Regional Supply Network Manager South America (m/f/x) – MSF Belgium – Rio de Janeiro

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

Regional Supply Network Manager South America (m/f/x) – MSF Belgium – Rio de Janeiro

CONTEXT

Mid-2019, MSF OCB (Operational Center Brussels) launched a reform aiming at providing more autonomy to the projects: the Field Recentralization programme/FrC. Following a first phase in Southern Africa, Central Africa (CA), then MSF operations in Europe and eventually South America located operations (today Brazil and Venezuela) were selected to develop a regional and innovative and transformational support approach to operations that will be implemented in the region from 2022 on.

Amongst other changes a core Regional Support Team (RST) will animate the network in the region by ensuring the optimal autonomy of the projects and the strategic support to the projects according to the principles of subsidiarity. Cell 5 who has overseen operations in the region, has gradually handed over the operations starting from the creation of a core Regional team, foreseen to be fully in place around end of 2022. The speed of this full transformation will depend on the operational and contextual reality of each project and each country.

The Field Recentralization program therefore impacts the role of teams at the project, country and regional level. At each level, the roles and responsibilities will be adapted and different from those currently played by the projects, the unit and the coordination teams.

A core “Regional Support Team – South America” (RST 5) will be based in Brazil and it be will be the interlocutor of the projects and of the country support team (today called the coordination teams), if any, in Brazil, Venezuela, any future contexts in the region in collaboration with the MSF Brazil section (MSF-BRA) who will host the team and support it in some domains.

A Memorandum of Understanding that is currently being finalized between MSF BRA and MSF-B (legal entities respectively of MSF-Brazil and MSF-OCB), listing roles and responsibilities will be the framework on interaction between MSF-BRA, MSF-B and the RST 5.

This RST will initially be made up of senior Opeations, Medical, HR, Logistics, Finance and Supply profiles. For some of these last positions a hybrid function may be designed sharing responsibilities with roles at the country or section level.

• After the opening of these positions, there will be an in-depth analysis to define in detail what specific support to the projects remains essential at the country level. Various areas of expertise are necessary for the proper functioning of the projects. Today’s Venezuela coordination teams (along with RST and MSF BRA) will be invited to further reflect on the best operational support towards the project teams. It is assumed that there will be no coordination team per se in Brazil.
• Project teams: a more autonomous project team can only be reached through the strengthening of teams, taking into account the specificities & the life cycle of each project. The investment in staff development, an efficient exchange between projects and a new way of collaboration with country & regional level are a few examples of how this can be established.

To obtain greater autonomy for projects, a strengthening of responsibility and skills at the project level is essential. This strengthening will be accompanied by a transformation of the responsibilities of the current coordination teams with potentially a change of titles in these teams.

At the same time, autonomy includes the duty for the project to consult the teams at the country and regional level and the technical referents/experts concerned. Each operational team must have access to the expertise and internal knowledge of MSF (e.g. referents at the regional / global / headquarters level).

Finally, Field Recentralization promotes a participatory managerial approach by including project staff in strategic decisions, while keeping a clear decisional line.

OCB in South America:

• OCB is currently covering Venezuela and Brazil in the region.
• Venezuela is the bigger operation in the region with a complexity of a government that does not want to collaborate with NGOs. The modus operandi was a low-profile intervention under the umbrella of a local MSF Venezuela. Nowadays the situation in this aspect has improved and OCB is leading the representation and trying to get a proper registration. We are more visible than at the beginning of the operations.
• In Brazil OCB has the intention to open a new validated project in Paras State (North of Brazil) for neglected populations, and a second TB (Tuberculosis) project in selected prisons in Rio de Janeiro.
• There is the intention to have more projects in the future.
• The supply of medical products is difficult as (most of) the countries in South America are not open for pharmaceutical importations.
• The region has also a high bureaucratic system sometimes difficult to understand.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

Primarily, the Regional Supply Network Manager is the designer of the supply chain for every field of operation within the scope of the RST, defining and guaranteeing the implementation of an effective and efficient regional supply chain and defining standards and strategies according to MSF protocols where applicable. With a focus on process optimization, information system alignment and correct application of the various regulatory guidelines and laws concerning importation/exportation, purchase, storage and distribution of medical and non-medical goods, adapting standards, procedures and policies to the new regional flow, to enable the development of the projects and optimize the impact of the medical projects.

In addition, the Regional Supply Network Manager develops Regional Supply Chain and procurement knowledge and networking capacity in order to strengthen the support to the global OCB operations and the MSF movement. Identify the opportunities of procurements, warehousing, distribution from and into the region and make them available for the whole MSF movement.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

Direct support to Operations

• Design the Supply Chain of every field of operation and be accountable for its proper functioning.
• Assist the projects in the region in defining and revising the supply strategies of the projects according to the countries context and the operational needs, in close collaboration with the Supply Coordination, the Medical and Logistics operations and in line with MSF’s protocols, policies and guidelines.
• In Collaboration with the regional procurement manager, ensure that the demand plans are translated into accurate forecasts and leveraging volumes for negotiations and orders.
• Ensure the stability of supply activities within regular and emergency intervention of the concerned projects (National and Regional) by validating sources, communicating forecasts and seasonal trends with regional and international suppliers/distributors.
• At the regional level, evaluate the HR set-up related to supply (team sizes, JD’s, organigrams, division of tasks and responsibilities). Follow-up (training-coaching) and evaluation of the staff under your supervision (SupplyCos and Project Supply Managers).
• Offer first line technical support (Customs & Transport, Warehousing, Stock Management, Procurement, Supply IS) to the supply teams in the region as well as to all other departments and liaise with the Supply Department for higher level of support.
• Manage national and regional field visits on regular basis to offer a permanent support when needed.
• Validate the use of the supply related third parties (suppliers, transport companies, freight forwarders, etc.) proposed by the procurement officer and customs officer when applicable.
• Ensure supply network system stay up to date regarding all medical programs.
• Analyze constantly the gaps in the supply chain and ensure durable solutions in each domain with proper utilization of the local, regional and global resources.
• Work closely with the other Front Officers as a team to foster best practices and share experiences. Report functionally to the Front Office Coordinator.

Global Supply/procurement

• Develop regional network capacity and footprint to strengthen operations, ensuring stability of regular and emergency interventions and make sure that the regional solutions add value in the global network (Tap Regional, Serve Global).
• Evaluate alternative supply lines that optimize quality and cost of operations; collaborate closely with the procurement experts and pharmacists in charge of quality.
• Participate in the building of intersectional regional team initiatives and discussions, bringing an OCB operational angle.
• Collaborate with other departments & sections on supply-related cross functional files in the region, ensuring it is aligned and complementary to global vision.
• Contribute to drive the MSF Supply Chain strategy towards Supply Chain excellence by escalating the uncovered needs on innovation, resources and quality. Report functionally to the SC Director.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Academic background in business management, international logistics, supply chain management and/or relevant experience
• Minimum of 5 years of humanitarian experience
• At least 2 years of MSF experience in related area in coordination positions, preferably also with previous experience at project level
• Work experience in the region is an asset

Competencies

• Strategic vision
• Leadership
• Management and development of staff
• Service orientation
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Coaching & mirror attitude with the teams

Langues

• English proficiency
• Proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese
• Proficiency in French is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: As soon as possible
• Location: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
• 30% mobility in the region
• Contract type: Fixed-term contract – Full time
• Contract duration: 1 year
• Salary as per MSF Field salary grid
• The contractual conditions will be established based on the station, on administrative / legal constraints and in respect of MSF function grids and salary policies
• Family position
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline: 31 December 2022