Head of Engagement Team and Deputy Director (p5)

Organizational Context

The School Meals Accelerator (SMA), hosted by WFP, supports governments in scaling national school meal programs. Operating as a network catalyst, it mobilizes resources and expertise to deliver strategic technical assistance. SMA aims to help low- and lower-middle-income countries reach an additional 100 million children by 2030, fostering human capital development through a systems-thinking approach.

Job Purpose

The Head of Engagement Team and Deputy Director (P5) is a senior leadership role within the School Meals Accelerator (SMA), reporting to the Director. This position is responsible for shaping and leading the SMA's political engagement, cultivating high-value networks, and strengthening senior-level relationships to ensure a supportive authorizing environment. The postholder will oversee the Governance Committee, partner with its Chair and members for co-creation, and build strategic relationships with key stakeholders like the School Meals Coalition Secretariat. Additionally, they will define, elevate, and amplify the SMA's narrative, support the Director's public positioning, and articulate results and impact. In the Director's absence, the postholder will act as Officer-in-Charge, ensuring continuity in decision-making and accountability. This role requires a systemic leadership approach, adept at navigating complexity, uncertainty, and interdependencies to drive country-led change.

Responsibilities

The Head of Engagement Team plays a pivotal role in the School Meals Accelerator (SMA), a new initiative under the School Meals Coalition hosted by the World Food Programme. This senior position is responsible for shaping and leading the SMA's high-level political engagement, cultivating strategic networks, and strengthening relationships to ensure a supportive environment for scaling national school meal programs. The role involves stewarding the SMA's Governance Committee, building relationships with key stakeholders like the School Meals Coalition Secretariat, and articulating the Accelerator's mission and systemic approach through compelling narratives. The postholder will also act as Officer-in-Charge in the Director's absence, ensuring leadership continuity. Key accountabilities include supporting the development and execution of the SMA's strategy, translating strategic direction into actionable plans, and overseeing execution with performance mechanisms. The role demands exceptional communication, strategic judgment, political acuity, and advanced analytical skills to advise senior leadership, manage complex relationships, and drive systemic change towards reaching an additional 100 million children by 2030.

Work Experience

Requires at least eleven years of senior leadership experience in complex international, political, or multi-stakeholder environments. Must have demonstrated international experience fostering collaboration with diverse partners, leading high-level political engagement, and shaping governance bodies. Substantial experience in strategic communications, narrative development, and crafting executive messages is also essential. Strong strategic judgment, political acuity, and advanced analytical skills are required.

Skills

Strategic leadership, Political engagement, Network facilitation, Systems thinking, Stakeholder management, Governance stewardship, Narrative development, Cross-cultural collaboration, Adaptability, Problem-solving, Communication, Diplomacy, Analytical skills, Facilitation, Coordination

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