Food Safety and Quality Assurance Officer (Niamey)

About the role

The World Food Programme (WFP) is hiring a Food Safety and Quality Assurance Officer in Niamey, Niger. The post leads and continues food safety and quality management and/or food product optimization initiatives at country level, supporting the collection, analysis and reporting of information on WFP food safety and quality initiatives, policies and procedures, and liaising with supply chain and programme functions.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical inputs to implement policies and procedures that align WFP's FSQA approach with FSQA and supply chain strategies, and support compliance with FSQA regulations.
• Draft inputs for the design and implementation of food assistance programmes so that food safety and quality are embedded in all food-related operations.
• Gather information for risk and incident documentation, help investigate food safety concerns and share lessons learned.
• Follow FSQA regulations in organizing field operations systems, including product specifications, communication with regulatory authorities and supplier assessment and compliance testing.
• Support supply chain colleagues in maintaining and monitoring food safety and quality throughout the supply chain.
• Liaise with UN agencies, NGOs, governments and the private sector to compile data for operational collaboration.
• Take part in FSQA assurance and packaging research, including sample collection, data review and consultations.
• Contribute to strengthening the capacity of local food producers and local food and food control systems, including quality assurance, laboratory testing, inspection and food standards.
• Collect and organize data for reports that inform planning and decision-making, and act in an emergency response capacity when required.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in Food Technology, Health Sciences, Food Control, Nutrition or a related field, or first university degree with two additional years of related work experience.
• At least 1 year of relevant experience in food safety and quality, or in procurement, logistics and/or supply chain management.
• Fluency (level C) in English and the duty station's language, if different.
• Experience or training in food safety and quality protocols, and in data collection and analysis.
• Experience working in collaborative teams, including in emergency or time-sensitive operations.

Applications are submitted only through the WFP online recruiting system, with a CV and cover letter; shortlisted candidates are contacted for further steps.