Director, Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management (GHS&SCM)

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster offices and country offices throughout the world, as well as services hubs. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management Department is one of the key humanitarian and enabling services of the IFRC, providing procurement, supply chain, vehicle fleet, transportation management and related services to the National Societies for their operational and programmatic activities and needs. It comprises of staff in the HQ and in several hubs across the world-currently: Panama, Nairobi, Dubai, Beirut, Budapest, and Kuala Lumpur, with several sub-hubs under development and optimization.

The Director, GHS&SCM reports directly to the Under Secretary General, Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services (USG-MPCSC). The position is located in the IFRC Secretariat headquarters in Geneva.

Job Purpose

Under the direction of the USG-MPSCS, the Director, GHS&SCM Department, is responsible and accountable for providing day-to-day operational support to the requirements of the organisation, underpinned by a long-term strategic direction and thought leadership, ensuring the delivery of an efficient, timely and cost-effective support, and contributing to the organisation’s over-arching strategic goals and the needs of the IFRC, its National Societies and the Movement. The role holder is responsible and accountable for the strategic and technical oversight, implementation, monitoring and reviewing of the IFRC GHS&SCM strategy, aligning with the IFRC Strategy 2030 and Agenda for Renewal.

The incumbent will provide thought leadership and will drive innovation and excellence, amongst others, in the following technical areas:

• Supply Chain Management (including Supply Chain Operations in Emergencies)
• Fleet Management
• Procurement
• Digital and Innovation
• Green Supply Chain
• National Society Logistics Development.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

This role operates at management level within the IFRC. As such, it requires senior leadership, negotiation, and networking. The role holder is expected to leverage internal and external relationships and opportunities to ensure that the IFRC remains at the forefront of logistic services provision for humanitarian relief and other activities. Key areas of influence and key internal relationships include:

• Building on the development and operationalization of a comprehensive and inclusive GHS & SCM Strategy and communication plan which leverages Membership competencies and synergies within the Movement.
• Review, upgrade and modernise information management and reporting systems, digitalisation and green principles and policy.

The role leads the humanitarian and supply chain services through the global network outlined above and carries ultimate accountability for ensuring the delivery of an efficient, timely and cost-effective support to the IFRC members and partners. As such, the role also includes ensuring adequacy of internal controls to meet stakeholder requirements.

The role holder furthermore safeguards:

• GHS&SCM standards, policies, processes and tools meeting the international standards for logistics and underpinning the accountability and transparency framework adopted by the IFRC.
• Synergies and working in partnership with ICRC, National Societies, and other partners to connect available resources and ensure the best use of these, enabling an optimized supply chain preparedness for emergencies. Active involvement in preparedness planning for complex operations and emergencies within the Movement, assisting in the strengthening of operational readiness to respond to emergencies at a global level.
• Alignment with recognized best practice and innovation to further drive humanitarian GHS&SCM efficiency and value for money.

Strategic Leadership and Partnership Building

• To provide global level leadership for humanitarian and supply chain services in line with the overall IFRC Strategy 2030, building on the development and operationalization of the GHS&SCM strategy, policy and guidance for the IFRC.
• To lead on relationship building and working in partnership within the Movement and with potential key external partners in order to promote the work of the IFRC and to develop a global humanitarian services and circular supply chain network and capability to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of supplies and services in response to humanitarian need.
• To harness existing and develop new partnership relations with the private sector providers, other humanitarian organizations (UN family and IASC Logistics Cluster).
• To represent the IFRC at strategic forums, humanitarian logistics conferences, foreign governments, high-level working group meetings, academic circles and other external events.
• To lead in partnership with the Strategic Partnerships and Resource Development Department raising resources and thematic funding as required to attain the set goals and objectives.

Accountability and Service Delivery

• To ensure that the Department continues to meet the needs and requirements of its internal and external partners and has the necessary performance measurement (KPIs, metrics, regular reports, strong control mechanism) in place to meet such needs and demonstrate best value to partners efficiently and effectively. To provide regular reports and insights to the senior leadership team as requested.
• To develop, motivate and set performance objectives for individual senior staff to deliver sustainable humanitarian services capability to National Societies and partners and to embed/support a culture of continuous improvement and high-quality service delivery.
• To harness and further develop the concept and practice of capacity building of the National Societies in fields of GHS&SCM.
• To operationalize and build on the New Fleet Business Model with a strong focus on successful implementation.
• To operationalize and support the strategic definition of the IFRC Supply Chain Digital and Innovation Strategy in an integrated manner with the Digital Transformation strategies with the strategic goal of benefiting National Societies.
• To drive the GHS&SCM compliance globally, ensuring regulatory compliance throughout supply chain as well as supporting internal control and compliance assessment and audit trails.
• To plan, manage and monitor the use of available resources (people, structures, budgets, assets) to deliver an optimal level of service provision against cost.
• To support the development of an organizational culture that reflects IFRC’s values, promotes accountability and high performance, encouraging a team culture of learning, creativity, and innovation as well as enabling the department to deliver outstanding results.

Knowledge Sharing and Learning

To lead the delivery of humanitarian services improvement, good practice, continuous learning, and knowledge sharing between the IFRC, National Societies and partners. To provide thought leadership to the continuous improvement of supply chain systems, processes, and procedures, finding innovative solutions to maximize efficiency, effectiveness and customer satisfaction.

Education

Required

• Degree and post graduate qualification in Business Administration, Logistics, Management, Supply Chain Management or related.

Experience

Required

• Degree and post graduate qualification in Business Administration, Logistics, Management, Supply Chain Management or related.
• 12+ years of senior management experience in supply chain management or logistics.
• Extensive experience of managing and integrating complex services in a global environment.
• Extensive experience in long-term strategy development and implementation at global level and set-up.
• Experience in procurement, supply chain and fleet management.
• Experience in developing logistics support systems.
• Experience of managing business models and budget architecture of service provision.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt and apply best practices and innovative approaches in humanitarian services.
• Excellent strategic and analytical skills. Able to diagnose complex problems, generate effective solutions and communicate compelling strategic courses of action.
• Familiarity with a wide variety of donor rules and regulations.
• Extensive experience in high-level relationship and partnership building.

Preferred

• Experience working in international humanitarian sector with a strong track record overseeing logistics and other humanitarian services both at Headquarter level and in the field.
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Knowledge and Skills

Required

• Demonstrated managerial skills and leadership experience.
• Service mind-set and effective interpersonal skills.
• Distance management skills and experience.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of large-scale budget management.
• Solid experience of ensuring accountability and compliance.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent communications skills, networking, and representation at high level.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment.
• Complete in-depth grasp of international complex supply chain management.
• Problem-solving abilities.
• Drive for changes, improvements, and innovation.

Preferred

• Excellent understanding of the global Red Cross / Crescent Movement.

Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability
Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision Making, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust
Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development
Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others