Partnership Manager at Wfp in Rome, Lazio, Italy

Partnership Manager
Location: Rome, Italy
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
24 September 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)
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: Partnership Manager
UNIT/DIVISION: Private Sector Partnerships (PSP) Org. Unit 50015246
TEAM: Partnership Management Team
DUTY STATION: Rome, HQ
CONTRACT TYPE: Regular Consultant
DURATION: 11 months
WORK SCHEDULE: Full time, Monday to Friday
LINE MANAGER/SUPERVISOR: Head of Global Partnership Management
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency working to create a world with zero hunger. As the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, WFP delivers food assistance in emergencies and works with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience for the long term. WFP believes that individual and collective wellbeing can only be achieved if all children, women, and men get the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, dignified lives. WFP also works with partners to strengthen the resilience of communities most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition through long-term development programmes aimed at boosting food security, local economies, education, employment, and gender equality.
WFP’s Private Partnerships Division (PSP) is responsible for engaging the private sector (corporations, individuals, foundations) through high-impact partnerships in support of WFP's strategic priorities, and through individual giving to build and retain support from the public worldwide. Joining PSP is an exciting opportunity for experienced professionals to co-develop and implement our new private partnerships and fundraising strategy.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The position is part of the partnerships management team and will manage and optimize the impact and results of WFP’s portfolio of global partnerships with international and national businesses.
PSP requires a senior officer with extensive experience managing partnerships of this scale and complexity to manage global partnerships to ensure we are creating a strategy which maximizes the financial and technical/non-financial value for WFP while also creating the most effective and efficient approach to the partnership.
ACCOUNTABILITIES / RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage global corporate partnerships: act as focal point, manage the portfolio, define, and develop standards.
Partnerships Management:
Lead on the execution of the PSP global partnerships plan and adapt based on shifts in select partnerships.
Develop and implement strategic account and stakeholder engagement plans for assigned global partnerships, including stakeholder mapping, executive engagement strategies and relationship management approaches.
Identify and cultivate relationships with key decision-makers, influencers and champions across partner organizations, ensuring tailored engagement with senior executives to support partnership growth, renewal, risk mitigation and long-term strategic objectives.
Lead on renewal conversations and negotiations when required including implementing new ways of working and processes in line with the renewal.
Draft and finalize any contract amendments, revisions and extensions required to the global partnerships’ contracts , working closely with PSP legal department and other key departments.
Work with partners to co-develop an annual partnership plan with mutually agreed goals, priorities, roles and responsibilities, timeline, etc. Work with partners’ marketing teams to incorporate marketing priorities into the plan.
Assess the capacity of the partnership (both financial and non-financial), with the goal of maximizing the potential while also ensuring the partnerships strategies are a fit for WFP.
Recommend and lead hiring of appropriate staffing/resources and adjust the partnership plan and our approach to stewardship accordingly.
Identify, develop and pilot innovative multi-stakeholder collaboration models that leverage the complementary strengths of governments, the private sector and development partners to accelerate impact, unlock new resources and support WFP’s strategic objectives.
Lead the development and execution of strategic partner engagement opportunities at key global forums and events (e.g. Davos, UNGA, COP and other high-profile convenings), leveraging partnerships to advance advocacy objectives, enhance visibility of WFP priorities, and create opportunities for joint thought leadership and stakeholder engagement.
Lead the preparation and coordination of executive briefing materials, meeting notes, talking points and strategic recommendations for WFP senior leadership engagements with corporate partners, facilitating high-level interactions that strengthen relationships, advance partnership objectives and position WFP for future collaboration opportunities
Enhance the WFP infrastructure (including systems, financials, staffing, internal communications, etc.), so WFP is best able to efficiently manage key partnership information and provide the support needed by the partners and update the internal processes document as appropriate.
Work internally and with the partners to ensure WFP delivers effectively and appropriately on high-priority ad-hoc activities.
Fundraising mission: resource mobilization:
Provide technical guidance and business support to the partners’ focal points around the world.
Create a strategy for allocating donations and create donor impact reports.
Initiate and execute activities to add value to the partnership and to make our partnership more efficient, effective, and collaborative.
Contribute to the PSP Partnerships Team:
Act as portfolio lead supervising and mentoring a team of partnership managers (CSTI)
Analyze and optimize the global partnership portfolio by identifying opportunities for efficiencies, cross-partner collaboration, replication of successful approaches and shared solutions.
Develop innovative partnership models, including co-investment, shared-value and multi-stakeholder approaches, and leverage common products, platforms and capabilities to maximize impact, enhance partner experience and improve resource utilization across the portfolio.
Play a key role as part of the PSP partnerships team, collaborating with the wider team and department, inputting in to planning and working closely with the wider WFP organization.
Take on cross divisional focal point roles or projects as identified by the Head of Partnership Management.
Other as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Education
University Degree in Business Administration, Management or Marketing or international relations.
Work history
At least 7 years’ experience in fundraising, marketing/sales and account management is essential. Knowledge of humanitarian/development sector a plus.
Technical expertise
Demonstrated experience managing complex stakeholder ecosystems and engaging senior executives across multinational corporations, with proven ability to influence decision-making and drive strategic outcomes.
Proven experience developing strategic account plans, stakeholder engagement frameworks and partnership growth strategies for high-value corporate partnerships.
You have a demonstrated record of accomplishment of stewarding complex high-value corporate fundraising partnerships, delivering sustained revenue growth, and successfully securing partnerships renewals.
You have a demonstrable experience in commercial, CRM brand partnerships with evidence of growth and understanding of commercial negotiation.
You have proven experience in growing and developing an existing portfolio, with demonstrable outcomes and outputs and financial results.
You have extensive sales and marketing experience—experienced in research, planning, preparing, and landing pitches and negotiating with potential partners with a proven record of accomplishment of successful negotiations with global enterprises.
Soft skills
Team leadership and people management
Outstanding analytical, negotiation and advocacy skills
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to cultivate relationships and influence senior decision-makers.
Superior ability in explaining complex issues to external partners, presenting the organization and diverse operations compellingly, including when to leverage the experience of internal stakeholders in a sales pitch, and understanding how to align the needs and interests of the organization with those of a corporate partner.
Highly organized with exceptional planning and problem-solving skills.
Ability to handle multiple tasks within deadlines and deliver on commitments.
Work effectively in a multi-cultural environment and international organization.
Understanding or appreciation for working in a large, complex, hierarchical, decentralized and geographically dispersed organization.
Uses tact and courtesy to give and receive information with a variety of individuals (people oriented)
Motivated team spirit and contributed to an inclusive and sound working environment (team player)
Highly adaptable to change and comfortable dealing with ambiguity, stress and competing demands with grace and humor
Language(s)
Excellent command of spoken and written English
Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language would be a plus (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).
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.