HERON Procurement Officer

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods

JOB OVERVIEW/SUMMARY

HeRON Project Overview

USAID/FCDO Lafiya Health Resilience of the Northeast Nigeria (HeRON) project in Borno and Yobe states supports delivery of quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services, to improve evidence-based decision making, accountability at all levels of service delivery.

IRC leads a consortium of humanitarian and development implementing partners (Action Contre la Faim – ACF, Society for Family Health Nigeria). The Project team is working alongside states and local government authorities in Borno and Yobe, strengthening their capacity to effectively deliver quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, and newborn and child health and nutrition services.

Scope of Work/ Job overview

The Global Supply Chain Department supports the organization’s work by providing reliable and scalable application development and operations for the IRC’s offices in the US and around the world, in the aspect of procurement, assets, inventory and management of the IRC’s GSC policies.

IRC is seeking an experienced procurement professional to provide support to HeRON consortium program in carrying out logistical and supply chain tasks for the project.

Under the direct supervision of HeRON Consortium Pharmacy Manager, with technical reference to the Senior Pharmacy Manager and the Senior Supply Chain Manager, the post bearer will provide the needed logistical and procurement support to the consortium and HeRON field teams.

Working in close collaboration with the Consortium leadership and SC, He/she will be responsible for applying IRC and donors’ procurement related policies and regulations, supporting the evaluation of suppliers of goods, services, and pharmaceutical products, negotiating contracts, and ensuring that approved purchases are cost-efficient and of high quality.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Procurement Policies, Standards and Coordination:

- Ensures that goods, services, and pharmaceutical products are only procured from IRC validated and/or donors’ recommended suppliers. - Depending on the kind of supplier and the kind of validation, different specifications or pre-requisites must be specified when processing the orders - Ensures that the supplier meets donors’ and/or IRC requirements as per IRC procurement related SOPs - Coordinate with supply chain, consortium leadership, and finance on troubleshooting project related supply chain issues. - Ensure that IRC’s supply chain monitoring and control standards are always adhered to. - Provide TA and capacity building to all tiers of the government of Nigeria and to strengthen national/state systems for procurement and supply chain management of health commodities. - Provide Logistics support to HeRoN partners focusing on reporting, distribution, shipping, storage, and warehousing of commodities. - To provide technical coordination in product selection, quality assurance, receipt of commodities and efficient storage and distribution systems. - Work with the state team/GON team in developing, maintaining, and improving a logistics management information system and an electronic inventory control system of stocking and tracking commodities. - Support the state government team in the development of warehousing and distribution budgets Conduct periodic visits to facility warehouses to follow up on all warehouse-related matters such as the environment, sterilization, refrigeration etc. and generate reports to management and other stakeholders. - Monitor safety standards in accordance with regulations; ensure safety code and quality compliance are met daily and report any issues arising to the Pharmacy manager. - Work with the Pharmacy Manager and HeRoN partner teams in designing coordinated systems HeRoN to transport health commodities report and forecast delivery times, transport costs and performance to reduce stock-outs, eliminate waste and lower costs jointly with the government. - Ensure that all distribution documentation for health commodities in the project with funding agencies, suppliers, implementing partners and regulatory bodies is complete and compliant. - Work with the state team to institute data entries into the health commodity platforms.

Procurement Procedures, Management & Reporting

- Ensure goods, services and pharmaceutical products are timely delivered, and with the required/specified quality - Issue and follow up on purchase orders to vendors - Follow up all commercial issues of quality problems and claims with the supplier's sales department. - Purchase requested items and quantities according to purchasing policies. - Participates in assessment of product samples for training purposes to increase her/his knowledge about products and quality standards. - Manage the timely payment of vendors for delivered items - Coordination with Finance and consortium leadership to ensure integrated internal controls, timely procurement of goods and services, with full auditable support documentation. - Ensuring that a transparent and responsive procurement process is implemented and maintained. - Routine communication, coordination, and planning with the relevant requesting staff / programs regarding the order and delivery of supplies. - Establish and maintain suppliers’ files (except documents related to quality assurance). - Establish selection tables of validated products from validated suppliers and select products based on prices, availability, delivery lead time and desired dosage forms and strengths (for pharma commodities). - Submit weekly reports with updates on status of all HeRON procurement.

Logistics Support, Liaison and Operations:

- Assist HeRON consortium team in working effectively to improve procurement planning and resource utilization. - Ensure delivered shipments are cleared on time and delivered to respective project field locations. - Maintain knowledge of local government requirements related to supply chain matters and ensure compliance with legal requirements on tax exemptions and customs clearance. - Responsible for tracking and monitoring movements of international pharmaceutical procurements - Carry out any other tasks as deemed relevant by the supervisor.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

- Line Manager: Senior HeRON Pharmacy Manager - Indirect/Technical: IRC’s Senior Procurement Manager, HeRON Consortium Pharmacy Manager, IRC’s Senior Pharmacy Manager, Supply Chain Manager, - Working Collaboration: HeRON Managers, Finance & SC. - Position directly Supervises: N/A - Key Internal Contacts: - Country Program: Supply Chain, HeRON Consortium Leadership - Region/Global: N/A - Key External Contacts: N/A

Qualifications

Education:

- Bachelor of Pharmacy, Business managements, Procurements or Logistics - Post graduate Diploma or master’s in Procurement & supply chain management is an added advantage

Work Experience, Required Technical Skills & Leadership Competencies:

- Minimum 1-2 years’ experience in a similar role - Previous experience with logistics and operations support for health programs, - Good skills in logistics support required - Demonstrated good judgment and decision-making skills - Flexibility and ability to handle a large and dynamic workload, work under pressure and meet deadlines - Strong commitment to IRC’s mission, purpose, and values.

Languages: English Fluency (spoken and written).

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Ability to Travel: 10-20% ability to travel to field locations

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Gender Equality****: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

**Working Environment*****:*** This position is based at IRC Field Office in Maiduguri.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.