Logistics Manager

Logistics Manager - Save the Children

Location: Afghanistan

Contract - Full-Time

Closing date: Tuesday 18 June 2013

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

By mid-2013 most of our international programmes will be delivered through a merged operation with 14 000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We're changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better partner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people and relevant for the 21st century.

Save the Children has been working in Afghanistan since 1976. Currently, our programmes include health, nutrition, education, child protection, emergency response and livelihood sectors and are implemented in Faryab, Sare Pul, Jawzjan, Balkh, Badakshan, Bamyan, Samangan, Parwan, Kabul, Nangarhar, Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces.

Save the Children International is looking for Logistics Manager to join our team. This is a 2-year assignment based in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The role:

Logistics manager is responsible for managing the delivery of timely, effective and accountable logistics support to Save the Children International field team in the country programme, build capacity of the logistics staff, effectively plan and carry out procurement, and management of supplies and the movement of relief goods according to the organisation's policy.

Key areas of accountability:

• Support and oversee all country logistics activities including international, national and provincial procurement, relief distributions of NFI's and warehouse management in collaboration with the logistics team. Implement a set of monitoring and reporting tools for an adequate follow-up of procurement activities in all country.
• Ensure an update of price lists of commonly purchased items, maintain preferred vendors suppliers list and/or blacklists. This includes the development of framework agreements with suppliers for diverse goods/services
• Supervise an adequate compilation of all documents related to procurement of services and goods prior to produce a payment request or invoice authorization forms and to coordinate with the finance department for this purpose
• Provide logistical input for procurement plans during proposal and budget writing. This includes compilation of different procurement plans in order to carry out coordinated procurement. Retrieve information from the administration department in relation to capital assets replacement plans i.e vehicles, IT equipment for planned procurement.
• Oversee stock management: control, develop and maintain effective warehouse management systems for an accountable and transparent transit of materials from our warehouses and offices to end point users. This includes monitoring and reporting for all warehousing transactions. Take a leading role conducting to upgrades in all warehouses in order to ensure appropriate counting and stock of materials
• Oversee all staff responsible for the maintenance and smooth-running of document filing for procurement, contract, supplier's, market and sourcing management, transportation of items and final distribution, including the collection of all material distribution reports done at field level.
• Provide logistical input for scale up operations in case of emergencies or programme development
• Ensure information and policies are disseminated appropriately amongst logistics staff and wider programme as needed.
• Establish a harmonised line of communication between the logistics team in the capital offices and other provincial offices.
• Ensure that partners understand and accept Donor guidelines and requirements for all logistics operations, including service and repair.
• Root cause analysis and problem resolution for all logistics operations
• A strong component of the job entails building and developing the capacity of the logistics team including assessment of staffing capacity, identification of new posts and design of job specifications, recruitment, and management support and conducting appraisals. Identify training needs of logistics staff and ensure that these are met. Travel to the provincial offices is essential.

Qualifications and experience:

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• University Master or Bachelor degree or equivalent
• Extensive prior NGO experience in logistics management, within a complex/large scale country programme and in emergency response/humanitarian environments (5 yrs +)
• Substantial experience in all technical areas of logistics operations including procurement, transport/distribution, warehousing and stock management
• Experience of developing / implementing a complex international supply chain to support different types of programmes, and coordinating resources to meet the programme objectives
• Experience of working in remote field bases with limited infrastructure (3 yrs +)
• Proven track-record in managing and supervising others in logistics, including training and capacity building (international staff)
• Ability to synthesise and analyse complex information, and make clear, informed decisions
• Experience of advising and supporting others at all levels with logistics aspects of a programme, including strategic thinking and planning
• Ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people, both internally and externally
• Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities
• Cultural awareness with strong written and spoken communication and interpersonal skills
• Technical experience/training in specific areas of logistics e.g. procurement, fleet, stock
• Computer skills (Word, Excel, e-mail)
• Ability to work alongside others under stressful conditions in conflict-prone situations

Save the Children International offers competitive remuneration package.

Deadline for submission of application is on 18th June 2013.

Click here for further details and application