Supply Chain Manager - Partnerships (Syria Country Program)

Job Description

The Supply Chain Manager - Partnerships Manager will lead the Supply Chain Management Support for partnership, including procurement, warehousing, pharma inventory, asset, and transport. He/she must be able to support the Partners’ Supply Chain teams and Partnership Program efficiently and effectively, by providing technical feedback and capacity building to IRC Sub Awards Partners on procurement procedures and meaningful activities, whilst ensuring to meet Supply Chain standard methodologies and maintaining audit-compliant records.

The Supply Chain Manager – Partnerships will work closely with IRC’s Partnership department, to ensure the proper delivery of Supply Chain monitoring and capacity building activities provided to Partner Organization in Northwest, South, and Northeast Syria. Furthermore, SC Manager – Partnerships will lead on tender processes for partners when needed , including coordination of tender committees including partners representatives.

Responsibilities:

Partnership Support:

- Support and participate in Pre-Award Assessment/partner Project Capacity Review to potential partners as appropriate. Contribute to assessing, reviewing and analyzing technical areas of procurement, inventory, asset management, policies and procedure, and Staff structure to measure the partner's capacity. - Review the supply chain component of the partnership agreement(s). - Participate in Partnership Project opening, reviews, and closing meetings. - Work with sub-award partners to ensure the project reflects the fair market value and best value for money. - Support partners to develop their procurement plans based on the partnership agreement. - Support partners in the development of proposal budgets to ensure reasonable and realistic amounts are presented to maximize the utilization of funds and reduce the occurrence of budget realignments and requests for amendments. - When necessary, participate in bid committees for the procurement of items and services upon request and ensure that partners align with laws and donor regulations prior to procuring. - Provide partners with standard methodology guidance based on IRC experience and local partner capacity on issues related to procurement and logistics management, while ensuring to reflect partners' specific and realistic needs. - Monitor the entire partner supply chain management process. - Conduct a spot check of supply chain management end-to-end processes, identify the gaps and advise on the correction action plan. - Participate in or guide compliance reviews, with respect to the verification of procurement and logistics processes as necessary. - Conduct quarterly site visits to partners to monitor their procurement business processes. - Participate in periodic grant review meetings and grant closing meetings, and highlight successes, challenges, and lessons learned to inform future programming and partnerships. - Deliver supply chain training and mentoring support to the partners in accordance with partner project support plans, with a focus on building supply chain systems and staff capacities. - Provide Partners with tools and guidelines that will support the development and enhancement of a fit-for-purpose supply chain management system. - Develop and provide guidance to partner organisations regarding supply chain reporting. - Conduct spot checks on asset inventory and pharma inventory management and advice partners with the improvement plan. - Lead and guide asset and inventory disposition during project closing. - Review Partners’ assets reports to inform donor(s) and other internal and/or external stakeholders of assets status, and disposition plans, highlight any losses, and/or damages, and propose corrective actions and mitigation measures to be considered for future projects. - Ensure Partners’ proper understanding of donor regulations and provide guidance and feedback regarding any unclarities, in coordination with the Grants team. - Ensures Partners comprehension about ethical practices in procurement, proper segregation of duties, and compliance.

Partnership Coordination:

- Champion robust partner relationship management characterized by the core partnership principles from IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) of responsibility, results-oriented approach, equality, transparency, and complementarity. - Ensure appropriate proactive and reactive communications and engagement with IRC partners to implement sub-grant agreements and complete program deliverables through regularly scheduled partnership management meetings. - Assist the SC for Partnerships to Drive adherence to PEERS by working with partners to complete quarterly monitoring visits and lesson learned reflections. - Support the Partnership department in facilitating detailed partner feedback on IRC's management of and performance in partnerships, as well as taking appropriate action in response to the feedback to ensure the smooth operation of the consortium. - Support and manage the crafting and/or participate in relevant workshops and meetings to support coordination and collaboration, including quarterly partner monitoring visits and training events. - Participate in the review of the performance of the partners, of the IRC, and of the partnership, including the success, challenges, and lessons learned.

Qualifications

Education: University Degree or Diploma.

Experience: Minimum of (5) years of professional experience in Supply Chain or related fields, preferably with an INGO.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

- Familiarity with IRC’s own procurement procedures and SOPs is an asset.

- Familiarity with IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) is an asset.

- Experience in conducting training sessions related to SC management, and procurement best practices.

- Familiarity with the Syrian context and work under Syria programs is an asset. - Excellent communication, mentoring, coaching, and reporting skills. - Ability to work under pressure and in a multinational environment, ability to multitask, and an excellent teammate.

- Excellent MS Office skills.

- A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct. - Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development - Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution. - Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context. - Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience. - Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity. - Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must. - Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

- Excellent written and oral communication in both English and Arabic are required. - Travel: 30% to field sites in Syria and Turkey .

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Director Operations Position directly supervises: SC Officers - Partnerships inside Northeast, northwest hubs (to be hired).

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): Key Internal Contacts: Partnerships, Supply Chain, Grants, HR, Finance, Field Management, Programs

**Key External Contacts:***:* Donors, partners, suppliers & other stakeholders as deemed needed.

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.