Supply & Logistics Specialist, (P-3), East Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok, Thailand #128156

The East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) Supply Specialist is based in Bangkok, Thailand and reports to the Regional Supply Specialist, supporting 14 Country Offices across East Asia Pacific (EAP) Region. The EAP Region is an emergency prone zone that includes both low- and middle-income countries and has a rapidly growing PSFR component. Consequently, emergency prepositioning and response, local procurement and the need for complex and high value institutional contracting arrangements are growing, all as important delivery modalities within Country Programmes in the region. With increasing government resources, the potential for UNICEF engagement in national supply chain support and Procurement Services is also a growing opportunity. In addition, given the very high exposure of countries in EAPR to climate related emergencies, it is critical the supply chains in the region become increasingly sustainable and resilient so that services to children can continue despite climatic shocks.

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For every child, deliver.

The Supply and Logistics Specialist reports to the Regional Supply Specialist P4 and is responsible for providing guidance and support to countries for implementation of global strategic priorities for the supply function, with an emphasis on supply chain resilience and sustainability.

The incumbent collaborates closely with the Country Office (CO) supply and logistics teams, programmes, regional advisors and Supply Division (SD) to facilitate the implementation of supply interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children, and provides technical and advisory support to country offices, governments, national systems and partners on supply chain management, innovation and market shaping, emergency preparedness, procurement services and financing. The incumbent will also be responsible for leading regional initiatives and building collaboration across the EAP region with internal and external partners to enable streamlined processes for increased efficiencies, mobilization of resources and enhanced knowledge sharing.

How can you make a difference?

1. Support countries in their supply and logistics emergency preparedness and response efforts

• Support the development and maintenance of CO emergency supply & logistics preparedness and response strategies based on risk assessment analysis and Programme assumptions.
• Ensure an emergency supply and logistics preparedness action plan is established for COs in line with Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCC) and implemented, including appropriate emergency supply plans and sourcing strategies.
• Coordinate the use of regional stocks of programme supplies prepositioned by EAPRO for emergency response. Execute and supervise all stock movements, including replenishment and dispatches, in line with agreed procedures and UNICEF policies.
• Ensure appropriate monitoring of regional stockpiles, including aging of supplies, applicable grant conditions and batch expiry dates, whenever relevant. Conduct cycle and year-end stock counts as required.
• Generate necessary reports on the use and impact of the regional stockpiles. Contribute to partnership discussions and resource mobilization to ensure sustainability of the stockpile arrangement.
• Participate and provide guidance in high level emergency coordination at regional level, including implementation and monitoring meetings with internal and external partners and establish close collaboration with relevant coordination mechanisms.
• Contribute to the capacity building of UNICEF staff in the supply and logistics component of emergency preparedness and response. Develop and deliver trainings in EPR workshops at regional and country level, as required.
• Leverage emergency preparedness and response as an entry point to advocate for, promote and mobilise resources for supply chain systems strengthening and supply chain resilience initiatives.

2. Support the expansion of local sourcing and production, by leveraging product innovation, partnerships and market shaping.

• Contribute to pilots and support the actual roll-out of new products and services, particularly as relates to product innovation initiatives initiated at country level within EAPR.
• Further to analysis of supply spend and related procurement strategies, elaborate a plan and run initiatives to develop local and regional markets, including for medicines and medical supplies and local manufacturing of other key commodities.
• Analyze supply spend and support to establish informed regional procurement strategies based on category management in order to focus on strategic, essential supplies and services that contribute to results for children, including to inform market shaping and establishment of local and regional long-term agreements (LTAs).
• Coordinate regional market research and analysis activities for priority products. Gather findings from previous reports and implement new research when possible, to synthesize clear recommendations for existing products, as well as new markets in line with UNICEF’s programmatic needs.
• Identify innovative financing possibilities for market engagement and development activities.
• Ensure that local market shaping activities include efforts to empower local economies and communities through activities benefitting and making use of local knowledge and skills with the ultimate aim to improve product quality and increase local production of programme relevant products in EAPR.
• Collaborate with relevant Supply Division centres, UNICEF COs and key external partners to help drive procurement strategies and shape critical markets for essential products and services for children.

3. Provide support to COs to accelerate progress and impact of including sustainability aspects (social, economic, environmental, safeguarding) into UNICEF procurement and supply chains.

• Provide technical guidance and strategic direction to Country Offices in their efforts to assess local markets, in order to segment product/service categories by sustainability risks, extent of UNICEF influence and market readiness for sustainability interventions.
• Monitor the development and implementation by COs of category-specific procurement strategies that employ the right mix of tools (sourcing, vendor vetting/screening, inclusion of mandatory and qualitative criteria in tenders, contract clauses and KPIs) to advance the sustainability and safeguarding agenda.
• Promote the appropriate tracking and monitoring of sustainability and safeguarding considerations in procurement. Consolidate data and generate evidence of progress made and impact of CO actions/initiatives.
• Develop the capacity of supply staff in the region in all aspects related to sustainability in procurement.
• Contribute to the development of UNICEF global policies and procedural guidance on social, economic and environmental sustainability in procurement.

4. Technical advice to Country offices in supply chain management

• Ensure appropriate planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the supply chain operations in COs, including establishment and monitoring of performance indicators.
• Maintain strong working relations with Heads of Supply and senior management in COs as well as Supply Division and Programme Division, to align with global and regional approaches and initiatives in supply chain management.
• Develop and maintain partnership and collaborative relations with Government, UN organizations and bilateral counterparts across the region in supply and logistics activities including harmonized and collaborative procurement.
• Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of operational capacity to handle CO supply chains and engagement in priority areas, including staffing (appropriate staffing structure, timely recruitment, clarity of roles and responsibilities) and skillset development.
• Any other assignments as deemed necessary by supervisor.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

The following minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree is required in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field, or relevant first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) in conjunction with a valid relevant professional certification is required.
*A first University Degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant technical field (as identified above), in conjunction with seven (7) years of relevant work experience in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly-related technical field, may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant work experience, at the national and international levels, in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly-related technical fields is required. 
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. 

The following desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency, especially in logistics and warehouse management is an advantage.
• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or language of the EAP Region is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates from programme countries are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.