DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
23 June 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
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 position is based in Rome, Italy and reports to the Head of Aviation Service Training Unit (ASTU).
The Aviation Training Officer operates within a specialized technical environment and leads the development, coordination, and continuous improvement of aviation technical and operational training across WFP, ensuring aviation personnel meet required safety, competency, and regulatory standards for humanitarian air operations
THE ROLE
The role oversees WFP Aviation’s competency based training framework and minimum mandatory training requirements and provides technical support to Headquarters and field aviation operations. The incumbent also drives continuous technical engagement with ICAO, Civil Aviation Authorities, academic aviation institutions, and aviation technical organizations to ensure aviation training systems remain current, compliant, and operationally relevant for humanitarian air operations.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive, within delegated authority):
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Design, implement and lead aviation technical and operational training programmes to ensure aviation employees meet required regulatory and humanitarian aviation standards for safe and effective aviation operations.
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Lead and oversee the minimum mandatory aviation training requirements framework to ensure consistent, competency-based training across aviation functions.
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Deliver technical training to WFP staff and partners to promote safe use of aviation services.
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Develop and maintain aviation technical policies, procedures and guidance to ensure alignment with WFP Aviation's operational documentation and training standards.
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Contribute to the continuous improvement of aviation training by integrating evaluations and lessons learned into updated materials and processes to ensure training stays relevant, high-quality and effective.
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Act as the technical support to the field by providing technical guidance and oversight to aviation field operations, ensuring consistent technical capacity across field operations.
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Collaborate with internal counterparts and external partners to align aviation activities with wider UN and WFP programmes and activities to ensure a coherent approach to humanitarian air tranportation.
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Lead aviation training technical partnerships and maintaining structured communication with external partners to ensure alignment with WFP Aviation’s training needs and standards.
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Represent WFP Aviation in internal and external technical forums to promote knowledge sharing, strengthen training partnerships, and provide technical expertise in meetings and workshops organized by the humanitarian sector, aviation industry, and regulatory authorities in the area of capacity development.
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Review and/or prepare accurate and timely reports to support a WFP-wide view of aviation activities that enables informed decision-making and detailed reporting to donor representatives.
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Engage with Civil Aviation Authorities, recognized aviation training organizations and academic institutions to sustain technical partnerships and access to specialized aviation expertise.
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Conduct regular financial analysis and budget reviews, drawing out insights and recommending actions to senior staff to optimise use of available funds.
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Plan, organize and supervise the work of more junior staff to ensure that tasks are accomplished in a manner consistent with organization requirements.
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Perform other related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Education:
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Advanced University degree in Aviation Management, Aeronautics, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.
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Training, qualification and/or certification related to Aviation Management and Delivering Learning & Development initiatives
Experience:
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At least 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in designing and delivering aviation technical training for humanitarian air operations is critical, including work with competency-based and recurrent training approaches.
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Proven experience in designing and developing a cross-functional minimum mandatory technical training framework for diverse humanitarian aviation operational profiles is mandatory.
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Experience in leading structured technical partnerships with ICAO, Civil Aviation Authorities, specialized academic institutions and industry bodies demonstrated through tangible outputs such as MoUs and Partnerships agreements supporting humanitarian aviation is also required.
Language:
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Fluency (level C) in English language.
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Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).
MORE ABOUT YOU:
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Sound technical understanding in aviation training systems, including competency-based approaches, recurrent training, and mandatory training frameworks aligned with WFP Aviation and international aviation regulations.
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Good knowledge of humanitarian aviation operations and their regulatory ecosystem, with the ability to reflect operational, regulatory and organization developments in training design.
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Ability to supervise and mentor junior staff.
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Proven capacity to build and manage technical partnerships, including structured engagement with Civil Aviation Authorities, recognized aviation training providers, academic institutions and humanitarian aviation stakeholders
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex aviation training requirements into clear technical guidance and recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
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Knowledge of standard humanitarian aviation management processes and the ability to quickly assimilate WFP Aviation procedures, systems and compliance requirements.
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Fluency (level C) in French language is desirable.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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This is an International Professional position and is open to all nationalities.
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Mobility is and continues to be a core contractual requirement in WFP. This position is however classified as “non-rotational” which means the incumbent shall not be subject to the regular reassignment process unless the position is reclassified as rotational.
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The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year.
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This position is open to both internal and external candidates.
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WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, travel, visa and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance. For more information, visithttps://icsc.un.org/.
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The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Rome, Italy to take up this assignment.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
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.
