PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Job holder is likely to be working under the supervision of the Country Director or his delegate. With minimum supervision, the holder will provide direct and substantive support to the CO Senior Management (CD and DCD) to effectively deliver WFP programs and activities in Jordan CO. The role will facilitate smooth operations for the Country Director’s daily work and broader projects.

DELIVERABLES: Within the delegated authority, the Special Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Respond to, review, or draft appropriate correspondence, documents, and management reports on behalf of the Country Director and filter matters that need decisions to his/her attention. Ensure that internal messaging to staff from the Country director is disseminated thoroughly and consistently, in coordination with DCD, human resources and communication colleagues as necessary.
• Draft high-quality background documents, talking points, speeches and prepare briefs for the Country Director and Deputy Country Director, coordinate inputs from across all country office units and field offices as needed. Arrange and coordinate high level visits and country office retreats in line with the Country Director’s wishes.
• In close collaboration with Management, Partnership, Reporting, Communication and Programme units, contribute to addressing donors’ requests on WFP programs. Support bilateral meetings and field missions. Ensure high quality of corporate and donor reports, correspondence, briefings and proposals, and other documents, prior to DCD’s review and clearance.
• Support the CD and DCD in meetings, workshops, events and conference for both Powerpoint presentations, talking points and notes for the record development as required.
• Analyze and engage in various emerging concepts/systems/policies related to the Jordan operation and coordinate/consolidate feedback as appropriate. Stay abreast of WFP Jordan operations, public policy trends and issues in relation to WFP mandate, conducting research where necessary, to contribute to horizon scanning of important socio-economic, environmental and political developments.
• Attend interagency, governmental, and internal meetings with the Country Director and Deputy Country Director as required, ensuring consistency and clarity in NFR and coordinating follow up actions as required.
• Liaise with other relevant actors in the CO, RB, and HQ on a regular basis with regards to follow up on issues, priorities and decisions concerning CO Management.
• Liaise with other UN and (I)NGO agency focal points, to ensure smooth and strong relations, information sharing, and coordination of meetings as necessary.
• Ensure that confidentiality on all subject matters is maintained.
• Perform other related duties and assignments as and when required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: Advanced university degree in Political Science, International Development, Economic Development, Marketing Communication or other relevant field.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of postgraduate professional experience related to relief or development environment.

Skills

Knowledge & Skills:

• Excellent strategic thinking, formulation and writing skills.
• Excellent listening skills and capacity to translate oral inputs into compelling written rationale.
• Knowledge of resource mobilization work and delivery of activities.
• Good analytical skills. Ability to compile, compare and analyze data.
• Demonstrated capacity to draft high-quality proposals and reports.
• Good synthesis skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to draft comprehensive and actionable minutes.
• Experience in negotiation with donors, Government, and external counterparts in line with internal policies and context-specific considerations.
• Experience collaborating with different CO units to elaborate accurate and timely briefs and reports for internal and external audiences.
• Good command of project management and capacity to organize multiple office activities under tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to give and receive information, and work with a variety of individuals.
• Dynamic, versatile, and flexible working behavior.

Languages: Fluency (level C) in English language (read and write). Arabic (duty station’s language) is a plus.