Counterpart International is looking for a Commodities Manager for its anticipated USDA-funded McGovern-Dole Food for Education program in Malawi. Under the supervision of Deputy Chief of Party, the Commodities Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of USDA imported and locally procured food, from the arrival of food to its final distribution, including receipt, handling, storage, transport, loss management and reporting, as well as oversight of the Local or Regional Procurement Officer.

He/she is responsible for the management of food pipelines, distribution plans, claims, data entry and payment requests for the transportation and storage of food products, and reporting. He/she will ensure communication with various partners, including freight forwarders, controllers and transporters. The Commodities Manager will ensure that products are managed in accordance with Counterpart and US government regulations and procedures especially the 7CFR1599 and the 7CFR1590. The Commodities Manager will supervise the activities of the LRP Officer, especially the procurement, the distribution and capacity strengthening activities of district government actors in commodity management.

Responsibilities

• Work with project leadership to develop a work plan for all commodities management activities.
• Prepare periodic pipeline analyses and commodity tenders.
• Review and prepare reports for submission to USDA.
• Prepare monthly revenue report.
• Prepare accurate quarterly reports.
• Help prepare semi-annual program execution reports.
• Ensure labor claims and carrier invoices are in order.
• Ensure commodities are tested and fit for consumption

Warehouse Managers and School Canteen Management Teams:

• Ensure smooth running of warehouse activities.
• Ensure space and pallet availability for stacking.
• Ensure security and manpower availability.
• Manage warehouses according to regulations.
• Ensure FIFO and FEDFO principles are followed.
• Maintain filing system and shipping or delivery records.
• Coordinate monthly warehouses inspections.
• Ensure monthly physical inventories.
• Oversee repackaging activities.
• Inspect equipment and warehouse conditions.
• Review inventory, distribution, and loss reports.
• Prepare requests for disposal of unfit products.
• Train regularly staff on commodities management

Private Service Providers (Transporters, Warehouse Rental, Marine Experts):

• Manage bids, and performance-based contracts
• Ensure smooth transport and delivery of goods.
• Ensure availability of warehouses in excellent conditions
• Provide trucks and logistics as needed.
• Ensure adequate provision of trucks.
• Assist in inspection and certification of unfit products.
• Assist in the disposal of unfit products.
• Verify and ensure proper preparation of labor claims and carrier invoices.

School Canteen Management Teams:

• Ensure proper storage/distribution/transport of goods to schools.
• Ensure facilities, equipment, and training for meal preparation.
• Monitor project activities at schools.

End Use Checkers:

• Train PTA members, teachers, and cooks in food preparation and hygiene practices.
• Conduct warehouse inspections at school.
• Oversee ration calculation and use at school.
• Oversee good use of commodities.
• Review survey reports and compare with warehouse receipts.
• Ensure certificates attesting to missing items are obtained.
• Participate in inspection of unfit foodstuffs.

Local and Regional Procurement Officers:

• Assist in conducting market impact analysis and price monitoring.
• Assist in strengthening local market systems.
• Oversee procurement activities.
• Oversee activities related to access to finance, contract management and distribution.
• Assist in preparing requests for disposal of unfit products.
• Verify claims and invoices.

Qualifications

• At least a master’s degree or equivalent in management, accounting, statistics, logistics, social sciences or a related field;
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in food and warehouse management;
• Knowledge U.S. government regulations regarding accounting and tracking reports for emergency food products especially the 7CFR1599 and 7CFR 1590;
• Good knowledge of customs clearance and shipping from the Tanzania and the Mozambique borders to Malawi;
• Good knowledge in the Logistics Working Group in Malawi.
• Experience in conducting a market impact analysis.
• Experience in strengthening local market systems.
• Ability to travel at least 50% of the time.
• Experience in program planning, implementation and reporting.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage conflicting tasks, set priorities and deliver high-quality services consistently and on time.
• Independent spirit, ability to identify potential problems and propose solutions.
• Knowledge of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Proven supervisory and leadership skills of a team of five people minimum.
• Ability to manage relationships with diverse people, ability to work well alone and in a team.
• Fluency in English is required. Candidate should be Malawian, or with significant experience in Malawi with Malawian residency.