Open Position: Zonal Food Distribution Coordinator

Job Description

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith. Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type

Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

Major Responsibilities / Job Description

Program Design and Implementation

• Lead the implementation of planned community engagement and participation activities within WFP, ensuring alignment with organizational quality standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Act as the main focal point/technical person for community engagement and participation within the partner organization.
• Coordinate with WFP staff and relevant teams on all matters related to community engagement and participation.
• Ensure reviewed and inclusive tools and communication materials are used and mainstreamed effectively.
• Provide technical support across WFP sectors and departments to ensure inclusive participation (especially for people with functional limitations and child-headed households).
• Collaborate with the Safe and Dignified team to ensure safe and dignified programming.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support and facilitate data collection in collaboration with WFP sectors as needed.
• Lead assessments, analysis, and reporting efforts.
• Support the partner MEAL team and WFP staff in generating evidence to inform program improvements related to community engagement and the inclusion of people with functional limitations and child-headed households.
• Participate in technical working group meetings and forums, sharing knowledge and best practices.

Training and Capacity Building

• Facilitate and lead capacity-building activities on community engagement and participation.
• Deliver training sessions, mentor junior staff, and provide on-the-job support to field staff.
• Ensure that staff receive continuous support, mentoring, and skills strengthening—especially for delivering equitable services to persons with functional limitations, in collaboration with the CRS CEP team.
• Assess training needs regularly and develop tailored learning plans to strengthen staff competencies in inclusive and participatory approaches.

Warehouse Management, Commodity Transportation and Food Distribution Management

• Ensure logistics and transportation processes as per the donor requirements and plan carefully the delivery of commodities and ensure that they are delivered on time and at the right place.
• Advise and provide direction for the field team to make adequate preparations to receive commodities.
• Confirm availability of adequate warehouses in distribution sites and propose improvement areas.
• Ensure that food commodities delivered are appropriate to the food consumption habits of the target community.
• Check that available warehouses meet acceptable compliance rates by the donor.
• Ensure that standardized and healthy storage practices are implemented in all projects.
• Ensure the regular distribution of food assistance; warehouse management, and monitor the distribution and submit monthly/quarterly/yearly reports to the donor in the required format.
• Follow the adherence to food distribution requirements mentioned at the pre-distribution phase, during distribution, and post-distribution phases.
• Ensure all distribution of food is conducted as per the WV commodity management standard.
• Lead and maintain a smooth and productive relationship with local government partners at Woreda and Zonal level for effective implementation of the WFP program in the operational zones.
• Coordinate and foster relations with other World Vision Programs in the district to ensure proper allocation and sharing of resources.
• Coordinate with other Relief and Development Agencies, Local Authorities, and Government stakeholders in the district to ensure that food security interventions are targeted to the appropriate target population.
• Visit target communities on a regular basis to get their perceptions and experiences to assist in planning and developing relevant community-oriented and sustainable programs.
• Closely work with donors, project participants, and program leadership to improve and enhance Food Assistance operational quality through developing and implementing standard operating procedures.
• Liaise with local government and other government agents on issues related to the implementation of food assistance in the Zone. Ensure good representation of World Vision in government coordination meetings.

Finance/Budgeting Management

• Maintain tight budgetary control over all program budgets and ensure compliance with the grant rules and regulations of a variety of donors (WFP and WVI standards).
• Assist FRT in the creation of programmatic budgets, and recommend revisions where necessary in coordination with the donor.
• Create budgets and spending projections for the Commodity operations on a monthly basis.
• Prepare district budgets, expenditure analysis resources (financial and material), and staff management produce regular and timely progress reports regarding all food programs.

Commodity Tracking (Reporting and Accountability)

• Prepare monthly management reports, as well as monthly narrative reports for the district according to set standards and formats.
• Maintain a comprehensive commodity tracking system to ensure that all commodities are properly distributed and accounted for according to World Vision Partnership and major donor standards.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program finances, CPDR, and progress status, review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis.
• Ensure that all commodity losses and claims procedures are in accordance with the World Vision Partnership and donor requirements.
• Maintain inventory control on a monthly basis and ensure that the commodity book balances match with the actual stocks.
• Identify and formalize intervention objectives in conjunction with other teams and departments (logistics, finance, human resources).

Monitoring and Compliance Activities

• Lead and support the monitoring and compliance team in planning and ensure execution of food resource monitoring and compliance plans for the improvements of operations of GFD of different grant projects and compliance principles, standards, and procedures.
• Undertake visits to all WV warehouses to evaluate commodity handling, status of the stores, working methods, and whether they are in line with the rules and regulations.
• Lead Monitoring and Compliance TWG and participate in different concerned meetings representing the food resource program.
• Ensure food assistance program activities are supervised and monitored in line with the donor guidelines.
• Work closely with the MEAL, food monitoring, and nutrition team to ensure accountability mechanisms are in place and that feedback is incorporated into program design.

Personnel Management and Team Leadership

• Responsible for the recruitment, selection, supervision, and training of commodities staff.
• Ensure proper and adequate supervision of commodities staff for a smooth implementation of the projects.
• Work on staff development plans through coaching, on-the-job training, and possible recommendations for support to other programs within the partnership.
• Conduct performance appraisals, maintain employee files, create job descriptions, chair hiring panels, and maintain performance standards for all employees in the commodities department.

Work Location

Base at Jerer, Erer, Nogob, Liben, and Dawa

Number of Positions Required

5

Language

Amharic, English, and Somali; knowing the local language is a comparative advantage.

Required Education, Training, License, Registration, and Certification

5 years of extensive exposure to food aid programs (minimum 3 years) & knowledge of commodities & logistics operations, preferably within Food Assistance Operation, specifically those that relate to food distributions, warehousing, reporting, tracking, monitoring, etc.

Required Professional Experience

MA/MSc or BA/BSc Degree in Food Science, Agricultural Economics, Disaster Management, Rural Development, and other related fields.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, and/or Key Competencies

• Strong knowledge and working understanding of Emergency Food resource management.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead the team with a similar scope of work.
• Experience in food assistance programming, grants/project management, market assessment and analysis, cash transfer programming, performance management, project design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and report writing.
• Good understanding of Humanitarian Accountability standards.
• Good knowledge of the local context.
• INGO experience.
• Ability to work in high tension and high security risk situations.
• Ability to work in and contribute to a team-building environment.
• Experience and knowledge of USAID funded emergency food assistance projects, Red Cross Code of Conduct, SPHERE Standard, and HAP.

All applicants must attach a valid National Identification Card or Local Administration Identification Card along with their application. World Vision is a child-focused organization that is committed to safeguarding all children as well as adult beneficiaries and has zero tolerance for incidents of violence or abuse against children or adults, including sexual exploitation or abuse, committed either by employees or others affiliated with our work. Therefore, World Vision does not hire staff whose background is not suitable for working with children or vulnerable adults, even if their role does not interact directly with them.

Disclaimer: World Vision Ethiopia is a reputable organization that values transparency and fairness in its recruitment process and does not solicit any money for any job application. We encourage all job seekers to be cautious of any job ads that require payment or personal information upfront. If you have any questions or concerns about our job ads or recruitment process, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

Applicant Types Accepted

Local Applicants Only

Skills Required:

• Agricultural / Studies
• Economics / Statistics
• Food / Technology / Science / Engineering
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development