Application Deadline
7 December 2025 – 23:59 GMT+01 (Central European Time, Rome).
About the School Meals Accelerator
The School Meals Accelerator is a new initiative hosted by WFP, launched in 2026 in partnership with 110+ countries and 140+ stakeholders. It will provide demand‑led, country‑driven support across three pillars: national program design, partnership alignment, and learning & knowledge. The goal is to unlock the full potential of school meal programmes, aiming to reach an additional 100 million children by 2030 with healthy, nutritious meals in school.
Role
Business Support Associate – G6 (Full‑Time, Fixed‑Term, Rome, Italy). The associate will provide essential business and administrative support across the Accelerator’s operations. The role includes front‑office coordination, logistics, resource tracking, and mission support, helping to maintain high standards of efficiency and contributing directly to the Accelerator’s objectives.
Key Responsibilities

Provide dedicated executive‑assistant support: calendar management, travel arrangements and coordination of high‑level meetings with governments and partners.
Prepare and consolidate reports, documentation, correspondence and briefing materials related to Accelerator activities, including technical assistance missions and partner engagement.
Actively seek and use feedback to improve business processes and procedures, contributing to the efficient delivery across core pillars.
Respond to complex business‑support queries from internal and external stakeholders, ensuring timely and accurate resolution aligned with SMA operational priorities.
Maintain records and databases related to Accelerator operations, ensuring information is well‑organised, accessible and compliant with relevant policies.
Review and revise correspondence and documentation to provide quality assurance and timely delivery of materials supporting SMA’s country engagement and learning functions.
Assist managers in planning, monitoring and reconciling budgets linked to Accelerator activities, ensuring effective use of financial resources.
Assess and recommend improvements to administrative procedures and practices, enhancing delivery of business‑support services within the dynamic multi‑partner environment.
Offer a full range of complex business‑support services, contributing to the smooth functioning of technical assistance, partnership coordination and knowledge exchange.
Provide advice, support and informal training to junior support staff, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing team.
Coordinate tasks of junior colleagues to ensure consistent delivery of support services to required standards across Accelerator operations.

Minimum Qualifications

Secondary school education completed; post‑secondary certificate in a related functional area.
Six or more years of progressively responsible experience in business support or general administrative work.
Proficiency with standard business workflows, including procurement, travel, HR, finance and administrative procedures; ability to apply practical tools for scheduling, document management, reporting and data entry.
Strong knowledge of organisational platforms and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Workday) and document‑tracking tools.
Ability to analyse financial data, monitor and reconcile budgets and service‑related expenses.
Excellent communication and coordination skills; experience managing senior managers’ schedules.
Ability to build cross‑functional relationships and maintain strict confidentiality with sensitive information.
Strong organisational, prioritisation and multitasking skills; able to manage competing deadlines under time pressure.

Desirable Requirements

Experience coordinating the work of others and providing training and support.
Experience organising and coordinating large‑scale events involving many participants.
Proactive in identifying and recommending improvements to specialised services.
Openness to testing ideas in uncertain environments.
Fluency (Level C) in English.

Additional Information
Venue: WFP Headquarters, Rome, Italy (Via Cesare Giulio Viola). Only local recruitment – applicants must be Italian citizens or hold a valid residency permit to work in Italy and reside within 100 km of Rome; relocation assistance is not provided.
Employment type: Full‑time, Fixed‑Term contract (G6). All applications and supporting documents must be submitted in English.
EEO Statement
WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free from discrimination, harassment and abuse. All employment decisions are made on the basis of organisational needs, job requirements, merit and individual qualifications.
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