National Society Logistics Development Manager – British Red Cross

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The British Red Cross (BRC) has been working in the MENA region since 2004 with partner National Societies and opened a satellite office in Beirut in 2013. The MENA region team in BRC work through and in close cooperation with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners in the region, including the IFRC and ICRC, Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Lebanese Red Cross, Iraqi Red Crescent, Yemeni Red Crescent, Libyan Red Crescent, and others. BRC are currently engaged with programming in, among others, disaster preparedness, capacity building, relief through cash and voucher assistance, and logistics-related programmes both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The NSLD (National Society Logistics Development) Manager is accountable for strengthening logistics capacities of the National Societies in the MENA region which includes developing and implementing logistics development plans, coordinating, and providing technical support. S/he oversees functions relating to procurement, managing, and advising during preparedness, emergency and recovery phases. The ultimate aim is to assist the National Societies to obtain required capacities and capabilities for operational effectiveness in emergencies and crises across the MENA region.

Job Purpose

The ultimate aim is to assist the National Societies to obtain required capacities and capabilities for operational effectiveness in emergencies and crises across the MENA region.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Logistics Manager NSLD is responsible for:

• Serving as Logistics Adviser to the National Societies in the MENA region to strengthen National Society’s institutional capacities to fulfil its humanitarian mandate and implement National Society Development Plan of Action.
• Providing Logistics technical support on development activities tailored to NS specific needs and context in line with BRC’s policies and standards.
• Ensuring close links between NS development and programming support, working closely with other team members at the Regional Country offices and Cluster Delegation, IFRC MENA Regional NSD Team as well as Movement partners at country level.

National Society Development and Relations:

• Work with regional stakeholders to conduct logistics capacity assessment of National Societies (NS) and develop action plans to strengthen logistics capacity of National Societies in the region.
• Guide and support the NSs in analysing and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of its Supply Chain Management (SCM) approaches and subsequently support National Society SCM capacity building development initiatives in close coordination with the BRC and IFRC and guided by the Movement NSLD guidelines.
• Work with key nominated NSs on specific areas, based on agreed indicators to strengthen their overall logistics capacities.
• Work closely with the NS in the region and Movement partners to support the implementation of the National Society Development Plan and to coordinate required technical expertise from within the Movement and external actors.
• Train and develop the necessary skills of National Society counterparts.
• Provide support to the NS to review and develop their annual operational plans in line with the NS Strategy 2023 – 2025, and NSLD Plans of Action. These would include Logistics service expansion/scale-up based on an analysis of NS institutional capacities and needs of vulnerable communities.
• Support the NS in managing the NSD Movement Advisory Group in the region, ensure meetings are planned and held regularly and decisions and recommendations proposed by the Group are followed through.
• Identify and support the provision of the expertise for the development of contemporary supply chain management system procedures and systems.
• Facilitate Logistics leadership development, including Governance development.
• Promote inclusion of Logistics development/capacity building actions of the NSD plan into all current and future programme/project budgets both emergencies and longer-term.
• Contribute to the National Society Logistics knowledge sharing and facilitating peer support, promote learning and support piloting innovative initiatives.
• Maintain regular contacts and information exchange with National Society counterparts and regional stakeholders.
• Nurture a collaborative relationship with the NS logistics team with the view of sharing learning, skills transfer, coaching and mentoring to enable continuous improvements.
• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

• Professional qualification in logistics or equivalent experience. - Required 
• Basic Delegates Training Course, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge. - Required 
• Introduction to Cash Transfer Programming. - Preferred 

Experience

• Minimum 7 year’s logistics field experience ideally in the humanitarian field.- Required
• Min 3 years’ experience in providing Logistics advisory to National Societies /Implementing partners in the region.- Required
• Experience of managing diverse procurement and logistics operations within the region.- Required
• Demonstrated experience in training staff and volunteers. - Required
• Experience of narrative & financial reporting.- Preferred
• Assessment skills. - Required
• Experience of managing large teams of co-workers, managing vendors and suppliers. - Required
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience. - Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Knowledge of communications systems (satellite phones, etc.).- Required
• Valid international driving license for light vehicles (manual gears). - Required
• Valid heavy vehicle driving license. - Preferred
• Good understanding of financial process and budgeting.- Required
• Fluently spoken and written English and Arabic. - Required
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish). - Required French is an asset to the role. - Preferred

Technical Competencies

• Supply Chain 
• Warehousing 
• Procurement 
• Transport and Fleet Management 
• Airport/Port operations 
• Cash Based Intervention 
• Market Assessment 
• Market Based Intervention 
• National Society Logistics Development 
• Medical Logistics 

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Movement context, principles and values. 
• National Society Capacity Strengthening. 
• Coordination 
• Assessment 
• Direction Setting and Quality Programme Management.
• Information Management
• Resource Management
• Safety and Security
• Transition and Recovery
• Community engagement and accountability
• Protection, Gender and Inclusion
• Environmental Sustainability
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Conflict Management
• Interpersonal Communication
• Cultural awareness
• Judgement and decision making
• Motivating Others
• Personal resilience
• Integrity

IFRC Provides equal employment opportunities