Supply and Logistics Assistant (G-4) Havana, Cuba, Post No. 51775, Fixed Term Appointment

Contract

This is a G-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 4 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be more than 986 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, results

Strategic office context:

Cuba Program Priorities and Partnerships

The program is aligned with three of the four results of the Framework of United Nations Cooperation for Sustainable Development 2020-2024 and with the goals and objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The program will be implemented through strategic partnerships with the Government national and territorial level, academic institutions, civil society organizations civilian and other United Nations organizations, under the direction and coordination of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment.

UNICEF collaborates with national institutions to guarantee rights and equal development opportunities for children and adolescents, and to strengthen a culture of rights and participation.

In the context of the Cuban economic model’s update, UNICEF supports the efforts of the government to preserve the achievements made in the well-being of children and adolescents and to face up new challenges.

The organization carries out and supports projects to promote education, health, inclusion, protection and participation for every child and adolescent in Cuba. Programme components:

• Every child survives and thrives

• Every child learns

• Every child is protected from violence and the exploitation

• Monitoring and Evaluation

Country Programme Context

Cuba economic context is currently marked by accumulated acute economic distress and financial restrictions, highly aggravated by economic crisis after COVID-19, which has limited even more the market and capacity of providers with general supplies. The US embargo impacts finances, logistics and supply chain. Cuba confronts many commercial and economical limitations related to the US embargo which impacts in the number of providers that can run business for supply shipment to Cuba. The country is also going through a deep energy and fuel crisis impacting the supply chain in the country. The government is limited in access to financial credit and supply imports to the country have reduced significantly. The country is annually impacted by natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding, heavy rains, tropical storms and in a smaller scale, tornadoes, and quakes. The local limitations impose a challenge in risk management, distributing and delivering supplies to the beneficiaries. The national logistical mechanism in place for supply imports is highly complex and the international dynamics for freight management, imposes a challenge to the CO when trying to access urgent supplies to respond to a humanitarian crisis.

To support the Programme Effectiveness, Cuba Operations Team will provide technical and strategic assistance to support the program implementation and management.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and supervision of the Supply and Logistics Associate (G-6), the Supply and Logistics Assistant at level GS-4 is responsible for executing a broad variety of routine tasks assisting the uninterrupted supply of affordable and good quality supplies and services, adapted to the context and through compliance with UNICEF’s policies, procedures, and ethics standards.

The Supply and Logistics Assistant supports and carry out tasks for end-to-end supply chain management from the beginning to the end of the process, assisting in the development of improved supply chain services and delivery mechanisms.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Supply Chain Service Delivery and Response

Procurement/contracting:

• Provide input to the formulation of the annual Supply Plan. Conduct data review and analysis for category management and assist in the development of procurement strategies. Support market research in relevant areas for UNICEF and assist in gathering evidence on the best approaches to sustainable and best value for money procurement.
• Where relevant, support product innovation and market shaping initiatives for specific categories of supplies and services providing relevant data.
• Liaise with colleagues from respective programme sections in planning procurement and contracting initiatives, supporting development of relevant specifications, terms of reference, and logistics arrangements and timelines. From lessons learnt, contribute with good practices to strengthen sustainability of supply chains.

In-country logistics:

• Provide input on the logistics component of the supply plan, including advising on infrastructure constraints (e.g. customs clearance, port capacity, transport options and warehousing capacity) and different delivery mechanisms. Keep track of demurrages and detention charges. Negotiate with Airport/Port/Shipping Line for waiver of demurrage/detention charges whenever required. Calculate budget requirements for various delivery modalities and ensure establishment of budget with the colleagues from the respective programme sections.
• Liaise with supply colleagues as well as colleagues from respective programme sections, use supply dashboards to ensure pipeline monitoring establishment of appropriate logistics capacity and contribute with information to update CO supply dashboard. Monitor progress of offshore and/or regional procurement and take action to ensure timely customs clearance of supplies entering the country. Perform research, collect data and conduct analysis, produce reports and ensure information accuracy in corporate systems to enable informed decision-making.
• Provide support in logistics, following standard processes and contributing, directly or indirectly, to the effective delivery of programme supplies. Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to support logistics operations management and contribute to effective service delivery.
• Review needs for contracting of logistics third party services (e.g. customs clearance, warehousing, transport, distribution) and transmit all supporting information for contracting of such service providers including establishment of KPIs and performance monitoring mechanisms.
• Maintain and process documentation for execution of logistics operations (e.g. customs clearance, invoice verification), and take appropriate actions to resolve operational issues, escalating complex issues to the supervisor.
• Support to Programme Team for tracking supplies until these have been received by IP or beneficiaries.

Alternative delivery mechanisms and procurement services:

• Ensures continuous availability of data related to procurement, including forecasting, requisitions received, orders placed, incoming goods, actual delivery schedules. Prepares periodic reports, and ad-hoc reports as needed.
• Support assessment of collaboration with implementing partners including civil society, for establishment of Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs), and monitoring of supply components under Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT).
• Assist in activities that lead to building partnerships and collaborative relations with UN organizations to support harmonized and collaborative procurement and logistics arrangements.

• Support Procurement Services (PS) transactions and projects in collaboration with programme sections and UNICEF Supply Division (SD). As appropriate, support partners on forecasting and costing of PS-channel supplies. Monitor the submission of requests, PS cost estimates, Purchase Orders (POs) and/or Copenhagen Warehouse Stock Transfer Orders on PS Sales Orders. Follow up with SD and UNICEF freight forwarders as needed on timely delivery/shipment of PS orders. Support communications and follow up with programme colleagues and partners regarding partnership requests and negotiations as required.

  Impact of Results

The Supply & Logistic Assistant’s impact directly affects the quality and timeliness of the delivery of a range of different services for which the unit is accountable. The impact of these services indirectly affects the timely completion of other processes for clients and reflects directly on the overall reputation of the supply team in terms of quality and responsiveness to client needs.

The Supply and Logistic Assistants’ client interface focuses on the coordination and planning of routine supply chain activities, including the transportation of goods and materials, purchase orders, contracts, delivery and payments. These relationships are important to ensure that deadlines are met and that work results adhere to regulations, rules and guidelines.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [attach JD/TOR here]

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of pre-university level or technical school, preferably supplemented by university courses related to the field of work. Bachelor´s degree is desirable
• Work Experience: A minimum of 4 years of relevant administrative or clerical work experience is required.
• Skills:

-Thorough knowledge of a range of specialized topics, including relevant supply chain processes, partnership mechanisms, rules and regulations related to public sector procurement.

-Ability to interpret and apply specialized rules and regulations to the particular circumstances of individual cases.

-Experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP and ability to learn other UNICEF office tools.

-Demonstrated understanding of relevant supply chain processes and ability to consistently apply relevant policies, procedures and good practices in the daily work.

-Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders and gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor.

-Ability to use supply related modules within UNICEF ERP system (SAP).

-Ability to establish priorities and plan his/her own work and plan, coordinate and monitor the work of those under his/her supervision.

-Ability to draft clear and concise reports or rationale for supply related decisions on key issues.

• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable persons living with any disability and /or gender diversity are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.