Director D2, Private Sector Partnerships (Chief Fundraising Officer)

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

18 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 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.

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).

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Partnerships and Innovation (PI) Department leads WFP's engagement with external partners to advance the organization's core mission and Strategic Plan. PI positions WFP, mobilizes and stewards partnerships and resources, and strengthens advocacy, and provides the strategy, analysis, and tools that enable WFP to be more agile, fast, and sophisticated in resource mobilization, working closely with regional offices and country offices to deepen partner relationships and deliver impact at scale. The Department is WFP's primary interface with governments, multilateral organizations, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the private sector, foundations, academia, and strategic networks — combining global positioning with field-focused, operational support.

Within PI, the Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSP) leads WFP's global engagement with the private sector, mobilizing resources, expertise, innovation and advocacy in support of WFP's mission to achieve Zero Hunger. The Division plays a critical role in diversifying WFP's funding base, strengthening strategic partnerships and expanding private-sector contributions to humanitarian and development outcomes worldwide.

Working across WFP's Headquarters, Regional Offices, Country Offices and Friends Organizations, PSP develops and manages private-sector partnerships that generate financial and non-financial value, supports fundraising and business development across the organization, and advances innovative approaches that increase WFP's impact, reach and sustainability. The Division manages a global portfolio of strategic partnerships and fundraising activities and is central to WFP's ambition to increase private-sector income to US$1 billion annually by 2030.

The Director, PSP provides strategic leadership for WFP's global private-sector engagement function, driving partnership growth, resource mobilization and innovation across a diverse portfolio of fundraising and partnership channels. The Director is responsible for strengthening organizational capabilities, expanding WFP's private-sector ecosystem and positioning WFP as the partner of choice for private-sector stakeholders worldwide. Championing the power of private-sector partnerships to drive innovation and impact, the Director serves as WFP's lead strategist for engagement in major global forums — including the World Economic Forum (WEF), the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and COP — and co-represents the organization at these and other high-profile events.

JOB PURPOSE

To provide strategic leadership and direction for WFP's global private-sector engagement portfolio by driving partnership growth, resource mobilization, innovation and influence; strengthening WFP's private-sector ecosystem; and positioning the organization to secure greater impact, income and long-term value through partnerships with companies, foundations, philanthropists and individuals.

IMPACT OF RESULTS

The Director, PSP leads one of WFP's most strategically important functions, responsible for driving growth in private-sector engagement and resource mobilization worldwide. As WFP works towards annual private-sector income of US$1 billion by 2030, the incumbent's leadership, network, judgement and decision-making will be critical to expanding revenue streams, strengthening strategic relationships, enhancing WFP's reputation and positioning the organization for sustained long-term growth.

Decisions taken at this level have significant consequences for WFP's income generation, organizational effectiveness, partnership performance and global competitiveness. The incumbent is accountable for ensuring that WFP maximizes the value of private-sector engagement and secures the resources, capabilities and partnerships required to support the organization's strategic objectives and operations worldwide.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Strategy and positioning

1. Lead the development and implementation of WFP's global private-sector partnerships strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and organizational objectives.

2. Provide strategic leadership and oversight of WFP's global private-sector engagement portfolio, delivering sustainable income growth, increased partner value and long-term diversification across corporate partnerships, foundations, philanthropy, individual giving, digital fundraising and emerging funding streams.

3. Monitor global philanthropic, fundraising and private-sector trends, assess market opportunities and risks, and provide strategic insight and recommendations to senior management to strengthen WFP's competitiveness, positioning and long-term growth.

4. Drive the expansion of existing markets and the development of new partnership opportunities, funding models and engagement approaches to diversify and strengthen WFP's resource base.

5. Shape and champion the business case for strategic investment in private-sector engagement, ensuring WFP allocates the people, capabilities, systems, technology and operating resources required to achieve income growth targets, strengthen organizational effectiveness and support long-term sustainability.

Partnership development and resource mobilization

6. Position WFP as a partner of choice for the private sector by building and maintaining relationships with senior executives, philanthropic leaders, investors and other influential stakeholders.

7. Identify, develop and advance high-value partnerships that generate financial resources, expertise, innovation, influence and other strategic value for WFP.

8. Champion integrated partnership strategies that bring together corporations, foundations, philanthropists, financial institutions and other ecosystem actors to unlock innovative solutions, mobilize additional resources and maximize collective impact.

9. Lead the exploration and adoption of innovative partnership approaches, blended finance solutions and emerging engagement models to expand WFP's reach, income and impact.

10. Provide executive oversight of WFP's most strategic private-sector partnerships, ensuring effective stewardship, governance, risk management and delivery of partnership commitments.

11. Provide strategic leadership for global fundraising, advocacy and engagement initiatives, in collaboration with relevant internal and external stakeholders, to strengthen WFP's visibility, supporter engagement and resource mobilization results.

Representation, influence and collaboration

12. Represent WFP in high-level external meetings, conferences, forums and strategic engagements to promote organizational priorities, strengthen partnerships and expand opportunities for collaboration.

13. Advise and support WFP's senior leadership team on private-sector engagement priorities, strategic partnerships and external positioning opportunities, and coordinate and leverage their engagement to advance priority partnerships and resource mobilization objectives.

14. Strengthen collaboration across Headquarters, Regional Offices, Country Offices and Friends Organizations to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to private-sector engagement worldwide, including the development of public-private partnerships where relevant.

15. Support the Assistant Executive Director in positioning the Department and, as a member of the senior management team, contribute to the achievement of its overall objectives.

Management and governance

16. Oversee divisional performance management — including income growth, financial performance, forecasting, pipeline management, KPI monitoring and business reporting — ensuring accountability, data-driven decision-making and timely corrective action.

17. Ensure effective governance, risk management, compliance and stewardship across the Division, safeguarding WFP's reputation and partnership assets, and lead the timely implementation of evaluation, audit and compliance recommendations.

18. Assume overall responsibility for divisional performance, organizational culture, staff engagement, talent development, succession planning, workforce planning and resource management, ensuring PSP has the capabilities, leadership and talent required to achieve its strategic objectives.

19. Foster a culture of innovation, performance and continuous improvement, ensuring PSP remains responsive to evolving market trends, donor expectations and partnership opportunities.

20. Promote an inclusive, diverse and respectful workplace consistent with WFP's values and leadership principles.

21. Perform other related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Economics, International development, Social or Political sciences, Marketing Communications, or other relevant area, or first university degree with additional relevant experience and/or advanced training/courses.

Experience, Knowledge & Skills:

• Fifteen years or more (of which six international) of senior level experience in a relevant field of work.

• Proven success in managing complex global private-sector partnerships encompassing fundraising, brand building, capacity building and network management.

• Background and/or interest in international humanitarian development.

• Extensive experience leading large multicultural teams and improving performance.

• Excellent commercial acumen and financial management skills, with the ability to leverage external partnerships to optimize resources for WFP.

• A track record of dealing with and influencing at the highest levels within and beyond the organization.

• Ability to assimilate and analyse complex issues to develop strategies and policies.

• Detailed understanding of business principals and processes, and the ability to quickly assimilate UN/WFP specific processes and systems.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in the English language

• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Russian, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language)

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:  [email protected]

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 [email protected]. 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.