Direct from WFP careers
Business Support Assistant ( Shipping)
Full job description
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS
20 September 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 West Africa Standard Time (Douala)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).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Perform standardized processes and activities to support effective and efficient shipment planning and execution.
2. Monitor shipments within the assigned geographical area at load and discharge ports, and regularly update corporate systems to record shipment progress, identify issues, and escalate them as required.
3. Support communication and information exchange with Country Offices, shipping lines, freight forwarders, port authorities, and other supply chain stakeholders to facilitate the smooth execution of shipping operations.
4. Research, compile, and present information in standard formats (e.g., corporate reports, internal performance reviews, supplier performance reviews) to support informed decision-making by Shipping Associates and Shipping Officers and ensure consistency in information shared with stakeholders.
5. Update and maintain relevant databases and records, ensuring that information related to contracts, shipments, payments, pipeline activities, and other shipping operations is accurate, organized, accessible, and supports reporting requirements.
6. Support risk mitigation activities by reviewing and verifying shipment data and documentation, identifying discrepancies, and escalating issues to the Shipping Associate or Shipping Officer as appropriate.
. Respond to a variety of queries and requests for support, following established
procedures and seeking guidance when required, to ensure timely and accurate
resolution.
8. Maintain an efficient filing system for shipping documents and records, ensuring
that all shipment-related documentation is accurately filed, up to date, easily
accessible, and retained in accordance with corporate procedures and audit
requirements.
9. Contribute to emergency preparedness and response activities by following
established procedures and supporting the timely movement of food and other
humanitarian supplies during emergencies.
10. Carry out any other related tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the Line
Manager to support the effective implementation of shipping and supply chain
operations.
DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE:
• Experience in shipping, logistics, customs clearance, transport operations, or a
related field.
• Experience monitoring shipments and maintaining accurate records in logistics or
supply chain systems.
• Experience compiling data and preparing routine reports using standard formats.
• Experience using corporate databases and systems to track shipments, contracts,
payments, pipeline information, and inventory.
• Experience liaising with logistics service providers and internal stakeholders to
facilitate day-to-day shipping operations.
• Experience checking shipping documentation and identifying discrepancies for
escalation to supervisors.
• Experience providing administrative and operational support in a logistics or supply
chain environment.
• Experience working in multicultural teams and supporting emergency or
humanitarian logistics operations is desirable.
STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: A post-secondary certificate or diploma in a relevant field with at least two (2)
years of relevant professional shipping experience.
Language: Fluency (level C) in French and intermediate knowledge (level B) of English, or
fluency (level C) in English and intermediate knowledge (level B) of French.
Terms & Conditions
Position: Business Support Assistant ( Shipping)
Contract: Service Contract (SC4)
Duration: 12 Months
Location: Douala - Cameroon
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.
Listing sourced from WFP careers. Applications are handled entirely by the employer.
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