Chief of Service, Supply Chain Planning

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Supply Chain Planning Service in the Logistics Division (LD), Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Chief of Supply Chain Planning Service reports to the Director of the Logistics Division.

The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services to client entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices away from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions.

The Office of Supply Chain Management includes the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, Logistics Division, Procurement Division, Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, and the Enabling and Outreach Service.

The Logistics Division performs a central role in the implementation of end-to-end supply chain management across the United Nations operations. The Division provides direction and advice on supply chain planning, logistical matters, monitors and assesses the delivery of strategic transportation and support services, and directs the delivery of transportation and specialist support services in the functional areas of air transport, ground transport, engineering, medical and supply, inclusive of fuel, rations and general supplies and security equipment.

Responsibilities

• Leads, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Service under his/her responsibility. Coordinates the work carried out by different work units under the Service; provides programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others.
• Formulates and implements the substantive work programme of the Service under his/her supervision by: i) Developing and implementing a supply chain planning framework; ii) Participating in the planning process of client entities, with particular attention to supply chain management areas, and contributes to an integrated approach and consistency in the implementation and operationalization of the integrated supply chain management within the client entities. iii) Providing strategic review of standardization opportunities and guidance on demand planning, sourcing and delivery solutions in line with global supply chain plans. iv) Establishing the necessary processes to improve the organization’s ability to better identify and anticipate clients’ needs; including planning on a global scale and “rightsizing” resources to the requirements at hand to meet the evolving support requirements.
• Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Service, ensures that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion.
• Coordinates work in the different areas both within the Division, Office and Department, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate, providing integrated planning business rules to all DOS supported entities on demand, source and delivery planning on an annual basis, deriving from consultations with the category managers.
• Coordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental and oversight bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.
• Reports on supply chain planning functions to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/ substantive issues, as appropriate.
• Ensures that the supply chain global demand plan is established and related outputs produced by the Service maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear and maintained through the planning cycle, translating DOS clients’ strategic and operational priorities into aggregated demand using the category management approach. Ensures that all outputs produced by the Sections under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Service, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Recruits staff, taking due account of geographical balance.
• Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Service and across organizational boundaries by building strategic partnerships for contingency planning and emergency preparedness with Member States and other relevant entities within the United Nations Secretariat.
• Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues including leading/facilitating change management process. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars including by developing the global supply chain plan through analysis, consolidation and establishment of entities’ requirements and conducts reviews of missions’ proposals to enable optimizing of resources.
• Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Represents the Division at international, regional or national meetings.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of principles, techniques and practices related to supply chain planning; ability to improve processes and approaches; ability to drive for change and improvement in the area of supply chain planning to client entities; ability to ensure adequate report preparation or rationale with respect to key supply chain planning decisions. Knowledge of the substantive field of work in the areas of supply chain management and specific areas being supervised. Knowledge of supply chain operations, procedures and practices. Knowledge of project management. Ability to provide technical advice in a broad range of supply chain management areas. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

• Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, supply chain management, engineering, logistics, or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Certification in supply chain management is desirable. Certification in project management is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in supply chain management, project management, logistics, or related field is required.
At least five years of supply chain management experience in support of large complex field operations (inclusive of peacekeeping operations, special political missions, agencies, funds and programmes), or other similar international organizations is required.
Experience in planning and developing supply chains in a complex, volatile setting is desirable.
Experience in leading a change management initiative, programme or project is desirable.
Experience in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) SAP supply chain planning modules within an international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required; knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

This post is financed by the Support Account.

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.