Regional Head, Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability. 

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The 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 Regional Head, Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management reports directly to the Head of Supply Chain, Global Humanitarian Services & Supply Chain Management (GHS&SCM). The position is based in Nairobi, with a requirement to work up to 40 calendar days outside of the regular duty station (longer by mutual agreement) including short notice rapid deployment to sudden onset disasters. 

For operational reasons, this position may be required to rotate as a part of the Global Mobility Programme.

The 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 Regional Head, Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management is responsible for developing, leading, and implementing the Supply Chain function both within the hub and across the region. The incumbent will optimise service quality and cost‑effectiveness strategies to ensure the successful operational implementation and service delivery to the IFRC network, partners, and service users, ensuring value‑for‑money (VfM) as measured for the end‑to‑end supply chain and benchmarked against the humanitarian supply chain sector.

The incumbent will focus on the delivery of right‑quality and cost‑effective services across procurement, fleet, warehousing, capacity building, preparedness, and training to service users, including members and other humanitarian organisations. This role will ensure compliance with overall Supply Chain standards and actively participate in the implementation of the IFRC Global Supply Chain Management Strategy.

The post holder is integrated into the management team of the Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management (GHS&SCM) department, leads the regional supply chain and humanitarian services in the Africa region, and forms part of the global supply chain and humanitarian services team.

Supply Chain Management is a function dedicated to:

• Provision of goods and services to the member National Societies of the Region to deliver to the most vulnerable.
• Provision of capacity development support to the member National Societies, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and strengthening its control.
• Building on and utilising the capacities of the National Societies in the Region and the Participating National Societies in SCM.

Key stakeholders of this position are operation managers, appeal managers, project managers, heads of delegation, Directors General and Secretaries General of Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies, and counterparts in humanitarian agencies, governments, and universities.

Service Delivery

• Oversee supply chain operations for the Africa region, including the Nairobi Regional SCM Hub and sub‑regional hubs supporting the region, ensuring harmonisation of supply chain standards, processes, and service delivery across all hubs.
• Provide support for dispatch and procurement activities in other regional offices as required, ensuring seamless coordination and high‑quality service delivery across these regions.
• Provide support to the Global Fleet Unit, supporting operational effectiveness and compliance with IFRC procedures.
• Ensure the delivery of all goods and services such as Cash and Goods‑in‑Kind (right quality, right price, right time) in close coordination with the global operational supply chain team, global procurement team, and global fleet team.
• Assume full accountability for delivering the best value for money for the Africa region, including oversight of contract management for goods and services, including cash modalities.
• Ensure KPIs for the operational logistics, procurement, and supply chain function are captured and reported to senior management on an ongoing basis.
• Define and monitor the efficiency, effectiveness, and success of supply chain activities using appropriate controlling tools.
• Support all IFRC emergency and programme operations with direct and technical logistics support as required.
• Proactive coordination and delivery of National Society Logistics Development (NSLD) within the NSD, PER, and OCAC approaches.
• Develop, communicate, and make available proven value‑for‑money goods and service solutions to National Society domestic programmes.
• Provide reactive and proactive support to National Societies implementing and utilising the suite of logistics digital tools.

Leadership and Networking

• Coordinate and optimise supply chain processes and service delivery across all supported regions and hubs.
• Collaborate closely with the Procurement Lead (Global) and the sourcing hub in Budapest and the Procurement Hub in Dubai to ensure functional alignment of sourcing, medical supply chain activities, and adherence to global procurement standards.
• Manage internal relationship‑building to ensure cross‑functional cooperation and integration that minimises risk and results in high‑quality technical supply chain solutions.
• Provide leadership of the Supply Chain function in line with the Supply Chain Management strategy and goals.
• Develop the Supply Chain strategy, annual and long‑term plans, the delivery of measurable objectives, and the development and implementation of internal communication plans.
• Develop, motivate, and set annual and longer‑term performance objectives for supply chain staff aligned with short‑, medium‑, and long‑term regional objectives, goals, and targets.
• Where applicable, work closely with the PSK Unit, particularly the Regional Emergency Supply Chain & Strategic Capacity Building Coordinator, ensuring that all networking actions align with Supply Chain plans.
• Identify gaps in the skills and competencies of regional operational supply chain team members and establish and implement personal development plans.

Compliance and Supply Chain Improvement

• Support the improvement of the Supply Chain systems to enhance efficiency, compliance, and processes.
• Ensure that all IFRC Supply Chain services are compliant with IFRC and Supply Chain policies and procedures (including procurement, logistics and fleet) and provide recommendations of best practices to enable consistent best value for money and operational service delivery.
• Ensure that the supply chain delivers a supply chain service that understands and meets the needs of the IFRC, partners and services users, balancing service quality against the best value for money. Evaluate continually and optimize the range and volume of available materials held both virtually and within warehouses where applicable to ensure the ability to meet on-going and unexpected relief requirements whilst minimizing inventory costs.
• Provide expert support to National Societies and IFRC to enhance and optimize operational supply chain services. Support the National Societies in building a business case on supply chain services, including fleet.
• Facilitate implementation of Global/Regional Framework Agreements, identify, and remove potential barriers in implementing GFA/RFA to ensure GFA/RFA are implemented and available regionally and globally.

Key Areas of Influence and Internal / External Relationships

• Development of Supply Chain Hub medium terms goals, objectives and annual plans requiring the agreement of the Global Head and the Director: Global Humanitarian Services & Supply Chain Management and collaboration with relevant teams.
• Relationship building with partners and service users to ensure an effective and efficient logistics network for humanitarian service provision. Includes regular 2-way communication (media and language aligned to intended audiences) building an understanding of the customer service support available and delivered and measuring and responding to customer satisfaction ratings.
• Provision of operational advice and coordinated technical HR mobilisation to National Societies to build supply chain capabilities and capacities, including fleet.
• Ensure good relationships with the different humanitarian stakeholders for strengthening the overall supply chain.
• Ensure a good relationship with local, national, and regional officials.
• Full accountability and high autonomy in managing resources (people and budgets) including planning and managing a multi-million operational procurement budget to deliver the agreed activities in line with IFRC’s policies and procedures.
• Manage, motivate, develop, and retain a team of world-class Supply Chain professionals including procurement and logistics to push the highest levels of performance and capability.
• Drive the development of talents providing guidance on and support to personal development and career paths.

Duties applicable to all staff.

• Work actively towards the achievement of IFRC’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

• University degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, or other relevant experience in the area. Required.
• Degree and/or post-graduate qualification in logistics strategy and management. Required.

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in managing complex international logistics and supply Chain operations. Required.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in field operations. Required.
• Experience in managing resources (people and budget) in large-scale operations. Required.
• Experience in managing and integrating complex global supply chain services. Required.
• Experience in setting up the complex supply chain and logistics infrastructures. Required.
• Experience in annual planning and strategy implementation in a global organization. Required.
• Experience in establishing and managing the operational budget. Required.
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience. Required.
• Experience within the commercial sector including the development of effective customer commercial and operational targets and relationships at the global level. Preferred.

• In-depth knowledge of complex supply chain management. Required.
• Drive for change and improvement and ability to deliver strategies in a challenging environment. Required.
• Commercial acumen. Required.
• Strong budget and financial management skills. Required.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment. Required.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a good understanding of the global organization. Required.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks. Required.
• Excellent negotiation and diplomacy skills. Required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to provide authoritative advice. Required.
• Proven experience to carry out logistics assessments and set up large operations. Required.
• Ability to work toward tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks. Required.
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants. Required.
• Fluent spoken and written English. Required.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic). Preferred.

• Core Competencies: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust;
• Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance; Managing Staff Development
• Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others.