Partnerships Officer - Global Philanthropy

Deadline for Applications 25 January 2026 - 23:59 GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

Job Title

Partnerships Officer - Global Philanthropy

Unit / Division

Private Sector Partnerships (PSP)

Duty Station

Rome HQ

Contract Type

CST II

Line Manager / Supervisor

Head of Global Philanthropy, PSP

Equal Employment Opportunity

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to equal employment opportunity for all 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 and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

Why Join WFP

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize laureate
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse and multicultural working environment
• WFP invests in personal and professional development through training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship and other programs as well as internal mobility opportunities
• Career path allows work across various country, regional and global offices around the world with passionate colleagues ensuring effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people
• We offer an attractive compensation package (see Terms and Conditions)

Job Purpose

Philanthropy is a new pillar of WFP’s private sector partnerships division. We are building a team to drive impactful outcomes in the next phase of WFP’s Private Sector strategy. The role will report to the Head of Global Philanthropy and support the full partnership lifecycle of WFP’s portfolio of prospective global philanthropists, focusing on business development, high‑net‑worth individual engagement and leveraging expertise and resources to create innovative solutions for hunger relief.

Key Standard Accountabilities

• Lead on creation and execution of a Business Development Strategy, Workplan and Pipeline
• Drive research and lead on identification and prioritization of high‑value prospects
• Lead on development of engagement/outreach strategies for prospect cultivation and landing, including tailored values‑driven legacies
• Provide advice, guidance and recommendations to WFP management on growing WFP’s philanthropic pipeline and partnerships
• Grow the HNWI prospect and partner list considerably and sustainably
• Provide advice on establishing an exclusive philanthropic club focused on WFP’s mission, including planning and executing engagement strategies and maintaining a healthy pipeline of prospects across regions in collaboration with Global Offices and Country Offices
• Support the launch of the WFP philanthropic club in May 2026
• Liaise with technical and field‑based colleagues to design and oversee innovative programmes and initiatives that leverage philanthropic investments to achieve measurable impacts for Zero Hunger
• Lead on leveraging high‑level cultivation opportunities, including events, conferences, forums, panels and roundtables to position WFP as a “go‑to” organization for partnerships with UHNWIs
• Support the planning and execution of high‑profile events co‑hosted by WFP
• Collaborate with other areas to develop effective customised communication materials that speak to the motivations of a UHNWI audience and support senior leadership meetings to grow existing partners
• Support the PSP Leadership and the Office of the Executive Director in mapping relevant engagement opportunities and drafting supporting documents, including speeches and briefing materials in collaboration with the Communications team
• Lead in maintaining Salesforce up to date, deliver biannual forecasting exercises

Deliverables

• Global Philanthropy Business Development Strategy and work plan
• Guidance for HQ Partnerships and Technical teams, RBs and COs to engage more strategically and systematically with HNWI
• Updated prospect lists, engagement/outreach strategies and communication materials/pitches for HNWI
• Updated Salesforce entries

Specific Job Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership in development and negotiation of bespoke partnerships with High‑Net‑Worth Individuals and Family Foundations/Offices, and/or previous philanthropic role experience
• Proven track record of cultivating and stewarding relationships with HNWIs and Family Offices at the highest level, securing six and seven‑figure donations
• Proven experience in growing and developing an existing portfolio with demonstrable outcomes, outputs and financial results
• Extensive new business experience, including research, planning, proposal preparation and negotiation with global prospects from diverse backgrounds
• Experience prospecting and securing new high‑value partners in an international organization with a humanitarian mission is desirable; banking sector knowledge preferred

Qualifications and Experience Required

Education

• First university degree in Political Science, International Relations, Development Economics, Marketing Communications or another relevant field; master’s degree desirable

Work history

• At least 8 years’ experience in global philanthropy partnership development/management and experience working in financial services; knowledge of humanitarian/development sector a plus

Soft Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent project management skills, with a proven record of bringing projects from inception to fruition
• Strong strategic thinking and communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to cultivate relationships and influence senior decision makers
• Understanding or appreciation for working in a large, complex, hierarchical, decentralized and geographically dispersed organization
• Drive, determination and resilience in the face of barriers and setbacks, key to succeeding in growing a new function for WFP
• Superior ability to explain complex issues to external partners, presenting the organization compellingly, including leveraging internal stakeholders in a sales pitch and aligning needs and interests
• Highly adaptable to change and comfortable dealing with ambiguity, stress and competing demands with grace and sense of humor

Languages

• Fully fluent in oral and written English
• Intermediate/advanced knowledge of another official UN language would be an asset (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish)

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

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 solicitation for payment of a fee, disregard it.

Reminders Before You Submit Your Application

• All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system; CVs or spontaneous applications by email are not accepted
• If challenges while submitting your online application, contact for technical support only
• Applications sent to the email address cannot be considered
• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade if applicable
• Once your profile is completed, apply and submit your application
• The only documents required at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates may be requested at a future time
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

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, selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.