Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.
IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
The Head, Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management reports directly to the Regional Head of Corporate Services and technically to the Director, Global Humanitarian Services & Supply Chain Management (GHS&SCM). The position is based in the MENA Regional Office with a requirement to work up to 40 calendar days outside of the regular duty station (longer by mutual agreement) including short notice rapid deployment to sudden onset disasters.
For operational reasons, this position may be required to rotate as a part of the Global Mobility Programme.
Job Purpose
The Regional Head, Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management is responsible for developing, leading, implementation of the Supply Chain in both the hub and across the region. The incumbent will optimise service quality and cost – effectiveness strategies to ensure the successful operational implementation and service delivery to the IFRC network, partners, and service users, ensuring value-for-money (VfM) as measured for the end-to-end supply chain and benchmarked against the humanitarian supply chain sector. The incumbent will focus on the right quality and cost-effective service delivery, procurement (including support to domestic programmes), fleet, warehousing, capacity building, preparedness and training to service users including members and other humanitarian organisations. This role will ensure compliance with the overall Supply Chain standards and actively participates in the implementation of the IFRC Global Supply Chain Management Strategy.
The post holder is integrated into the management team of Corporate Services of the MENA Regional Office, leads the regional supply chain and humanitarian services in the MENA region and forms part of the global supply chain and humanitarian services team.
Supply Chain Management is a function dedicated to:
- Provision of goods and services to the member National Societies of the Region to deliver to the most vulnerable.
- Provision of capacity development support to the member National Societies, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and strengthening its control.
- Building on and utilising the capacities of the National Societies in the Region and the Participating National Societies in SCM.
Key Stakeholders of this position are operation managers, appeal managers, project managers, heads of delegation, Director Generals and Secretary Generals of Red Cross / Crescent Societies and counterparts in humanitarian agencies, governments and universities, Regional UN bodies, commercial operators, academia and suppliers, ICRC, and other multilateral organisations.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Service Delivery:
- Ensure the delivery of all goods and services such as Cash and Goods-In-Kind (right quality, right price, right time) in close coordination with the global operational supply chain team, global procurement team and global fleet team.
- Assume full accountability for delivering the best value for money for MENA region, oversight of contract management for goods and services including cash modalities.
- Ensure KPIs for the operational logistics, procurement and supply chain function within the function are captured and reported to the senior management team on an ongoing basis.
- Define and monitor the efficiency, effectiveness and success of supply chain activities using adequate controlling tools.
- Support all IFRC emergency and programme operations with direct and technical logistics support as required.
- Pro-active coordination and delivery of National Society Logistics Development (NSLD) within the NSD, PER and OCAC approach.
- Develop, communicate, and make available proven value-for-money goods and service support to NS domestic programmes.
- Reactive and proactive support to NS implementing and utilizing the suite of Logistics digital tools.
Leadership and Networking:
- Manage internal relationship building to ensure cross-functional cooperation and integration which minimizes risk and results in high-quality technical solutions with supply chain practices.
- Provide leadership of the Supply Chain in-line with Supply Chain Management strategy and goals.
- Develop the Supply Chain strategy, annual and long-term plans, the delivery of measurable objectives and the development/implementation of a plan for the necessary internal communications.
- Develop, motivate, and set performance annual and longer-term objectives for supply chain staff fully aligned with the short, medium, and longer-term objectives, goals and targets set for (region).
- Where applicable work closely with the PSK Unit, particularly the Regional Emergency Supply Chain & Strategic Capacity Building Coordinator, ensuring that all networking actions are in line with Supply Chain plans.
- Identify gaps in the skills & competencies of regional operational supply chain team members and establish and implement personal development plans.
Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
Compliance and Supply Chain Improvement:
- Support the improvement of the Supply Chain systems to enhance efficiency, compliance, and processes.
- Ensure that all IFRC Supply Chain services are compliant with IFRC and Supply Chain policies and procedures (including procurement, logistics and fleet) and provide recommendations of best practices to enable consistent best value for money and operational service delivery.
- Ensure that the supply chain delivers a supply chain service that understands and meets the needs of the IFRC, partners and services users, balancing service quality against the best value for money. Evaluate continually and optimize the range and volume of available materials held both virtually and within warehouses where applicable to ensure the ability to meet on-going and unexpected relief requirements whilst minimizing inventory costs.
- Provide expert support to National Societies and IFRC to enhance and optimize operational supply chain services. Support the National Societies in building a business case on supply chain services, including fleet.
- Facilitate implementation of Global/Regional Framework Agreements, identify, and remove potential barriers in implementing GFA/RFA to ensure GFA/RFA are implemented and available regionally and globally.
Key areas of influence and key internal/external relationships include:
- Development of Supply Chain Hub medium terms goals, objectives and annual plans requiring the agreement of the Director: Global Humanitarian Services & Supply Chain Management and collaboration with relevant teams.
- Relationship building with partners and service users to ensure an effective and efficient logistics network for humanitarian service provision. Includes regular 2-way communication (media and language aligned to intended audiences) building an understanding of the customer service support available and delivered and measuring and responding to customer satisfaction ratings.
- Provision of operational advice and coordinated technical HR mobilisation to National Societies to build supply chain capabilities and capacities, including fleet.
- Ensure good relationships with the different humanitarian stakeholders for strengthening the overall supply chain.
- Ensure a good relationship with local, national, and regional officials.
- Full accountability and high autonomy in managing resources (people and budgets) including planning and managing an operational procurement budget of over CHF50 million to deliver the agreed activities in line with IFRC’s policies and procedures.
- Manage, motivate, develop, and retain a team of world-class Supply Chain professionals including procurement and logistics to push the highest levels of performance and capability.
- Drive the development of talents providing guidance on and support to personal development and career paths.
Education
- University degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, or other relevant experience in the area. – Required
- Degree and/or post-graduate qualification in logistics strategy and management. – Required
Experience
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in managing complex international logistics and supply Chain operations. – Required
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in field operations. – Required
- Experience in managing resources (people and budget) in large-scale operations. – Required
- Experience in managing and integrating complex global supply chain services. – Required
- Experience in setting up the complex supply chain and logistics infrastructures. – Required
- Experience in annual planning and strategy implementation in a global organization. – Required
- Experience in establishing and managing the operational budget- Required
- Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience. – Required
- Experience within the commercial sector including the development of effective customer commercial and operational targets and relationships at the global level. – Preferred
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
- In-depth knowledge of complex supply chain management – Required
- Drive for change and improvement and ability to deliver strategies in a challenging environment. – Required
- Commercial acumen – Required
- Strong budget and financial management skills – Required
- Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment – Required
- Strong interpersonal skills and a good understanding of the global organization – Required
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks – Required
- Excellent negotiation and diplomacy skills – Required
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to provide authoritative advice – Required
- Proven experience to carry out logistics assessments and set up large operations – Required
- Ability to work toward tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks – Required
Languages
- Fluent spoken and written English – Required
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) – Preferred
Competencies, Values and Comments
- Core Competencies: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust;
- Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
- Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development
- Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others
IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities