Job Title: Food Assistance Supply Chain Advisor
Reports to: STAR Director (Interim)
Department: Global Supply Chain Management
Location: International Telecommuter
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
Job Summary:
CRS is looking for a supply chain professional to advise CRS’ field offices in the implementation of CRS’ SCM transformation with a focus on large scale food assistance programs, including the development and implementation of capacity building strategies for regional and CP staff, development project lifecycle support tools, proposal review, project support, and assistance in the alignment of food assistance programs to CRS’ supply chain policies and procedures, donor regulations, and best practice. The Advisor sits in the GSCM Supply Chain Technical Assistance and Response (STAR) sub-unit.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
Promote professionalization of supply chain management within food/NFI assistance:
- Collaborate closely with Country Programs (CPs) and Regional Offices (ROs) to provide timely advice, support compliance, and build knowledge of relevant supply chain solutions.
- Help develop viable short- and long-term knowledge management and learning strategies, including training and orientation materials for food assistance supply chain.
- Develop tools to support improved planning and execution of food assistance supply chains, as well as guidance for proposal writing. With KML, develop ways to consistently socialize these tools and embed them into CP, regional, and global practices.
- Work with GSCM Advisors and RTAs to identify key considerations for organizational structures and staff capacity in food assistance programs. Help CPs and advisors to develop JDs, recruit experts, and develop learning pathways for existing staff. Support as requested CP-level SCM staff recruitment and onboarding.
- Mentor Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) and GSCM Advisors on food/NFI SCM.
- Document trends in SCM food program audit findings, performance gaps, risks and quality assurance issues. Work with GSCM Advisors and RTAs to develop agency-wide and context-unique solutions to reduce audit findings, minimize risks and enhance quality management efforts.
- Maintain risk register for food assistance. Help GSCM Advisors, RTAs, and CPs map their contexts and operations to potential risks and risk mitigation strategies.
- Especially when deployed, model best practices for in-country logistics, including warehouse and inventory management, 3PL contract management, last-mile and partners’ SCM performance support.
Foster and support the deployment of SCM policies / procedures as follows:
- With the support of KML, write policies and procedures needed for food assistance programs.
- Serve as SME/technical or deployment advisor on all relevant policy / procedure roll outs
Cultivate SCM innovation and transformation as follows:
- Work with the S&P team to identify metrics to measure the health of food assistance supply chains. Work with GSCM and Regional Advisors to build the capacity of CP, regional and global staff to use these metrics for decision-making.
- In collaboration with other GSCM units and stakeholder departments, develop technical assistance tools and programs to help develop the capacity of partners and other interested implementers.
- Identify gaps in SCM policies, procedures and practices leading to risk and/or constraining growth. Assist with the formulation of new policies and procedures as requested.
Provide ad hoc (as requested) and ongoing robust SCM technical support to CPs for current activities and new initiatives as follows:
- Contribute directly (as part of a dedicated team) or indirectly (as an advisor) to food assistance proposal design, start up and implementation efforts.
- Collaborate closely with the STAR/Markets and CVA sub-unit, especially on activities requiring local and regional food commodity procurement.
- Assist in the design, set-up and review of market monitoring systems for food assistance programs.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required in supply chain management or another relevant field. Additional specialized training relating to supply chain management preferred.
- Minimum of 3 years work experience, ideally with an international organization, with progressive responsibility in supply chain/logistics/procurement management within the context of international and local supply chain.
- Ability to think analytically and act methodically
- Strong writing skills, ability to write clearly and succinctly (including commenting and editing writing of not native English speakers)
- Strong communication skills (Email and Skype) in remote environment and ability to get things done in a matrix environment
- Strong sense of customer care and service
Required Languages - Fluency in English with strong oral and written communication skills and strong analytical skills. Professional proficiency in French highly desired. Working ability in Spanish or Arabic a plus. List languages required to perform the job
Travel – Willingness to travel up to 50%. This could include travel to difficult operating contexts.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong inter-personal skills, with a successful record effectively operating in multi-cultural settings.
- Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
- Pragmatic attitude balanced with a solid understanding and appreciation of the international NGO industry.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.