Digital Platform Manager Consultant

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

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 and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

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).

JOB TITLE: Digital Platform Manager

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Consultant Level II

UNIT/DIVISION: Digital Channels, COMD

DUTY STATION (City, Country): HQ Rome, Italy

DURATION: 11 months

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Under the general supervision and guidance of the Head of Digital, the Digital Platforms Manager leads the direction, roadmap and performance of WFP’s public-facing digital platforms, including WFP.org and Freerice. The role ensures these platforms deliver high-impact digital engagement, support organizational priorities, and scale WFP’s global reach.

Within the structure of COM and the Digital Unit, the position plays a central role in aligning editorial, technical and user experience priorities, ensuring that WFP’s digital platforms remain relevant, effective and fit for purpose in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

The role also plays a key role in the implementation of major transformation initiatives, including the WFP.org revamp 2026, aimed at strengthening WFP.org’s position as a leading global platform on food security and a driver of resource mobilization.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Digital Manager is accountable for the performance, relevance and continuous improvement of WFP’s digital platforms (WFP.org and Freerice).

Digital Platforms Leadership, Roadmap and Governance

• Serve as the primary focal point for WFP’s digital platforms, balancing organizational priorities, editorial needs, technical considerations and user requirements.
• Lead the development and implementation of the digital platforms strategy, ensuring alignment with COM priorities and evolving organizational needs.
• Define and maintain platform governance frameworks, including standards, workflows, ownership and quality controls, to ensure consistent and scalable operations.
• Own and continuously refine the product roadmap, translating strategic priorities into actionable plans and prioritising initiatives based on organizational impact, user value and technical feasibility.
• Responsible for prioritising platform initiatives based on organizational impact, user needs and available resources.
• Lead and coordinate external vendors (design, development, analytics), ensuring quality delivery, clear outputs and alignment with platform priorities.
• Contribute to budget planning and monitor allocation and expenditure to ensure investments support roadmap priorities and measurable outcomes.

UX Leadership and Product Development

• Lead the user experience (UX) of WFP.org and Freerice, applying best practices in web design, accessibility and usability to enhance engagement and performance.
• Plan and oversee user research and data analysis to understand audience needs, validate design decisions and inform continuous platform improvements.
• Coordinate with designers and developers to ensure alignment with WFP visual identity and adherence to best practices across digital products.

Platform Operations, Content Alignment and Stakeholder Coordination

• Supervise and manage the web team, establishing priorities, monitoring progress, and ensuring skills development and high performance.
• Serve as the main focal point for HQ units and Country Offices on WFP.org-related requests, ensuring alignment with platform priorities and organizational objectives.
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on content quality, positioning and alignment with WFP’s corporate narratives.
• Work closely with the Tech Lead to translate platform priorities into technical delivery, ensuring alignment between product direction and implementation.
• Collaborate with writers and content specialists to plan and steer priority content, ensuring alignment with audience needs, strategic narratives, and SEO/GEO principles.
• Oversee the planning and optimisation of web and search-driven digital campaigns (including Google Ads) for COM, ensuring alignment with platform objectives related to traffic, engagement and conversion.
• Design and maintain data-driven workflows that inform content production, platform decisions and prioritisation, enabling continuous improvement.
• Support the exploration and integration of AI-enabled tools to enhance platform functionality and user/editor experience.

Freerice: Product Coordination and Partnerships

• Lead the development and refinement of the Freerice product roadmap in coordination with the Tech Lead, balancing business, partner and user needs.
• Manage coordination for Freerice corporate partnerships, ensuring requirements and timelines remain aligned across stakeholders

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Digital platforms roadmap and implementation plan for WFP.org and Freerice.
• Delivery oversight of the WFP.org revamp, including key milestones and stakeholder alignment.
• Improved platform performance and user engagement, supported by data-driven optimisation.
• Implementation of workflows and tools that enhance editorial and user experience, including pilots of AI-enabled solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education: University degree in Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, Media Communications or related fields.

Experience: Minimum 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in digital platforms, website management, UX or related areas.

Knowledge & skills:

• Strong analytical and project management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multi-stakeholder digital initiatives and deliver in complex environments.
• Excellent knowledge of content management systems (e.g. Drupal).
• Understanding of front-end and back-end web development and ability to liaise effectively with technical teams.
• Strong experience in user research, UX and digital product development.
• Experience with SEO, GEO and digital analytics.Experience contributing to planning and budgeting for digital initiatives.

Languages: Excellent written and oral knowledge of English. Knowledge of a second UN language is a plus.

Working Arrangements: Position is based in Rome, Italy

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

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: global.inclusion@wfp.org

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 global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org. 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.