Job Description

The Regional Chief of Supply advises and provides guidance, oversight and direction to the Regional Office and all County Offices within South Asia Region on supply chain issues, including procurement services, through direct support, capacity building, development of the supply community and strategic promotion of supply-programme integration in support of the Country Programme.

Key Functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks 

Oversight of CO Supply Operations

• Provide leadership, technical advice, logistical support, oversight and guidance on the application of procurement, supply chain and procurement services procedures, regulations, systems and strategies and best practices for the management and improvement of the supply chain in SAR countries.
• Work with CO supply units to establish appropriate KPI, benchmarks and targets and monitor performance and progress to agreed targets.
• Conduct supply function management oversight and peer reviews and/or follow-up on audit observations to assist in the improvement of supply procedures and practices in SAR Country Offices.
• Build country office capacity to promote and strengthen local and regional procurement, including value for money and ethics principles. Resolve complex supply operational issues in problem areas including construction projects. Promote knowledge of and compliance with supply procedures.

 Regional Support to emergency preparedness and response

• Ensure CO preparedness efforts include required Supply and Logistics components being put in place, including emergency preparedness strategy and supply plans, relevant service and supplies LTA’s  established, contingency stocks maintained where required and in country logistics arrangements established. Explore possible supply sources from within the region. Ensure strong coordination between CO, RO and SD, including for the mobilization of human and financial resources.
• For L3 and L2 level emergencies, provide direct operational support to facilitate procurement of emergency supplies and regional and in country logistics, and manage sub-regional response where multi-CO efforts are required. Ensure response plan are aligned to the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCC). Monitoring of supply and logistics response and providing oversight for at-scale delivery modalities 

Support systems strengthening of national supply chain systems

• Provide technical assistance to country offices to support systems strengthening of the government supply chain systems  
• Implement capacity building initiatives in the area of efficient and effective supply chain for children, in close collaboration with programme teams. Support supply component of Health System Strengthening (HSS).
• Provide technical assistance and support for humanitarian development continuum

 Technical support for programme implementation and partnership

• For Providing technical support to Country Offices in defining and determining supply solutions for children, such as use of procurement services; supply financing solutions; local market development; supply chain digitalization, private sector engagement, market shaping and support for innovation in product development
• Further to analysis of supply spend and related procurement strategies, run initiatives to ensure local market development where relevant

Capacity building of supply community in the region

• In collaboration with Supply Division, develop training modules and guidelines for supply and logistics staff and as appropriate, facilitate country training courses for Country Offices, national counterparts and UN, NGO partners. Strengthen regional and inter regional professional networks.
• Establish strong regional supply community and support  implementation of global supply function strategies and regulatory framework

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Education: An advanced university degree is required 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.
• Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience, at the national and international level, is required, in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly-related technical fields, preferably with UNICEF or an international/government/commercial organization some of which should be in a senior management capacity. Experience in a UN system agency, large private or public company, or experience working in a developing country and/or humanitarian/ emergency context is an asset. Prior experience working with diverse and executive level stakeholder groups or multi-stakeholder partnerships is highly desirable. Experience in dealing with senior level partners in governments and other agencies would be an asset. Proven managerial, analytical, negotiating, communication, reporting, advocacy and training skills would be required, particularly to communicate sensitive and challenging ideas.
• Language Requirement: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.