Manager, Regional Procurement Unit

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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 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 four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination; (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; (iii) Management and Accountability; and (iv) People and Strategy.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The IFRC’s Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management is a core function supporting the IFRC humanitarian action. The Department has a global network including:

• headquarters-based Supply Chain Management Department in Geneva
• Logistics Hub and Global Fleet office in Dubai
• Five regional supply chain units located in Panama, Kuala Lumpur, Nairobi, Beirut and Budapest
• Logistics hubs
• Country-based logistics set-up

Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management department is a function dedicated to: Provide the goods and services as needed by IFRC to deliver to the most vulnerable. Provide services to deliver visible value to the members, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and strengthening its control.

The Manager Regional Procurement unit is responsible and accountable to drive procurement regionally with the support of the Lead Global Procurement and Global procurement team. The incumbent will lead and drive the regional procurement team to ensure the successful development and execution of procurement in a challenging and complex supply chain environment. The incumbent will be accountable for regional procurement performance against set objectives and KPI`s.

The incumbent will oversee the execution of procurement (which includes sourcing, procurement planning, procurement strategies, procurement execution and vendor management) The incumbent ensures value for money objectives are achieved. The incumbent will have to develop a robust supplier base within the region and manage the value chain complexity and risks in an uncertain environment to release total value contribution of procurement.

Procurement

• Implement the overall procurement strategy in close cooperation with the global procurement team.
• Ensure that the regional procurement supports and delivers all regional programmatic objectives including long term programmes and emergency responses.
• Ensure that the regional procurement unit delivers a procurement service that understands and meets the needs of the IFRC, partners and services users, balancing service quality against service cost/commercial implications.
• Ensure that all resources (such as time, money, and effort) are used efficiently and effectively to achieve targets a results and Identify cost reduction opportunities in procurement and sourcing.Support the operational colleagues in their procurement planning when needed.

Sourcing

• Develop a robust supplier base within the region and manage the value chain complexity and risks in an uncertain environment to release total value contribution of procurement
• Develop a sourcing plan for the region in line with global sourcing strategy and regional needs.
• Identify potential new suppliers within the region
• Negotiate and implement Global/Regional Frame Agreements as per short- and long-term operation needs and efficiencies.
• Implement vendor performance management to ensure high performance of IFRC vendors.
• Provide consultation to regional and country general management to ensure support for sourcing strategy implementation

Compliance

• Collaborate closely with national societies procurement focal points to ensure compliance with IFRC procurement policies while ensuring value for money and efficient procurement at country level.
• Manage procurement risks trough risk management matrix and reports.
• Responsible for facilitating the implementation of procurement policies and procedures for the procurement operation including the proper use of the ERP system, to ensure global procurement guidelines and policies are fully understood, communicated and locally applied.
• Ensure environmental and social sustainable practices are followed in line with IFRC policies.
• Lead and facilitate quality assurance of procurement conducted by the country offices in line with procurement thresholds as defined under the IFRC procurement policy.

Team management

• Manage the regional procurement team including the development of technical and soft skills
• Manage, hire, train and retain a team of world class procurement professionals to push highest levels of performance and capability
• Drive the development of talents providing guidance on development and career paths
• Identify gaps in the skills and competencies of regional operational procurement team members and establish and implement personal development plans.
• Establish KPIs for the procurement function and report KPIs to the management team on an ongoing basis.
• Technical management of IFRC procurement staff in country offices by providing technical support and ensuring compliance with IFRC policies.

Coordination

• Provide technical expertise and advice across the regional network to enable the delivery of the right quality and cost-efficient procurement service provision that meets the requirements of the IFRC, partners and customers.
• Coordinate procurement activities with national societies and partner national societies and actively seek ways to collaborate aiming for one red supply chain and improved procurement activities amongst IFRC and its members.
• Ensure excellent coordination and relationships with both IFRC and network offices and colleagues to ensure optimal and efficient procurement services are provided.
• Manage internal relationship-building to ensure cross-functional co-operation and integration which minimises risk and results in high-quality technical solutions with supply chain practices.
• Relationship building with partners and service users to ensure an effective and efficient logistics network for humanitarian service provision.

Capacity building

• Map procurement capacities within the network across the region and identify critical gaps.
• Support any national society capacity building opportunity in procurement.
• Trough compliance and technical support provision to the national societies ensure that capacity gaps are flagged to head of country offices and national society leaders.

Key Stakeholders of this position are operation managers, appeal managers, project managers, heads of delegation, procurement staff of national societies, counterparts in humanitarian agencies and the RCRC network.

Required education:

• University degree in Business, economics, Engineering, IT or other relevant area.

Preferred education:

• Professional Procurement Qualification highly preferred

Required experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in managing complex procurement operations including high volume in procurement, of which minimum 2-3 years at field operational levels and at least 5 years in a management position  
• Experience of managing and integrating tactical and operational procurement

Preferred experience:

• Experience within the commercial sector
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience

Required knowledge and skills:

• Ability to develop effective and efficient Procurement
• In-depth grasp of international procurement practices including legal aspects
• Problem solving skills
• Proven staff management skills including remote management. Experience in different geographies and managing different cultures.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse operational procurement impact, including at operational/institutional levels
• Commercial acumen and Proven negotiating skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks
• Good communications skills (written and verbal) and ability to provide solid advice
• Technical credibility to challenge/influence internal stakeholders
• Ability to work in matrix environment
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment, strong interpersonal skills
• Drive for change and improvement and ability to deliver efficient operational procurement in a relatively mature environment
• A broad understanding of humanitarian issues, disaster recovery and related organization
• Fluent spoken and written English and Arabic

Preferred language:

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French or Spanish)

• Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
• Managerial competencies: Managing staff performance; Managing staff development