, targeting strategies, response frameworks, and coordination structures, where applicable. Collaborate proactively with partner organizations and inter-agency frameworks—particularly the humanitarian cluster system—to ensure well-aligned geographic and household coverage, prevent redundancy, and resolve operational deficiencies. Provide assistance to the Partnerships, Communications and Reporting team and leadership by delivering donor briefings and engaging in resource mobilization discussions, effectively conveying WFP’s strategic priorities, evidence-based findings, operational needs, funding shortfalls, and achievements in a concise and persuasive way. Resource, Funding, and Operational Readiness Tracking: This involves the systematic monitoring and management of available resources, financial allocations, and operational preparedness to ensure seamless project execution and organizational efficiency. Collaborate with Finance, Budget & Programming, Partnerships, Program, and Supply Chain teams to ensure a cohesive overview of requirements, available resources, funding shortages, pipeline effects, and operational preparedness. Verify that program goals and execution schedules align with current and anticipated resources, and proactively identify any significant funding shortfalls or pipeline bottlenecks. Facilitate scenario-based costing, resource prioritization, and management decision-making processes in response to evolving needs and funding availability. Information Management, Reporting, and Communications: This role encompasses the oversight and dissemination of data, the preparation and distribution of reports, and the facilitation of clear, effective internal and external communications to support organizational decision-making and transparency. Collaborate closely with the Partnerships, Communications, and Reporting (PCR) team as well as pertinent technical departments to develop and implement robust information and knowledge-management framework tailored to the response efforts. Develop and maintain executive-level dashboards, action trackers, operational briefs, situation updates, and management notes to deliver concise, timely, and decision-oriented information to senior management. Oversee the integration of inputs from program, RAM, Supply Chain, Finance, Field Offices, and other departments into a unified operational narrative and standardized set of metrics for management, government stakeholders, the UN, donors, the Regional Bureau, and Headquarters. Ensure the transformation of intricate analytical and operational data into concise, straightforward, and practical communications tailored to diverse stakeholder groups. Response Performance, Learning, and Adaptation This role demands consistent responsiveness, a commitment to ongoing development, and a capacity for rapid adjustment to evolving circumstances. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to analyze feedback, implement improvements, and adapt strategies based on performance metrics and changing requirements. The position requires a proactive approach to skill enhancement, with an emphasis on leveraging insights to refine processes and achieve measurable outcomes. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and flexibility skills are essential to meet dynamic challenges and drive continuous growth. Regularly assess progress in relation to the CONOPS, milestones, targets, and operational plans, determining when execution must be expedited, modified, or redirected to ensure alignment with objectives. Conduct operational reviews and after-action/lessons-learned sessions at critical junctures throughout the response effort, and implement corrective measures based on the resulting recommendations. Develop and foster an adaptive management framework that leverages evidence, operational insights, and evolving circumstances to iteratively enhance and refine the response strategy. KEY DELIVERABLES Over the course of this 11-month engagement, the consultant will be tasked with providing and sustaining: An El Niño CONOPS/integrated response plan that is officially sanctioned and kept current, encompassing scenarios, targeting criteria, interventions, operational approaches, transfer values, organizational frameworks, and resource allocations. Develop and maintain a comprehensive preparedness and response calendar, along with a critical-path tracker and milestone dashboard, ensuring clear delineation of responsibilities and key decision points. The Emergency/El Niño Task Force must operate efficiently and be managed effectively, with all decisions meticulously documented, action items systematically tracked, and follow-up procedures rigorously implemented. Regular management decision briefs compile and analyze critical evidence, operational performance, emerging risks, key bottlenecks, and recommended actions to support informed leadership decisions. As a sophisticated tool for operational readiness and response, this tracker encompasses program management, supply chain and logistics, partnership coordination, resource allocation, and on-the-ground field implementation. Developed and consolidated content for donor briefings, resource mobilization materials, situation reports, and corporate or regional reporting. Periodically, we conduct reviews of scenarios and responses to incorporate updated RAM analysis, current market conditions, IPC/VAC findings, forecasts, harvest information, and operational performance. Additionally, we produce a comprehensive after-action/lessons-learned and transition report, complete with recommendations for sustained response efforts, early recovery initiatives, and institutional preparedness. FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: Education: A master’s degree or higher in International Affairs, Development Studies, Humanitarian Affairs, Economics, Food Security, Logistics/Supply Chain Management, Disaster Risk Management, or a closely related discipline is required; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree combined with significant, hands-on professional experience in a relevant field may be considered. Experience: A decade or more of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian and emergency operations is required, with a strong background in managing large-scale or complex emergency responses. The preferred applicant should possess the following qualifications: Demonstrated expertise in managing large-scale humanitarian and emergency response initiatives, ideally within the World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations (UN), or another equivalent international humanitarian organization. Experienced in formulating and implementing Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), emergency response strategies, contingency measures, and operational frameworks to ensure readiness and effective crisis management. With a proven track record in integrating program and supply chain/logistics functions, you bring a deep comprehension of food-assistance operations, including commodity planning, procurement and sourcing, warehousing, transport, distribution, and last-mile delivery. Experienced in leading multifunctional emergency response teams, with a proven track record of facilitating seamless collaboration across program management, assessment, supply chain, finance, partnerships, field operations, and other critical functions to ensure timely delivery. Experienced in leveraging food security and operational analysis to guide program decisions, encompassing targeting strategies, transfer modalities, value determination, geographic prioritization, and response scale assessment. Senior-level professionals must have a proven track record of effectively collaborating with government entities, donor organizations, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and inter-agency coordination platforms. Professional Rewrite: Demonstrated expertise in leading or facilitating emergency task forces, operational cells, or comparable emergency management frameworks. Highly desirable candidates will possess prior experience in addressing drought and/or climate-related emergencies, with a preference for those based in Africa, particularly Southern Africa. Having prior experience in emergency response within the World Food Program (WFP) would provide a significant competitive edge. Skills: Effective proficiency in both verbal and written communication is required. Demonstrated proficiency in analytical reasoning, coupled with the capacity to leverage data-driven insights for strategic program development and informed decision-making. Proven ability to cultivate and sustain productive relationships with diverse stakeholders through exceptional interpersonal skills and effective communication. Proven capability to effectively prioritize and execute multiple tasks concurrently while adhering to stringent deadlines in an independent work environment. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, take proactive measures, and interact with professionalism and diplomacy. Capable of fostering productive collaborations across diverse cultural and international contexts. Proficiency in computer applications and systems is required. Language: Fluent English language proficiency at the C1/C2 level (as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required. Preferred qualifications for this position include prior experience in a similar role or industry-related background. Candidates should demonstrate foundational knowledge and practical skills relevant to the job’s core functions. Familiarity with key processes, tools, or methodologies pertinent to the position is highly valued. Additionally, exposure to related fields or transferable competencies may be considered beneficial. The ideal applicant will possess the following qualifications and competencies: A highly experienced emergency management professional, characterized by keen operational judgment and the ability to collaborate seamlessly with senior leadership and technical experts. Skilled in articulating and conveying complex concepts with clarity and persuasiveness through both written and verbal communication, proficient in engaging diverse audiences including Government entities, UN representatives, donors, senior leadership, and operational teams. An outstanding coordinator and integrator adept at bridging program development, evidence-based approaches, logistical planning, resource allocation, and implementation strategies—rather than operating within a narrow technical compartment. Highly results-driven and execution-focused, with the ability to distill complex or extensive information into concise priorities, actionable steps, designated owners, and defined deadlines. Proficient in data analysis and analytics, with the capability to thoroughly examine evidence, assess its operational significance, and empower data-driven decision-making processes. Proven expertise in facilitation, negotiation, and influencing, with a demonstrated ability to align diverse functions and stakeholders, even amidst conflicting priorities or differing perspectives. Able to proactively identify potential bottlenecks, provide high-level strategic direction while managing operational specifics, and escalate issues as necessary. Detail-oriented and level-headed in dynamic, high-stakes emergency situations, with a strong ability to make decisive judgments and implement effective solutions promptly. A skilled writer proficient in crafting clear, impactful CONOPS, management briefs, donor materials, and operational updates of the highest standard. DUE DATE: Midnight, 11:59 PM Zambian Time, on September 5, 2026, marks the final submission deadline for all applications. WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK The WFP Leadership Framework establishes the shared principles of conduct that define how we collaborate to achieve our shared mission. As you can access the WFP Leadership Framework through this link, you will find comprehensive guidelines and resources designed to support leadership development within the organization. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION WFP is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment by offering appropriate accommodations to candidates with disabilities during all stages of recruitment. 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