Senior Supply Chain Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC is committed to bold leadership, innovation and creative partnerships. Active in public health, education, livelihoods, women's empowerment, youth development, and protection and promotion of rights, IRC assists people from harm to home.

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is unprecedented in scale and in the response required. No previous outbreak has had as many confirmed cases, or as wide of a geographic spread.  The situation is complicated by the relatively open nature of the regions’ borders, inaccessibility of the terrain and the presence of multiple active sites of transmission. The outbreak in Liberia started in March 2014 and has rapidly spread due to pourous borders, insufficient contact tracing, community fears and misperceptions. 

The IRC is scaling up its response to the Ebla outbreak with an approach that will provide essential logistical support to the Liberian government led response, while ensuring maximum safety of IRC staff. The IRC will lead in managing and running a 100 bed Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) in Monrovia which includes supply chain management of all medical and non medical supply needs as well as facility management. The lack of predictable supplies to meet the needs of health teams responding to the outbreak, is one of the leading reasons behind the inability to control the current outbreak. The IRC believes that with strong supply chain leadership and coordination, clinical staff will be able to work safely to provide care and treatment to Ebola patients and save lives.

SCOPE OF WORK: The Senior Supply Chain Coordinator  will be the operational focal point for the Ebola Treatment Unit in Monrovia. The Senior Supply Chain Coordinator will receive technical support from the IRC Global Supply Chain Unit and will report to the IRC Emergency Field Director responsible for the ETU.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordination& General Support to Ebola Treatment
  • Represent the IRC at the national and Montserrado county level for Ebola response logistics; coordinate and collaborate with MoHSW (Ministry of Health & Social Welfare), WHO, MSF and other INGOs to ensure adequate supplies for ETU running.
  • Manage and support the IRC Liberia emergency supply chain team in order to ensure ETU operates at optimal efficiency.
  • Update the IRC Ebola team with pertinent information on alerts and progress of the outbreak with regarding to logistics in the wider response.
  • Work with the Emergency Field Director to develop operational aspects of new proposals to support the ETU.
  • Work with the IRC Senior Management team in Liberia and advise on contingency planning for ETU running.
  • Work closely with the Emergency Health Coordinator to meet the ongoing medical supply needs of the ETU.
• Procurement & Tracking
  • Supervise a procurement manager and dedicated ETU procurement team.
  • Lead the procurement of medical and non medical supplies, and coordinate the transportation of  supplies to the ETU in Monrovia.
• Fleet & Asset Management
  • Coordinate the management of vehicle needs for all staff at ETU and movement plans based on a treatment unit operating 24 hours [per day, 7 days per week.
  • Ensure that systems are in place to account for transported goods and delivery.
  • Accountable for timely and regular preventive maintenance of all vehicles and generators.
  • Ensure that monthly reports and analysis are prepared by the team.
  • Ensure proper tracking of all IRC assets used by the ETU operations team.
  • Accountable for proper management of the assets released from storage.
  • Accountable for proper tracking of assets using Equipment Issue/Receipt forms.
  • Define and implement maintenance systems and procedures for assets, including training of staff and follow-up.
  • Ensure quarterly physical check of assets and submission of asset reports.
• Warehouse/Storage
  • Manage warehouse management team.
  • Plan for and supervise weekly and monthly stock inventories and ensure that effective stock keeping system is in place.
  • Assist programs to install reliable warehouse systems that are in compliance with IRC and donor regulatoins.
  • Ensure stock levels are maintained at the required quantity for staff to
• Staff Management
  • Supervise and manage all the Supply Chain staff involved in Ebola Treatment Unit.
  • Practice excellent human resource management, supporting the development, promotion and retention of a motivated team of qualified and experienced staff.
  • Identify staffing and/or skill gaps and see that these gaps/needs are filled; support the recruitment of supply chain staff.
  • Provide feedback through regular performance evaluations.
  • Ensure that any staff adhere to the IRC Way and other HR policies and procedures.
  • Design and implement a program of capacity-building for all supply chain and program staff designed to strengthen the capacity for autonomous action.
  • Ensure all supply chain staff are aware of and in compliance with IRC policies for procurement, asset and stock management, and vehicle and equipment management, in order for them to clearly share this information.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• University Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Management or a related field. Substantial field experience may be accepted in lieu of a University Degree.
• At least seven years of prior professional experience in relief/development activities related to logistics (supply and technical) and admin, including emergencies.
• Must be able to function effectively in complex work environment, set appropriate priorities and deal effectively with numerous simultaneous requirements.
• Experience working with a range of partners including with Ministries of Health, WHO and INGOs.
• Exeprience in Africa will be a plus
• Experience supervising international and national staff and building capacity of national staff.
• Operational knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.
• Fluency in English required.

SPECIFIC SAFETY & SECURITY SITUATION:

• Ebola Health and Safety
• While there is a great deal of media coverage about the risks of working in an Ebola affected country, the successful candidate will be partnering with a team of IRC staff who continue to work confidently in the country, following robust IRC hygiene protocols to minimize any risk. At any point the position holder has the option to end the assignment should you feel unsafe in any way, with no repercussions in terms of employment in other IRC programs.
• All international Staff must comply with all IRC Liberia security policies and procedures. The position is non accompanied. The Emergency Supply Chain Coordinator will be accommodated in private shared housing with cleaning provided.