Business Support Assistant SC 5 - Roster for the Caribbean Multi-Country Office
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
30 October 2026-23:59-GMT-04:00 Atlantic Standard Time (Barbados)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: 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).
CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
The World Food Programme (WFP) Caribbean Multi Country Office (MCO) invites applications from qualified nationals of CARICOM Member States for inclusion in its Business Support Assistant Roster.
The purpose of this roster is to establish a pool of pre qualified candidates who may be considered for short to medium term administrative support opportunities across the countries and territories covered by the Caribbean MCO, based on existing and/or future operational requirements.
WFP is seeking adaptable, service oriented, and results focused professionals who can contribute to the efficient delivery of business support services and help strengthen WFP's ability to serve vulnerable communities across the Caribbean.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT:
In 2018, WFP re-established its presence in the Caribbean with an office in Barbados. The WFP Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) supports 22 countries and territories across the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. WFP Caribbean’s capacity strengthening programme focuses on vulnerability analysis and mapping; end-to-end supply chain management; shock-responsive social protection; school-based programming; food systems strengthening; and climate risk financing. In times of crisis, WFP works with partners to provide direct assistance when events surpass national and regional capacities by delivering food, cash or voucher assistance, or through emergency logistics or emergency telecommunications service provision.
Countries covered by the WFP Caribbean Multi-Country Office include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas (the), Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
At this level job holders are expected to take responsibility for completion of a range of tasks and activities requiring some interpretation of standard guidelines/practices. Job holders are expected to recommend a course of action to staff at various levels and may allocate tasks to other support staff.
JOB PURPOSE:
Successful candidates may be considered for assignments within a variety of functional areas including:
Management Services - To support the effective day-to-day delivery of specialised, client-focused, and value-for-money services pertaining to the Management Services portfolio which includes asset management, travel, facilities management, vendor management etc.
Finance - To support effective delivery of finance, budget and administration support services in order to facilitate transparent and efficient utilization of financial resources.
Human Resources - To perform a range of HR tasks to support accurate implementation of WFP policies and procedures and facilitate the effective functioning of a client focused and strategy-oriented HR services.
Programme - To perform specialized and/or standardized policy and programme-related processes and activities to support the effective delivery of assistance packages.
Logistics - To implement well-defined standard logistics/supply chain processes and activities to enable effective delivery of goods and services for all delivery modalities.
Procurement - To perform and apply appropriate processes, procedures and policies that support the efficient and effective procurement services.
Information Technology - To deliver high quality technical support, system and data maintenance across a range of areas, in order to contribute to the effective delivery of IT services.
Communication - To perform general administrative and some specialised communications processes that support the creation of communications content and the delivery of communications services aimed at maintaining and enhancing WFP’s visibility and reputation and supporting fundraising activities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):
Provide administrative, operational, and business support services to facilitate the efficient delivery of programme and corporate activities.
Prepare, compile, and review reports, correspondence, records, presentations, and other documentation to support informed decision making and effective service delivery.
Respond to routine enquiries from internal and external stakeholders, providing accurate information and guidance in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Maintain organized filing systems, databases, records, and information management tools to ensure data accuracy, accessibility, and compliance with organizational standards.
Support the implementation of administrative, financial, logistics, procurement, programme, human resources, communications, or information technology processes, as applicable to the assigned function.
Monitor workflows and follow up on pending actions to ensure timely completion of tasks and adherence to established deadlines.
Assist with data collection, validation, and basic analysis to support reporting requirements and operational planning.
Coordinate meetings, events, travel arrangements, workshops, and other administrative activities as required and as related to specific function of assignment.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders to support collaboration and service delivery.
Review documents and correspondence for accuracy, completeness, and consistency with corporate standards and guidelines.
Identify opportunities to improve business processes and contribute to the implementation of efficiency and quality improvement initiatives.
Provide guidance and on the job support to junior staff or new team members, where required.
Perform any other related duties as assigned in support of operational objectives.
The duties and responsibilities associated with this roster will vary according to the functional area, operational context, and specific requirements of the position being filled. Selected candidates may perform specialized tasks within one or more business support functions.
OTHER POST REQUIREMENTS:
WFP provides emergency response support to the 22 English and Dutch-speaking countries in the Caribbean as needed. In this role, the incumbent may be required to:
Support the Unit's emergency response activities.
Deploy to affected countries to assist with Unit operations as required.
Work beyond regular working hours to support emergency response efforts.
STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
Completion of secondary school education. A post-secondary certificate in the related functional area is desirable.
Experience:
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in general administrative support, preferably within the relevant business functions as mentioned above.
Knowledge & Skills:
• Experience collecting, organising, and analysing information to support operational and administrative processes.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to provide professional, client focused support and guidance to colleagues and stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records, reports, and documentation.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and administrative guidelines.
• Experience working effectively in diverse teams and collaborating across functional areas.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing operational priorities, including emergency response situations.
• Flexibility to work extended hours or deploy to support emergency operations when required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Knowledge of UN, humanitarian, or WFP operations would be an advantage.
Language:
Fluency in both oral and written communication in the English language.
WHO CAN APPLY?
This position is open to nationals national of any of the countries covered by the Caribbean MCO. CARICOM nationals who accept an offer for a position in a CARICOM country other than their home country bear sole responsibility for required actions or expenses related to relocation, accommodation, repatriation and any other living expenses, etc. A CARICOM Skilled National Certificate is a pre-requisite of employment for successful candidates who are not from the country for which the position is advertised.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ROSTER
All applications received will be reviewed and go through a selection process to assess relevant experience and qualifications. Applicants who meet the selection criteria may be contacted for further interviews or assessments and to confirm their continued interest and availability.
Successful candidates will be placed on a roster for short to medium term opportunities and may be contacted according to operational needs.
This roster does not constitute a guarantee of employment. Rather, it serves as a qualified talent pool from which candidates may be directly selected as vacancies arise. Rostered applicants may remain on the roster for 24 months.
WFP offers a competitive compensation package determined on the basis of the Terms of Reference and the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
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.