The Supply and Logistics Officer/Specialist (Procurement Services) reports to the Chief Supply & Logistics and will support the Cold Chain Acceleration Team (CCAT) in the Venezuela Country office in the implementation of the “TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT THE INTRODUCTION AND DEPLOYMENT OF VACCINES AGAINST COVID-19 IN THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA” project (‘the project’). The CCAT is co-led by the Chief Health and the Chief Supply & Logistics and the Supply and Logistic Officer / Specialist (Procurement Services) reports to the Chief Supply and Logistics within this task team.
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.
For every child, access
The fundamental mission of UNICEF Venezuela is to promote the rights of every child in everything the organization does —through equity-focused and gender transformative programming, all children and adolescents, girls, and boys, in the most vulnerable municipalities and districts of Venezuela, reach their full potential in an inclusive and supportive society, in progressive realization of their rights.
The Supply and Logistics Officer/Specialist (Procurement Services) reports to the Chief Supply & Logistics and will support the Cold Chain Acceleration Team (CCAT) in the Venezuela Country office in the implementation of the “TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT THE INTRODUCTION AND DEPLOYMENT OF VACCINES AGAINST COVID-19 IN THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA” project (‘the project’). The CCAT is co-led by the Chief Health and the Chief Supply & Logistics and the Supply and Logistic Officer / Specialist (Procurement Services) reports to the Chief Supply and Logistics within this task team. The Supply and Logistics Officer / Specialist (Procurement Services) provides technical and operational support and is responsible for managing the Procurement Services Cold Chain Project supply chain as part of the overall project. The supply chain operations include planning, procurement, contracting, customs clearance, warehousing, in country transport and distribution, as well as monitoring of supplies, services and minor works. The incumbent supports management collaboration with programmes in defining supply interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children, and provides technical and advisory support to governments, national systems and partners on supply chain management.
How can you make a difference?
Management of the Procurement Services unit
- Prepare the annual work plan for the Procurement Services unit; determine priorities/targets and performance measurements and monitor work progress to ensure that results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
- Supervise and coach team members, ensure timely performance management of staff. In collaboration with Supply Division, Regional Office and the global supply community, ensure knowledge sharing and learning is prioritized in order to continuously build capacity of individuals and the team.
- In consultation with supervisor, ensure establishment and maintenance of operational capacity to handle CO supply chains, including staffing (appropriate staffing structure, timely recruitment, clarity of roles and responsibilities) and contracting of third-party services if applicable (e.g. customs clearance, warehousing, transport, distribution).
Supply chain service delivery and emergency response with specific focus on the management of the Procurement Services requests and transactions
- In consultation with supervisor, manage the Supply requirements related to the implementation of the Procurement Services requests and Cost Estimates. Participate in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the supply chain operations, including establishment of performance indicators, and assessment of fit for purpose of products and services;
- Monitor progress of the development, coordination and implementation of the Cost Estimates related to the project and suggest course of action in case of bottlenecks;
- Monitor progress and coordinate the offshore and/or regional procurement and take action to ensure timely customs clearance of supplies entering the country. Maintain appropriate warehousing, inventory management and in-country transport in support of the programme implementation. Keep stakeholders/partners informed on the progress;
- Undertake and advise on local procurement of goods and services for the project which includes review of Specifications and Terms of Reference, release of related Sales Orders and Purchase Requisitions, and Purchase Orders and Contracts;
- Analyze supply dashboards, implementation rates of key performance indicators and supply information/data from various systems and conduct root cause analysis of supply chain bottlenecks and challenges, with a view to drive improvements and ensure efficient and effective supply chains for children for this project;
- Build strong working relations with Regional Chiefs of Supply/Regional Chief of Operations, as well as Supply Division, to align with global and regional approaches and initiatives in supply chain management of this project.
Collaboration with programme and implementing partners
- In collaboration with supervisor, develop close collaboration with programme sections through involvement in programme design, planning, and preparation for implementation of supply components as well as monitoring and evaluation. Establish accountability framework with programmes, for delivery of results for children.
- Provide supply input to donor dialogue, and support development of supply components of proposals to donors including budgeting and use of innovative financing mechanisms for supplies, services and construction works.
- Support assessment of and collaboration with implementing partners including civil society, establishment of Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs), and monitoring of supply components under Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT).
- Develop and maintain partnership and collaborative relations with Government, UN organizations and bilateral counterparts in supply and logistics activities including harmonized and collaborative procurement.
Technical and advisory support to government/national systems in the area of Procurement Services
- Promote/drive supply chain strengthening and change management initiatives with governments and partners, to ensure efficient and effective supply chains for children.
- Provide input to capacity development initiatives in the area of supply chains for children, in close collaboration with programme colleagues. Support supply components of health systems strengthening as might be relevant in the country context.
- Advisory support to Governments/national systems in defining and determining supply solutions for children, such as use of procurement services; supply financing solutions; local market development; private sector engagement.
- Provide capacity building on Procurement Services processes.
Innovation, products and markets
- Contribute to pilots and support the actual roll-out of new products and services, in close collaboration with Supply Division.
- Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices on supply chain management within the organization as well as with externals to ensure effective and efficient supply chains for children.
- Further to analysis of supply spend and related procurement strategies, in collaboration with supervisor run initiatives to ensure local market development where relevant.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field, or relevant first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) in conjunction with a valid relevant professional certification is required.*A first University Degree in a relevant field (identified above) combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience at the national and international levels, in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
- Understanding of development and humanitarian work.
- Emergency experience an advantage.
- Health supply chain management experience an advantage.
- Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian is an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues
UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
- Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
- Works Collaboratively with others (2)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
- Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)
During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Remarks:
This position is available temporarily for 364 days. International Professionals are internationally recruited; therefore, Venezuelan nationals are ineligible for consideration.
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.