UNFPA SURGE RESPONSE ROSTER –Supply Chain Management in Emergencies Specialist

UNFPA is building a roster of highly qualified Logistics and Supply Chain Management in Emergencies Specialist ready to be deployed to humanitarian crises worldwide. As a member of our roster, you will be called upon to provide critical support in ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of essential supplies and services to affected populations. This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on the lives of millions of people.

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

We promote gender equality and empower women, girls, and young people to take control of their bodies and their futures. We work with partners in more than 150 countries to provide access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services. Our goal is ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal death, and gender-based violence and harmful practices including child marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.

What We Offer:

• The opportunity to make a direct impact during humanitarian emergencies, protecting the health and rights of women and girls.
• Deployment for short term (3 to 6 months) surge missions as part of UNFPA humanitarian response.
• A platform to utilize your expertise in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Key Responsibilities (upon deployment):

Rapid Assessments/Field Visits
As appropriate, participate in joint field assessments or undertake UNFPA specific field visits/assessment missions to gain a better understanding of existing supply gaps and needs

Programme Implementation and Coordination

• Support in the development and regular update of the supply plan, ensuring collaboration and engagement from programme and operations teams
• Implement a systematized approach for updates to the supply plan, kit contents and timelines for supply prioritization
• Provide guidance, support and advice to programme team related to specific products and quantification of items.
• Support the Emergency Response Coordinator, the GBViE and the SRHiE specialists in projecting future needs of emergency supplies.
• Ensure that the coordination and communication mechanism between program management and the operation unit are well set up.
• Support the programme team in the development of distribution plans based on response plan priorities and supply plan objectives.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Establish a monitoring mechanism that takes into consideration collection of essential supply data, including consumption data and issues data with IPs and supported service delivery points
• Undertake monitoring visits to ensure proper inventory data collection and reporting
• Work with the programme team to collect relevant services data in a manner which can be used to inform supply provision
• Utilize data collected to update supply plans and associated procurement plans with programme team

Liaising/Coordination with Partner Agencies

• Liaise with humanitarian stakeholders working in relevant sectors/Clusters, such as Health, WASH, Protection, Logistics, Camp Management, etc. to ensure inclusion of commodities specific to UNFPA’s mandate into the national humanitarian response plan.
• Establish partnerships with humanitarian health supply partners to ensure consistent and coordinated forecasting and supply planning for health supply gaps
• Ensure relevant reporting on supply plan and distribution plans to the health cluster/sector
• Establish partnership and regular coordination mechanisms with the IP and stakeholders.
• Engage with the national government as relevant and appropriate to ensure forecasts on supply gaps and needs are linked to any existing national data systems.

Reporting

• Provide regular (at least weekly) updates on UNFPA emergency commodities and supplies management for inclusion in donor reports and OCHA SitReps.
• Support the communications and donor teams to quantify and report on UNFPA supply provisions and impact on a regular basis

Capacity Development

• Provide coaching to newly recruited staff and consultants, where appropriate.
• Coach and build capacity of staff members and staff of implementing partners responding to crisis, as appropriate.
• Regularly update on the IP technical capacity, identify gaps on inventory management propose training and evaluation sessions.

Any Other Duties
Perform any other duties as required by the Representative and/or Head of Office

What we’re looking for:

• Advanced degree in pharmaceutical sciences, logistics management or equivalent relevant professional certification in areas such as transport, distribution and supply chain management. A first university degree, with relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
• 5 to 7 year field experience in humanitarian/emergency settings
• Managing medical supplies in emergency settings is an advantage
• Experience and knowledge with INGO and UN systems, especially UNFPA is an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in stressful environments, strong leadership skills also highly desired.
• Good knowledge of humanitarian response.
• Proficiency in English and in other official languages or the UN required

How You’ll Be Assessed?

• Resume & Application Review: Our vetting committee will examine your resume, application, and supporting paragraph to determine if your experience and skills align with UNFPA’s surge needs.
• Technical & Soft Skills Assessment: You may be asked to complete a technical assessment tailored to Logistics and Supply chain area of expertise to evaluate your knowledge and problem-solving abilities. You may also have to answer questions relating to soft skills.
• Video Interview: Candidate may be invited to a recorded video interview where you’ll answer questions covering both technical and behavioral aspects relevant to humanitarian work.
• Reference Checks: As a final step, we may request your professional references to gain further insights into your work ethic, performance under pressure, and suitability for surge deployments.

We look at the whole picture, considering your technical and soft skills, adaptability, commitment to UNFPA’s mission, and potential to successfully contribute in crisis settings.

Selected candidates will be added to UNFPA’s Surge Response Roster and contacted for any opportunities that meet their profile.