UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a Champion

UNICEF Somalia | UNICEF Somalia

How can you make a difference?

The Supply and Logistics Associate is responsible for assisting the uninterrupted supply of affordable and good quality supplies and services, adapted to the particular context and through compliance with UNICEF’s policies, procedures, and ethics standards.

 Summary of Key Functions, Accountabilities, and Related Duties/Tasks

Supply Chain Service Delivery and Response

Procurement/Contracting:

• Provide input to the annual Supply Plan, conduct data review and analysis, and assist in developing procurement strategies.
• Support market research and product innovation, gathering evidence on sustainable procurement.
• Liaise with programme sections for procurement planning, developing specifications, and logistics arrangements. Contribute good practices for supply chain sustainability.
• Prepare documentation for LTAs and specific procurement requisitions. Process RFQs, ITBs, and RFPs, assist with bid openings, and conduct clarifications with suppliers.
• Prepare award requests, purchase orders, and contracts in SAP, ensuring documentation completeness.
• Keep stakeholders informed on procurement progress, manage vendor relationships, and follow up on delivery schedules.
• Monitor dashboard reports and extract reports on LTAs, contracts, and purchase orders, coordinating necessary actions.
• Conduct regular market surveys to identify potential suppliers.

In-Country Logistics:

• Advise on logistics components of the supply plan, track demurrages and detention charges, and negotiate waivers.
• Calculate and establish budget requirements for delivery modalities with programme colleagues.
• Use dashboards for pipeline monitoring and ensure timely customs clearance.
• Support logistics operations, maintain documentation, and liaise with stakeholders for effective service delivery.
• Review and transmit information for contracting logistics third-party services, establish KPIs, and monitor performance.
• Resolve operational issues, escalating complex ones to the supervisor.

Warehousing and Inventory Management:

• Assess and propose improvements for warehousing capacity, facilities, equipment, manpower, and processes.
• Support warehousing and inventory management processes, ensuring accurate and complete accounting, reporting, and internal control systems.
• Prepare stacking and storage plans, supervise receipt and dispatch of consignments, and monitor inventory trends.
• Conduct regular physical counts of inventory and manage near-expiry supplies using FIFO and FEFO approaches.

Alternative Delivery Mechanisms and Procurement Services:

• Maintain procurement data, prepare periodic and ad-hoc reports, and ensure continuous availability of relevant data.
• Support assessments and collaborations with implementing partners for Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) and HACT monitoring.
• Assist in building partnerships with UN organizations for harmonized procurement and logistics arrangements.
• Support Procurement Services (PS) transactions, assist partners with forecasting and costing, and monitor requests and shipments.
• Follow up on PS order deliveries, maintain transaction files, and monitor the pipeline of PS shipments.
• Assist with arrival, customs clearance, storage, packing, and distribution of PS commodities.

Other Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provide input for knowledge exchange and capacity building within the team.
• Develop and facilitate training for newcomers and contribute to establishing effective processes and manuals.

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

• Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to supply chain, business administration, contract/commercial law, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant administrative experience in supply chain management or a commercial context is required.
• Understanding of development and humanitarian work is an advantage.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

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

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.