Officer, Logistics

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organization established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main business groups: (i) Partnerships, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management Services.

The IFRC’s Supply Chain Department is a core function supporting the IFRC humanitarian action. The Department has a global network including:

• a headquarters-based Supply Chain Management Department in Geneva
• a Logistics Hub and Global Fleet office in Dubai
• Five regional operational supply chain units located in Panama, Kuala Lumpur, Nairobi, Beirut and Budapest
• logistics hubs
• country-based logistics set-up

Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management is a function dedicated to:

• Provide the goods and services as needed by IFRC to deliver to the most vulnerable;
• Provide services to deliver visible value to the members, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and strengthening its control;
• Developing talents & future leaders.

The Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) for Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti, also referred to as the Latin Caribbean, is responsible for ensuring the provision of effective technical support services to its membership while promoting membership adherence to strategies, policies, and agreements which will maintain and uphold the image and integrity of the Federation and Movement. This requires that effective coordination mechanisms be established in all stages of the programme management cycle and includes information management and external relations coordination.

Based in the Santo Domingo Office in the Dominican Republic, the Logistics Officer will support the CCD team for Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti under the line management of the Coordinator, Disaster Risk Management. The Logistics Officer operates under the technical guidance of the Supply Chain Department and therefore international travel may be required particularly throughout the Americas Region

Job Purpose

The Logistics Officer will support the Federation's logistics operations in the Latin Caribbean CCD, ensure the efficient and effective delivery of relief goods and provide transport and logistics support in other activities including Training and Capacity Building of National Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba and works under the guidance of the Americas Logistics Manager.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Tracking of shipments throughout the RLU pipeline.
• Organize the safe, efficient movement of goods for export and import, including customs clearance, receipt and dispatch of goods.
• Arrange the best means of transport, using the services of shipping lines, airlines, charter or road and rail freight operators.
• Researching and planning the most appropriate route for export shipments (taking account of the nature of the goods, cost, transit time and security).
• Identify and maintain an accurate and up-to-date zone transport supplier information database and keep informed of local market conditions.
• Establish and maintain a good professional working relationship with regional and international transport suppliers.
• Support the RLU procurement team by providing advice and assistance for all transport procurements.
• Provide advice and technical logistics support to National Societies of the CCD, including conducting field trips for operational support.
• Organizational development to expand the knowledge and effectiveness of the RLU in logistics matters.
• Undertake transport assessments throughout the CCD, when required.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Mobilization table management for the ongoing operations within the CCD.
• Responsible for co-coordinating with donors/ procurement unit to mobilize goods according to priorities and facilitate in-kind donation process
• Prepare the logistics estimation for the sale of goods and services of the RLU to the requestors
• Customer service: follow up for the requestor orders, before, during and after a purchase.
• Perform a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction, such as questionnaires.
• Support the Regional Logistics Unit in the coordination with the National Societies of the CCD, integrating operations as far as possible, with the goal of transferring as much operational responsibility to the National Societies concerned.
• Provide technical advice to other departments and functions within the CCD.
• Provide trainings for National Societies logisticians in logistics functions within the CCD.
• Produce regular, timely and accurate requested narrative and financial reports as well as other report for CCD and RLU - Panama.
• Produce monthly reports for stock movements and cost recovery of the logistics activities.

• Produce stock unit cost calculation for federation owned stock and PNS.

Education

REQUIRED:

• University degree in Operations, Logistics, or Supply Chain Management
• Professional qualification in logistics

Experience

REQUIRED:

• 3+ years of experience of a wide variety of logistics roles with a preference for freight forwarder or international trade experience in both export and import roles, but also including procurement, contracting, transport management, warehouse management, stock control, distribution, workshop management and customs clearance
• Proven experience in service provision, commercial sector and effective customer relation or providing supply chain management services during emergencies

PREFERRED:

• Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
• Experience of working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

REQUIRED:

• In-depth knowledge of complex supply chain management
• Drive for change and improvement, ability to deliver in a challenging environment
• Commercial acumen
• Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing)
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment
• Excellent communication and reporting skills
• Valid international driving license (manual gears)
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks
• Ability to travel in short notice and to work outside normal working hours as the situation requires and work under stressful working condition
• Fluently spoken and written English

PREFERRED:

• Strong interpersonal skills and good understanding of the global organization
• Skills in training and developing staff
• Good command of another IFRC official language or relevant to the region (Spanish, French or Haitian Creole)

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust