Job no: 593067
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Mogadishu
Location: Somalia
Categories: Supply Management

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How can you make a difference?

The Somalia Country Office operates in a complex humanitarian and fragile context characterized by access constraints, security risks, and significant logistics challenges. Somalia’s supply chain faces deep-rooted challenges that constrain both humanitarian operations and long-term development efforts. Persistent insecurity, including armed conflict and road blockades, disrupts transport routes and limits access to vulnerable communities, while underdeveloped infrastructure makes the movement of goods costly and unreliable.

These logistical challenges are further compounded by partner capacity gaps and recurrent climate shocks, which trigger mass displacement, damage critical routes, and place significant pressure on the availability of essential commodities. The resulting increase in commodity prices and dependence on imports continue to strain supply systems, affecting access to food, health, nutrition, and WASH supplies.

Collectively, these factors weaken the resilience of market-driven supply chains and require coordinated, strategic investments to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential supplies and support Somalia’s long-term stability and humanitarian response efforts.

The Supply and Logistics Manager reports to Chief of Operations and is responsible for managing the supply chains of a medium to large-sized country office, and/or medium sized emergency response operation. The supply chain operations include planning, procurement, contracting, customs clearance, warehousing, in country transport and distribution, as well as monitoring of supplies, services and construction works. The incumbent collaborates closely with programme sections in defining supply interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children, while providing strategic technical and advisory support to governments, national systems and partners on resilient, risk-informed, and innovative supply chain management solutions in complex and fragile operating environments.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks 

1. Management of the Supply Section

• Establish annual work plan; set priorities, targets, and performance indicators; monitor progress to ensure results meet timelines and standards.
• Supervise and coach staff; ensure timely performance management; promote knowledge sharing with Supply Division, RO, and global supply community to build capacity.
• Ensure operational capacity for CO supply chains, including appropriate staffing, timely recruitment, clear roles, and third-party contracting (e.g. customs, warehousing, transport).

2. Supply Chain Service Delivery and Emergency Response

• Contribute to Country Programme planning; advise on supply requirements; ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of supply chain operations, including performance indicators.
• Analyze supply spend; develop procurement strategies using category management; establish LTAs for strategic supplies and services.
• Ensure timely customs clearance; establish warehousing, inventory, and in-country transport systems.
• Ensure effective vendor management, including performance reviews.
• Analyze dashboards and KPIs; conduct root cause analysis to address bottlenecks and improve supply chain performance.
• Develop emergency supply and logistics strategy based on risk analysis; ensure preparedness plans aligned with CCC (LTAs, prepositioning, staff training).
• Participate in emergency coordination with partners; collaborate with Logistics Cluster/National Logistics Working Group as applicable.
• Maintain coordination with Regional Chiefs of Supply/Operations and Supply Division to align with global/regional approaches.
• Lead end-to-end supply chain risk management, including contingency planning, diversification, vendor risk, fraud prevention, and business continuity.
• Provide strategic oversight on access-sensitive logistics, including movement planning, corridor optimization, and coordination with security, programme, and partners.

3. Collaboration with Programme and Implementing Partners

• Collaborate with programme sections in design, planning, implementation, and M&E of supply components; establish accountability frameworks.
• Provide input to donor dialogue; support supply components of proposals, including budgeting and innovative financing.
• Support partner assessments, PCAs, and monitoring under HACT.
• Maintain partnerships with Government, UN agencies, and counterparts for coordinated supply and logistics, including harmonized procurement.

4. Technical and Advisory Support to Government/National Systems

• Lead supply chain strengthening and change management with governments and partners.
• Implement capacity development initiatives in collaboration with programme colleagues; support health system supply components as relevant.
• Provide advisory support on supply solutions, including procurement services, financing, market development, and private sector engagement.
• Lead localization-focused capacity strengthening for government and local partners to enhance sustainable systems and last-mile delivery.

5. Innovation, Products and Markets

• Support pilots and rollout of new products and services with Supply Division.
• Promote innovation, critical thinking, and best practices in supply chain management internally and externally.
• Drive local market development based on supply spend analysis and procurement strategies.
• Champion digital transformation, including visibility tools, tracking, automation, and data-driven decision-making.
• Promote sustainable and climate-conscious supply chain practices, including green procurement and efficient logistics.