Distribution Manager, Latin America Region

The Distribution Manager will deploy on relief activations and oversee all responsibilities and personnel within the Distribution Unit. The role will focus on developing and implementing operational procedures related to distribution, ensuring coordinated allocation of meals, streamlined supplier engagement and timely maintenance of data. In collaboration with other Distribution Managers, this Unit will advance distribution best practices for meal service, building and implementing use of data management tools, and training distribution teams. This position reports directly to the Senior Manager of the Latin America Region, and needs to be based an hour away from a major international airport. Travel outside of the Latin America Region may be required.

Position Location: This position reports directly to the Senior Manager and must be based in any state in the Latin America Region and within one hour of an international airport. Travel outside of the Latin America Region may be required. Preferred locations include: Guatemala City, Panama City, Mexico City, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, or Lima.

The Latin America team oversees programs in the following locations:

• Mexico, Central America and South America
• Dominican Republic and Cuba

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Activation Management:

• Deploy, as needed, within eight hours, to a Disaster Area/Emergency Response to act as Distribution Manager, implementing or overseeing all responsibilities related to this Unit.
• Recruit, hire, and train personnel from the temporary roster or local community to fill any needed roles pertaining to the Distribution Unit.
• Determine the response model for meal service, and operational methods for delivering food to affected populations, in collaboration with the Team Lead.
• Implement or oversee the data management system to maintain accurate and timely data associated with suppliers, recipients, and meal deliveries; ensuring all Units have oversight and knowledge of distribution information.
• Manage supplier onboarding and engagement, ensuring compliance with financial protocols, and adherence to culinary standards in collaboration with the Culinary Manager.
• Create a procedure to review and approve supplier invoices.
• Work with Community Outreach Manager to onboard recipients, schedule meal deliveries, and communicate with suppliers regarding meal allocations.
• Work with Culinary Manager to ensure distribution points have the proper equipment for safe and sanitary food distribution, and that distribution plans put in place align with supplier capacity.
• Ensure suppliers submit daily reports that include meal delivery counts and media related to meal production and distribution.
• Implement or oversee tasks associated with the Data Coordinator, Expediter, and Delivery Team roles.
• Collaborate with internal departments, including, but not limited to, Emergency Response, Communications, Policy, Data & GIS, Training, Development, Finance, and Human Resources, to meet the operational needs of the Distribution Unit in the field.
• Perform any necessary tasks on the ground as needed.

Operations Management:

• Collaborate with Distribution Unit Managers and Senior Manager to brainstorm, develop and implement operational procedures associated with the Distribution Unit.
• Develop and grow distribution response models, and best practices for ensuring fast, safe, and culturally appropriate meal allocation.
• Ensure strong systems are maintained for guaranteeing organized and appropriate distribution mechanisms.
• Liaison with Data and GIS departments to develop and utilize data visualization resources.
• Represent WCK in engagements as requested by Relief Leadership or other WCK departments, including presentations, conference attendance, interviews, or governmental and NGO stakeholder meetings.
• Oversee and implement special projects off-activations in coordination with other Distribution Managers and WCK departments.
• Maintain ServSafe, CPR, and any other certifications mandated by the Director of Relief Operations.
• Complete expense reports within a timely manner as determined by the WCK Finance Department.

Requirements

• 5+ years of management experience, with the demonstrated ability to lead and train teams.
• 5+ years of relationship management.
• Proactive, mission oriented, compassionate and empathetic.
• Ability to operate in stressful, fast-paced situations with patience, and display compassion for those in crisis.
• Solid flexibility and adaptability skills in varying environments.
• Organized, creative, and positive, with an eager-to-learn personality.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills.
• Collaborative and capable of meeting deadlines both independently and within teams.
• Ability to self-manage and work independently.
• Ability to take direction and constructive feedback.
• Ability to travel internationally quickly and on short notice for extended periods of time.
• Comfortable connecting with remote and in-person working environments.
• Speaks Spanish as a first language.
• Fluency or working proficiency in English.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

• Location: Based in Guatemala City, Panama City, Mexico City, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, or Lima.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated computer skills, including proficiency in Google Programs, Microsoft Office programs and Airtable.
• WCK Activation experience as a WCK Volunteer, Contractor, or similar work experience in disaster response.
• Drivers License (Type A preferred), drives manual vehicles, able to operate heavy vehicles (box trucks, fork lifts).
• Fluency in Portuguese or French is a plus.
• Experience in faculty and teaching, communications/graphic design, social work, and/or hospitality is a plus.
• Holds a B1/B2 United States Visa (for at least 10 years and history of successful renewals).

Benefits

World Central Kitchen offers competitive compensation remuneration in line with local customs and standards. Details will be discussed as needed.

Equal Opportunity

World Central Kitchen is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse work environment. People of color and/or those with disabilities, diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions, and/or identities are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the country they are located. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment at this time.