Overview
The Food Technologist will support and contribute to country office projects and programs with a specific focus on food technology and safety interventions. The role will provide support for data collection, risk analysis, and presentation of relevant information for the implementation of food safety and quality initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Support in collecting data and documentation required to shortlist potential food suppliers, especially smallholder cooperatives.
- Develop, collect, and analyze technical data (laboratory analysis, technical specifications, etc.) and contribute to preparing reports related to food quality and safety for various WFP operations.
- Establish risk-based control measures and prepare evidence-based recommendations for the local office to combat and reduce food product losses and food quality and safety issues.
- In case of food safety incidents, support investigation exercises to document and share lessons learned to reduce incident recurrence, including being a member of the Food Incident Management Committee.
- Contribute to the development and/or application of food quality-related protocols and tools, ensuring harmonization with WFP's procurement and supply chain strategy, policies, and plans.
- Ensure that food acquired for the office meets WFP specifications and that inspection companies adhere to stipulated work scope requirements.
- Support the Supply Chain during food procurement delivery moments, accompanying the inspection company, in accordance with corporate quality and food safety control standards.
- Support the office in executing the Local and Regional Food Procurement Policy (LRFPP), for small producers, which will require the development of tools, materials, and methodologies for supplier capacity development.
- Support office projects in aspects related to food quality of various food assistance programs (audits, food procurement, cash-based transfers, commodity vouchers, warehouse management, service provision, etc.), ensuring compliance with corporate food quality and safety standards.
- Support the capacity building of food suppliers, office staff, and WFP implementing partners for the efficient and effective delivery of food assistance to beneficiaries (e.g., through the design and review of training material).
- Identify and establish productive relationships with supply chain colleagues and other relevant units to support the integrated approach to food assistance.
- Follow emergency preparedness practices to ensure the local office can respond quickly and deploy necessary food and resources to affected areas at the onset of a crisis, including managing early releases of food.
- Stay abreast of new advances and cutting-edge research in food safety and quality and/or food product optimization to leverage opportunities for incorporating industry best practices into the supply chain.
Required Experience
- At least 6 years of experience in food quality assurance in management/supervisory roles, with progressively increasing responsibilities in the food quality area.
- Professional training and practical experience in applying advanced food quality and safety management systems.
- Professional experience in auditing management systems for the food industry (IFS / BRC / FSSC 22000, etc.).
- Experience implementing food quality and safety control protocols.
- Experience working with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) is essential and ease of use of new corporate systems.
Qualifications
Professional title in: food engineering; food sciences; food control, food safety, or other related fields, with postgraduate studies in areas related to the position's objective.
