Jobs at World Food Programme (WFP)

WFP’s operations depend on the efficient and effective purchase and supply of a vast range of goods and services. One of the critical functions of the Procurement Unit in the Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa is to procure goods, services, and food commodities to support WFP operations in the region. The contracting of retailers and financial service providers also constitutes a major component of the procurement activities for operations where cash transfers are provided to empower beneficiaries with the choice to address their essential needs in local markets. Finally, as the second line of defence, the Regional Procurement Unit provides oversight and regular technical guidance on complex and high-value procurement cases.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The Procurement Consultant will be responsible for leading on and providing technical advice and oversight to procurement field operations of moderate complexity, partnering with the key supply chain functions to ensure an integrated supply chain approach to meeting the food assistance needs of beneficiaries. 

• Consolidate and analyse data from which to inform sourcing strategies for the operations or plan specialist procurement initiatives that support effective and cost optimizing purchase decisions.
• Provide oversight, guidance and support to Country Offices on implementing best practice procurement policies and procedures, ensuring a strategic, forward purchasing approach to procurement in compliance with wider WFP policies, standards and regulations.
• Lead the implementation of procurement projects of moderate to high complexity (e.g. issue tenders, evaluate offers and negotiate/award contracts), to ensure successful procurement of food and non-food commodities or services.
• Collate information and draft appropriate responses to recommendations to support auditing of procurement activities and ensure conformity with compliance rules.
• Identify, develop and maintain strong relationships with all relevant suppliers and vendors to enable WFP to maximize the value of the service delivered.
• Work in close collaboration with cross functional counterparts (Programme, Logistics, Finance, etc.) to align procurement activities.
• Coordinate and prepare accurate and timely reports of procurement activities to contribute to a WFP wide view that enables informed decision making and consistency of information presented to stakeholders, leading to performance optimization.
• Manage individual procurement officers or small procurement teams ensuring appropriate development and enable high performance.
• Build capacity of WFP staff and external partners to take a strategic and proactive approach to the procurement of CBT services e.g., through provision of training sessions.
• Contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitor the management of procurement specific risks.
• Undertake field missions to support the CBT procurement activities in the region on a need basis.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Economics, Commerce, Business Administration, Engineering, Legal or Accounting or other relevant field, or First University degree with an additional relevant work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience:

• Minimum of at least five years of relevant professional experience in NFI Procurement, Supply Chain Cash-Based Transfers. Previous exposure to non-profit and private sector would be an advantage. .
• Good understanding of WFP operations and strategic objectives related to the position.
• Good writing skills and ability to summarize the key messages clearly. Ability to deliver trainings.

Skills:

• Experience coordinating or leading a procurement teams.
• Experience in engaging in policy and strategy discussions and providing input into these.
• Ability to analyse and identify opportunities for and propose solutions to quality improvement.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deal patiently and tactfully with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.

Language:

• Fluency in oral and written English

Closing date: 13 May 2022

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KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the overall (or direct as appropriate) supervision of WFP Country Office Head of Supply Chain (or CD/DCD if appropriate), and/or the direct supervision of the Supply Chain Officer based in the Country Office, you will primarily be responsible for the following task and duties:

Supply Chain Operations and Coordination:

• Plan, monitor and manage resources to maximize effectiveness of supply chain operations.
• Lead the design and management of end-to-end operational health supply chain and distribution networks, to proactively mitigate and/or address dynamic health supply chain challenges and obtain operational optimization to ensure timely, cost-effective and integrated approach with core activities and services and in close cooperation with key supply chain stakeholders. 
• Analyze regional/country context and drive continuous improvement and innovation initiatives analyzing best practices from the humanitarian and development fields, academia and private sector.

Team Leadership and/or Project Management:

• Lead (or supervise the team) for the weekly and daily dispatch planning, sharing the plan with the concerned units and individuals on a timely basis. 
• Lead and coordinate (or oversee the coordination) of the loading of the cargo with relevant transporter/ transport mode and in coordination with relevant authorities to ensure optimal use of the transport assets and troubleshoot problems both at the loading point and receiving/final delivery point.
• Support with the design, rollout and implementation of WFP activities, including end-to-end operational supply chain networks and partnerships and coordinate integrated delivery of internal and external supply chain services in multiple countries and complex operational contexts.

Common Services: Logistics Cluster and Bilateral Service Provision (BSP) (where applicable)

• Participate in the formulation and implementation of corporate health supply chain (operational) strategy, Logistics Cluster or service provision business model (if relevant) and solutions to meet donor or partner operational requirements.
• Manage accurate and timely reporting including provision of substantial analysis of health supply chain activities and trends to enable informed decision-making and consistency of information presented to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Lead the relevant supply chain project/operation coordination for all relevant partners, including the Logistics Cluster partners and/or BSP customers.

Capacity Building and Health Supply Chain

• Lead market analysis and health supply chain network mapping to inform the selection of appropriate operation modalities to improve supply chain performance.
• Lead supply chain planning for the project and oversee and coordinate periodic planning across functions and with partners such as government and other national organizations, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector and academia to develop consensus on supply chain operational plans and to share knowledge and resources and build capacity, resulting in coordinated and cost-effective health supply chain operations.
• Maintain a strong partnership with the MoH and other health partners, aiming to solidify further a critical relationship that will facilitate efficient and effective future collaboration – not only for WFP but for the wider humanitarian community in response to ongoing and future emergency response operations.  

Education:

You have:

• Advanced University degree preferably in Pharmaceutical Studies, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Economics, Business Administration, Logistics, or other related field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience:

You have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in managing health supply chain operations, including coordination with internal and external stakeholders and supporting health programs;
• Experience in operational and strategic health supply chain planning;
• Experience in implementing/setting-up health supply chain improvement and optimization initiatives to achieve cost efficiency, improved agility, reliability and quality;
• Experience in shaping and implementing operational health supply chain strategies in a country, health operations;
• Experience in monitoring operational success and suggesting areas of improvement;
• Experience of managing teams of staff with related areas of expertise.
• Sufficient credibility to advise partners and staff on operational requirements and optimum courses of action;
• Experience in the implementation of bilateral logistics service operations in challenging environments. 

Language:

You have:

• Fluency (level C) in the English language. 
• Fluency in the French language is required for the positions located in Bangui, Central African Republic.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (A WFP’s working language)

MORE ABOUT YOU

 You have: 

• Excellent understanding of logistics and supply chain processes in a humanitarian environment;
• Effective interpersonal communication and negotiation skills;
• Proven and demonstrable project management skills;
• Ability to work to compressed timeframes;
• Sufficient credibility to advise partners and staff on operational requirements and optimum courses of action;
• Ability to solve or pre-empt problems;
• Strong drive, self-motivation and ability to work with a high degree of autonomy;
• Collaborative spirit able to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy;

ADDITIONAL / NICE-TO-HAVE REQUIREMENTS

You have: 

• Experience or familiarity with WFP bilateral logistics service provision.
• Experience in working for WFP in a relevant country or similar context.
• Experience in implementation of Logistics Cluster or bilateral logistics service operations in challenging environments (especially health NFIs).

Closing date: 12 May 2022