Warehousing Systems Adviser – Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program

Description

The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members. In pursuit of sustainable development to benefit Pacific people, our organisation works across more than 25 sectors. We are known for our knowledge and innovation in such areas as fisheries science, education, public health, geoscience, and conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The Geoscience Energy and Maritime (GEM) Division provides advice, technical assistance, research and training support to Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs). There are three (3) areas of scientific programming and two areas of focus within this division:

1. Oceans and Maritime Programme (OMP) – assists member countries with services that provide applied ocean science and knowledge for evidence-based policy-making and technical solutions for improved ocean and maritime governance, management and capacity development.
2. Georesources and Energy Programme (GEP) – assists member countries by applying technical knowledge in the areas of geoscience and sustainable energy use.
3. Disaster and Community Resilience Programme (DCRP) – assists member countries to demonstrate strengthened resilience through integrated action on disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and increased access to water and sanitation.

The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program (PHWP) is an eight-year multi-partner, multi-country initiative to enhance humanitarian warehousing capabilities across 14 Pacific Island Countries and Timor-Leste via three areas of intervention – warehousing infrastructure, supplies (non-food items) and warehousing systems, including integration into local and regional humanitarian architecture. The program is framed by three thematic priorities – gender equality, disability and social inclusion; localization; and green humanitarian action. By the end of the eight-year period, it is expected that participating countries are able to respond to disasters increasingly independently and sustainably.

The role – Warehousing Systems Adviser – Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program will play a critical role in working with participating countries to strengthen their sovereign capability to procure, store, manage and distribute humanitarian supplies in times of disaster. The Advisor will achieve this through working with the Government (national working groups) and Program Platform Members (UN, Civil Society, Red Cross Movement) to design a target operating model for each country, analyse the gap between the current and proposed future state of the warehousing capability, and design of incremental pathway of interventions (Country Implementation Plans) to support the closing of the gap and achievement of results. The Warehousing Systems Advisor will also assist the Program Manager PHWP in the oversight of the program as the Deputy Program Manager.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Warehousing system design

• Develop a whole-of-program level Target Operating Model for the optimal humanitarian warehouse embedded within the Pacific and Timor-Leste operating context.
• Develop standardised guidelines and protocols for warehouse management, inventory control, and supply chain optimisation, ensuring they are adaptable to various scales of operations and local contexts.
• Reflect good practice and be a product of extensive engagement with program stakeholders across the humanitarian ecosystem, including PHWP Program Platform Members (UN, Civil Society, Red Cross Movement etc.).
• Clearly articulate the factors to be considered for an optimal humanitarian warehouse that fully integrates contemporary thinking and operational practice on organisational structure (people and governance), policies and processes, information and data requirements and the technology to support effective warehouse management.

Country implementation planning

• Collaborate with Program Platform Partners at the national level to ensure consensus-based position across the Supplies and Systems pillars, and with the Infrastructure Specialist Unit for bespoke design solutions for the Infrastructure pillar.
• In conjunction with the PHWP Program Manager and government counterparts, develop a series of costed interventions to address capacity gaps be they human, systemic or material, ensuring they are consistent with the capabilities outlined in the Target Operating Model, and aligned with feedback and input received from national stakeholders to ensure strategic congruence with national development priorities and regional strategic frameworks for a resilient Pacific, and standards and protocols in warehousing operations.

Programmatic coherence and partnerships

• Coordinate closely with other initiatives within the Disaster and Community Resilience Programme, as well as relevant projects across SPC and partner organisations.
• Ensure that GEDSI, Localisation and Greening Strategies and Action Plans are fully embedded within Country Implementation Plans through collaboration with the Program Strategy Advisor and GEDSI Coordinator.
• Ensure that MEL considerations are factored into all areas of work and collaborate with the MEL Advisor to define warehouse performance metrics that can be reliably used to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions as necessary.

Management and leadership

• Provide Deputy Program Manager functions and technical oversight and mentorship to junior team members, contractors, and national counterparts involved in the Program.
• Manage complex projects and budgets related to warehousing system development, ensuring efficient use of resources and timely delivery of outputs.
• Develop work plans, monitoring progress, and preparing regular reports for the Program Manager and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to a team environment that is high-performing, respectful and committed to continuous learning.

For a more detailed account of the key responsibilities, please refer to the online job description.

Key selection criteria

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in supply chain management, humanitarian warehousing programming, logistics, business administration, or a related field.

Technical expertise

• At least 10 years of relevant experience at the regional or international level in warehousing, logistics and/or supply chain functions, including experience in managing warehousing operations in low resource settings.
• Experience in conducting warehousing needs assessments and developing strategic improvement plans.
• Broad understanding of the development context and the challenges and opportunities that frame program implementation within the Pacific.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and community leaders.
• Fully functional computer skills across an array of Microsoft applications including Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.

Language skills

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).

Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness

• Ability to work in a multicultural, inclusive and equitable environment.

Salary, terms and conditions

Contract Duration – 3 years – subject to renewal depending on funding and performance.

Remuneration – The Warehousing Systems Adviser – Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program is a band 12 position in SPC’s 2024 salary scale, with a starting salary range of 3,565‒4,456 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which currently converts to approximately FJD 10,623–13,279 (USD 4,741–5,927; EUR 4,419–5,524). An offer of appointment for an initial contract will normally be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. Remuneration of expatriate SPC staff members is not subject to income tax in Fiji; Fiji nationals employed by SPC in Fiji will be subject to income tax.

Benefits for international employees based in Fiji – SPC provides a housing allowance of FJD 1,350–3,000 per month. Establishment and repatriation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave travel, health and life and disability insurances and education allowances are available for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Employees are entitled to 25 working days of annual leave per annum and other types of leave, and access to SPC’s Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary, to which SPC adds a 10% contribution).

Languages – SPC’s working languages are English and French.

Recruitment principles– SPC’s recruitment is based on merit and fairness, and candidates are competing in a selection process that is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory. SPC is an equal-opportunity employer, and is committed to cultural and gender diversity, including bilingualism, and will seek to attract and appoint candidates who respect these values. Due attention is given to gender equity and the maintenance of strong representation from Pacific Island professionals. If two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection panel, preference will be given to the Pacific Islander. Applicants will be assured of complete confidentiality in line with SPC’s Privacy Policy.

How to apply

Application procedure

Closing Date: 29 September 2024 at 11:59pm (Fiji time)

Job Reference: JM000722

Applicants must apply online at http://careers.spc.int/

Hard copies of applications will not be accepted.

For your application to be considered, you must provide us with:

• an updated resume with contact details for three professional referees
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• responses to all screening questions

Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed at shortlisting stage if all the above documents are not provided. Applicants should not attach copies of qualifications or letters of reference. Please ensure your documents are in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.

For international staff in Fiji, only one foreign national per family can be employed with an entity operating in Fiji at any one given time. SPC may assist on a case-by-case basis with submissions to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their consideration and final approval. SPC cannot and does not make any guarantee whatsoever of approval for such applications to Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and where an application is approved, the spouse or partner will subject to such terms and conditions as may be set from time to time by the Ministry.

SPC does not charge a fee to consider your application and will never ask for your banking or financial information during the recruitment process.

Screening Questions (maximum of 2,000 characters per question):

1. Describe your experience in conducting assessments of humanitarian warehouses and using the results to develop strategic improvement plans, particularly in low-resource settings. Please provide a specific example of a project where you successfully implemented such a plan.
2. This role requires collaboration with diverse stakeholders across multiple countries in the Pacific. Can you share an example of how you have effectively engaged and built relationships with government officials, NGOs and community leaders in a cross-cultural context? What strategies did you use to navigate any challenges?
3. The PHWP aims to integrate considerations of gender equality, disability inclusion and environmental sustainability. How would you approach incorporating these priorities into the design and management of humanitarian warehousing systems? Please provide examples from your past experience, if applicable.