Supply and Logistics Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

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 fulfil 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, an opportunity:

UNICEF is the leading humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child. Child rights begin with safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflict and traverse the life cycle: pre-natal care for healthy births, clean water and sanitation, health care and education. UNICEF has spent 75 years working to improve the lives of children and their families.

Working with and for children, through adolescence and into adulthood, requires a global presence whose goal is to produce results and monitor their effects. UNICEF also lobbies and partners with leaders, thinkers, and policy makers, to help all children realize their rights -especially for the most disadvantaged.

The Supply and Logistics Specialist is responsible for overseeing and streamlining the supply chain’s operations. This includes planning, procurement, contracting, managing custom clearances and warehousing, as well as the transportation and distribution of supplies within the country, and the monitoring of goods and services.

The incumbent supports management collaborating with the implementation of the 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, including coordination on the response to emergencies with different divisions within UNICEF.

The incumbent ensures continuity of support from the Regional Office during emergencies, together with the ongoing multi-country response being faced in most parts of the continent, especially in the critical situation that Haiti is currently experiencing.

The incumbent will be on alert for potential immediate deployment to Emergency sites, both on ongoing emergencies and sudden onset emergencies.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Regional Supply and Logistics Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Supply and Logistics Specialist will:

1. Monitor and share knowledge: • With the Supply team in the regional Office; following up on Implementation of the annual work plan for the Supply team; ensuring performance measurements and monitoring work progress to ensure that results are achieved. • With the supply teams within the región; ensuring 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) • With the Global Supply community; in collaboration with Supply Division, Regional Office and the global supply community, ensuring that knowledge sharing and learning is prioritized in order to continuously build capacity of individuals and supply teams within the region.

2. Deliver supply chain service and emergency response: • Ensuring appropriate implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the supply chain operations. • Coordinating incoming shipments plans and establishing schedule plans for in-country distribution. • Ensuring effective procurement of goods, contracting of services and construction works [where applicable], while maintaining the highest level of integrity, ethical standards and accountability. • Management of the regional warehouse: ensuring timely customs clearance of supplies entering the country. Ensuring appropriate warehousing, inventory management and transportation in support of countries programme implementation. • Ensuring appropriate vendor management practices e.g. supply performance reviews are established and applied. • Analyzing supply dashboards, implementation rates of key performance indicators and supply information/data from various systems, and reporting on identified supply chain bottlenecks and challenges, with a view to drive improvements and ensure efficient and effective supply chains for children. • In case of any new emergency, developing an emergency supply & logistics strategy based on risk assessment analysis and Programme assumptions. • Participating in emergency coordination and implementation, monitoring meetings with internal and external partners and establishing close collaboration with Logistics Cluster/National Logistics Working Group if such is activated/existing.

3. Collaborate with programme and implementing partners: • Establishing accountability framework with programmes, for delivery of results for children. • Providing supply input to donor dialogue, and supporting development of supply components for proposals to donors, including budgeting and use of innovative financing mechanisms for supplies, services and construction works. • Supporting 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.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

 Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;  Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;  Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;  Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.  Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;  Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;  Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;  Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly related technical fields, at the national or international levels, is required. Understanding of development and humanitarian work. Experience in emergency contexts is an advantage. Health supply chain management experience is an advantage.

Panama is in Central America with a population of 4,300,000 million, the official language is Spanish, but most Panamanians are bilingual. Panama has a lower crime rate than many other countries in the region. Panama City is largely a safe city – but care does need to be taken in some areas and with personal property. It is your choice whether you opt for a house or an apartment. Beautiful spacious houses, with gardens are available. Those staff that have opted for an apartment have done so on the basis that they offer more security and more facilities. The US Dollar is used as a legal currency in Panama. There are also coins of the Balboa, which is the national currency, similar in shape and value to the US Dollar. Please make sure to leave Panama only with US Dollar currency, as there are some international difficulties changing the Balboa abroad. Panama has a tropical climate with practically the same average temperature of 27°C year-round with 78% humidity. The rainy season in Panama is from March until November each year and we recommend you to bring an umbrella. The air conditioning may be cool at times in the office and in local shops, so we suggest you bring a jacket or sweater. The voltage in Panama is 110v, 60 cycle with two and three prong plugs. Wall plugs are mostly for 110v. In some properties there may by 220v for air conditioning or similar. Current fluctuations are common and electricity cuts are still possible. There are many clinics and medical centers in Panama: For your information, below the largest private hospitals in Panama City: Hospital Paitilla +507 265 8888 +507 265 8800 Hospital Pacífica Salud [former Punta Pacífica] +507 204 8184 +507 204 8000 Hospital San Fernando +507 305 6305 +507 305 6300 Hospital Nacional +507 306 3300 +507 207 8100 There is also an Emergency Ambulance service, government-owned 911. If you open a local bank account, banks in Panama request the following documents. - Reference letter from your bank. - Original and copy of your national Passport - Employment letter.