The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future . Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities . At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
The IRC’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit
The IRCs Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (EPRU) leads or oversees IRCs global emergency preparedness and response activities. The mission of the EPRU is to help meet the immediate survival needs and reduce suffering in conflict or disaster affected populations during the acute phase of an emergency. The EPRU also works in protracted emergencies, where the risk to life may be reduced but the population is still subjected to rights abuses and a lack of basic services.
The EPRU is also charged with enhancing the IRCs global and country level emergency preparedness capacity. We do this by supporting the development and training of Country Emergency Teams, assisting in the development of emergency focused partnerships with local civil society organizations, maintaining regional and global capacity to rapidly identify and deploy qualified emergency response personnel and supporting country-level contingency planning.
IRC Global Supply Chain Unit
The Global Supply Chain Unit (GSCU) provides supply chain support to all IRC offices worldwide. GSC experts ensure that supply chain activities are designed and implemented to effectively support program delivery, in compliance with applicable internal policies, procedures and donor requirements
SCOPE OF WORK
The IRC ERT staff is expected to be deployed in the field, either in an emergency or roving capacity, for up to 65% of the time and must be able to deploy to the site of an emergency within 72 hours of notification; emergency deployments take precedence over other duties.
Members of the Emergency Response Team are deployed to either support existing country programs in their emergency response, or to initiate a new program in the crisis zone. The overall responsibility of the team is to rapidly and effectively design, develop and manage the IRC’s on-site humanitarian response to meet the immediate needs of the affected population. The ERT is also responsible for supporting the transfer of responsibilities and knowledge to the long-term staff to ensure the continuity of IRC programming and operations.
S/he is a member of the Global Supply Chain Unit and the Emergency Response and Preparedness Unit (EPRU). During emergency deployments ERT staff will work under the direction of IRC’s Emergency Field Director or designated country emergency lead. During times with no acute emergency deployment the Sr. Coordinator will report to Director Supply Chain Technical Support
RESPONSIBILITIES
Emergency Response
Deployment and Operational Start Up
Be prepared to be deployed within 72 hours;
Start up and provide ongoing management to the supply chain (logistics) structure, functions and services covering procurement, transport, warehousing, facilities, and communications systems and distribution programs
Proactively engage with and as required support program, administration and finance staff in start-up activities and systems implementation to promote efficient delivery of programs and positive working relationships
- Represent IRC in country level UN and interagency logistics fora and liaise with local government authorities, vendors, and service providers to ensure strong partnerships, coordination, and successful implementation of IRC’s logistics activities;
To ensure continuity of supply chain service provision, provide a comprehensive handover to successor, including ensuring transfer of all related documentation, and staff performance information
Team Management
Recruit and train new supply chain staff, ensuring appropriate staff size and structure for program scale, and staff understanding and implementation of standard policies, procedures and systems;
Ensure all new staff receive appropriate supply chain orientation and reference materials
Systems and Planning
Actively contribute to the development of security management plans for the emergency operation, implementation of security SoPs and monitoring of compliance and the security environment,
Work closely with program, grants and management to develop accurate distribution and procurement plans and donor compliant budgets for new proposals, including required cost coverage for supply chain staff and infrastructure
Implement and oversee the use of supply chain database/tracking, planning and reporting tools for procurement, inventory transport and assets ensuring regular and timely dissemination of reports to program, finance and management
- Actively support and participate in grant opening, review and closing meetings; providing required logistics reports and data in advance of meetings and according to schedule.
- Ensure compliance with IRC supply chain policy and procedures within the unit and throughout the emergency program; promptly advise the Emergency Field Director/CD of any concerns or evidence of noncompliance
Emergency Preparedness
- Work with the EPRU and high risks country programs to implement emergency preparedness through in country training, mentoring and remote technical support.
- Participate in, and contribute to content for EPRU trainings and conferences
REQUIREMENTS
- University degree, and advances professional certification in supply chain management
- 6+ years experience developing and managing supply chain/logistics functions in an INGO, including 3 years in emergency/conflict areas
- Demonstrated ability to identify, recommend and implement best practice approaches to ensure rapid, consistent, high quality management and service provision in an emergency environment
- Prior experience managing supply chain functions in large, complex programs including NFI and drug distributions, international procurement, experience with USG, European, DFID and UN procurement regulations, and budget development and oversight..
- Demonstrated skills in building strong teams and establishing new operations , including ability to communicate and work effectively with senior management, operating and program staff and functions
- Strong computer, radio and communication equipment skills, and licensed and able to drive manual transmission, 4WD vehicles
- Bilingual English and French preferred, and other languages skills advantageous
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