The Position:
The Last Mile Assurance Associate position is located in the Country Support Team in the UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU). You report directly to the Last Mile Assurance Analyst. The Last Mile Assurance (LMA) process aims at obtaining visibility on how UNFPA programme supplies are managed at different levels of the supply chain, allowing for better programming, targeted supply chain systems strengthening interventions, increased UNFPA and Implementing Partner (IP) accountability, and improved ability to discharge UNFPA's fiduciary obligations to donors.ย
The position requires the ability and willingness to travel on short notice as part of its core responsibilities. Acceptance of the job offer signifies agreement to comply with this requirement.ย
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.ย UNFPAโs strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to โbuild forward betterโ, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on womenโs and girlsโ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
The UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) is self-funded and was made operational in January 2022. It is tasked with ensuring that UNFPA is able to effectively and efficiently support the delivery of life-saving reproductive health products and other programme suppliesย to the end user when and where they are needed. To achieve this, it is important to strengthen the capacity of governments and implementing partners to ensure coordination, end-to-end visibility and accountability on all supply chain and logistics management related activities, in particular for programme supplies, across all UNFPA programmes.ย
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The Last Mile Assurance Associate will provide foundational support and ensure a smooth day-to-day LMA process.
Main Task and Responsibilities
A. Support the LMA process to achieve:
- Review and propose updates to the LMA process and guidelines, including data collection, processing, analysis, and reporting systems, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Develop and monitor the annual LMA work plan and calendar, including Supply Chain Overview, Quarterly Stock Review, and Risk Assessments, while managing budgets and ensuring the implementation of action plans.
- Identify third-party service providers and consultants, managing their engagement and ensuring quality deliverables for LMA activities.
- Develop training materials and facilitate workshops for UNFPA Country Offices and partners, supporting them in LMA processes and addressing audit recommendations.
- Collaborate with Country Offices and partners to develop and monitor remedial action plans and supply chain strengthening recommendations.
- Aggregate LMA results, maintain dashboards, and prepare regular reports for internal and external stakeholders, maintaining continuous communication and coordination.
- Review and assess the implementation of Transformative Action activities and supply chain interventions, regularly following up with Regional and Country Offices on progress.
B. Capacity Strengthening
- Support the implementation of UNFPA's capacity-strengthening initiatives.
- Train supply chain professionals whenever possible and support their development through sharing knowledge and experience.
C. Thought Leadership, Knowledge Sharing and Advisory
- Appreciate UNFPA's supply chain thought leadership through awareness and incorporating such initiatives into the overall approach to day-to-day activities.ย
- Actively contribute to an environment of knowledge retention and sharing by following best practices for supply chain implementation.
- Support improved supply chain execution by incorporating best practices and continuous improvement into day-to-day activities.ย ย
D. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
- Support UNFPAโs value proposition and relationships with donors and partners.
- Assist with the preparation of SCMUโs resource mobilization proposals in particular with data and analysis.
E. Collaboration and Representation
- Maintain effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA to ensure coordinated and effective tailored solutions for each area of intervention.
- Maintain relationships with supply chain counterparts with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of UNFPAโs supply chain function.
- Attend and participate as required in SCMU and UNFPA in meetings related to supply chain management functions.
F. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Chief, SCMU.
ยQualifications and Experience
Education:ย ย
- Completion of secondary education is required.ย
- A University degree at Bachelor Level in Medical Science, Pharmacy, Supply Chain Management, Public Health, International Development, Logistics, Business Administration, Economics, Data Science, Accounting and Audit is an asset
- A professional certification such as professional Supply Chain Management certification such as Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) at Level 2 Certificate and/or Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT-UK) at Level 2, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), GDP/GMP certification, and/or professional certifications in quality management systems such as ISO 9001 would be an asset.ย
Knowledge and Experience:ย
- A minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience covering areas such as supply management, quality assurance of medical products in the supply chain particularly involving storage and distribution, supply chain monitoring and evaluation and logistics information systems is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to 3 years for candidates who possess a relevant first-level or advanced university degree. Candidates with experience in the below key areas, with the understanding that these experiences may overlap have added advantage:
- Advanced knowledge of relational databases, spreadsheets, and data analysis and visualization tools, such as Tableau and/or Power BI.
- Experience in supporting the development of standard operating procedures.ย
- Experience in delivering in-person and remote training.
- Experience in SCM data analytics and assurance activities.
- Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required, team management skills is an asset
- Professional written and spoken presentation skills, including for the development of reports, presentations, and the ability to synthesize complex supply chain documents for both technical and non-technical audiences is required.
- Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required.
- Experience working in a matrix organizational structure is an asset.
- Basic knowledge of the principles and operational aspects of sexual and reproductive health commodities in global development and the humanitarian community is an asset.
Languages:ย
- Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Required Competencies:ย
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,ย
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,ย
- Embracing cultural diversity,ย
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:ย
- Achieving results
- Being accountable
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen
- Thinking analytically and strategically
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships
- Communicating for impact
- Client orientation
Functional Competencies:
- Ability to collaborate with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA to ensure coordinated and effective tailored solutions for each area of intervention.
- Ability to maintain relationships with supply chain counterpartsย
- Attend and participate as required in SCMU and UNFPA in meetings related to supply chain management functions.
- Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required
Compensation and Benefits:
ย This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA plus; community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - clickย hereย to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.ย
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.ย
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
- Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
- A minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience covering areas such as supply management, quality assurance of medical products in the supply chain particularly involving storage and distribution, supply chain monitoring and evaluation and logistics information systems is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to 3 years for candidates who possess a relevant first-level or advanced university degree. Candidates with experience in the below key areas, with the understanding that these experiences may overlap have added advantage: