Global Logistics Coordination Specialist

JOB PURPOSE

The aim of this role is to create a roster of logistics coordination professionals with humanitarian expertise, leadership skills, and a strong background in collaboration and coordination. Successful candidates will be part of a pool available for deployment as needed, depending on their qualifications and the specific requirements of the context. Please note that being selected for the roster does not guarantee a contract offer from the World Food Programme.

The primary objective of this position is to provide leadership and facilitate processes that ensure a well-coordinated, strategic, appropriate, coherent, effective, and efficient response by participating organizations in Logistics Clusters at the country level.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

The responsibilities associated with this role will vary based on operational needs and may differ by country, adhering to the fundamental principles of the Cluster Approach.

Leadership

• Direct the strategic and technical operational design, implementation, review, and adaptation of a logistics coordination framework in accordance with IASC cluster coordination guidelines and other relevant IASC directives, in partnership with stakeholders and within the established mandate.
• When common logistics deficiencies are identified in collaboration with partners, collectively formulate a response strategy to facilitate access to operational logistics solutions based on a thorough cost-benefit analysis. This includes the assessment, selection, implementation, and monitoring of potential solutions to address operational challenges, including developing solutions with WFP supply chain when no alternatives are available, following Logistics Cluster standard operating procedures.
• Ensure effective project management, focusing on the timely design and appropriate execution of Logistics Cluster support at optimal costs, while monitoring and reporting throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• Integrate global themes and methodologies into established Logistics Cluster practices.
• Lead discussions and facilitate consensus on the adoption of common standards and tools, promoting awareness of and adherence to relevant policy guidelines, codes of conduct, and examples of best practices.

Gaps and Needs Analysis (GNA) and Prioritization

• Collaborate with organizations to continuously identify and evaluate logistics capacities, gaps, priorities, and bottlenecks, including local market capabilities, logistics infrastructure, and the logistics requirements of the humanitarian community, to inform the Logistics Cluster strategy and operations.
• As necessary, engage in inter-agency needs assessments to ensure that identified logistical needs, gaps, and priorities reflect the overall emergency context (are evidence-based), and vice versa.
• Based on identified common logistics gaps and needs, provide advice to the Humanitarian Country Team on key operational priorities, issues, and challenges; keeping them informed of evolving requirements.

Effective (Inter-agency) Coordination

• Establish, maintain, and enhance relationships and share information with WFP colleagues in the Country Office, Regional Bureau, and relevant functions at HQ, including members of the Logistics Cluster Team.
• Oversee overall Logistics Cluster inter-agency engagement in accordance with the IASC Principles of Partnership.
• Ensure fluid and regular communication and coordination with all relevant stakeholders, including supply and logistics managers in national and international humanitarian organizations, to continuously identify and prioritize logistics needs and suitable solutions to overcome obstacles, ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.
• Represent the Logistics Cluster and actively engage in inter-cluster operational coordination mechanisms and working groups to enable coordinated efforts, systems, and resources.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of partners and their activities, encouraging organizations to share their resources and information with the community for the benefit of the overall response.

Information Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation

• Ensure the collection, analysis, and dissemination of relevant logistics information, such as the Concept of Operations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring they are regularly updated.
• Identify trends and analyze potential future developments with associated risks and opportunities to provide a dynamic understanding of the evolving situation.
• Liaise with relevant national authorities and organizations to gather and make available up-to-date information on administrative processes, customs, border control, and route access.
• Develop and implement an evaluation strategy, monitor and review activities (partner surveys/consultations, cluster coordination performance monitoring), and create a plan to address findings.
• Ensure comprehensive mapping of partners, including assets and infrastructure.

Preparedness and Capacity Building

• Actively contribute to logistics coordination and information management preparedness and response training, workshops, and simulations to enhance the capacity of all stakeholders.
• Support the development and integration of preparedness and contingency planning for humanitarian logistics coordination into the National Disaster Management Organizations' overall preparedness plan, including effective integration of partners.
• Design a Logistics Cluster exit strategy, support capacity building and preparedness of local actors or national disaster response organizations, and ensure a proper transition from cluster- to locally-led coordination, utilizing the Logistics Cluster preparedness approach where feasible and appropriate.

Advocacy

• In collaboration with partners, identify key topics and messages to advance operations through advocacy, develop an advocacy strategy and plan, collaborate with allies, and support the implementation of the advocacy plan.
• Encourage partner organizations to incorporate common messages into their advocacy efforts.
• Confidently communicate difficult and sensitive messages to senior leadership and influential stakeholders.

Resource Management

• Advise WFP's Country Strategic Plan process (narrative and budget) and other internal/external project documents for the implementation of cluster work (including logistics contingency and preparedness initiatives).
• Assist in identifying and mobilizing necessary resources (assets, personnel, funds) to implement cluster activities at the country level, including drafting proposal documents and budgets.
• Collaborate with the WFP Country Office and the Logistics Cluster Team to recruit suitable staff profiles (initiate recruitment, define ToRs, advise on staff selection, onboarding), lead skill development, and workforce management.
• Ensure that cluster funds are allocated and utilized in accordance with logistics coordination needs and approved plans, following WFP rules and regulations. Monitor country-level funding status.

STANDARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

A university degree in Supply Chain Management, International Business, International Relations, Crisis Management, Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience

A minimum of eight years of progressive professional responsibility in international humanitarian project/programme/logistics implementation, with at least two years in a senior role.

Desired Experience

• Experience in a supervisory capacity.
• Familiarity with the IASC Cluster system, particularly working for or with the Logistics Cluster at global or field level in emergency preparedness or response.
• Experience working with national and international coordination systems.
• Background in humanitarian supply chain/logistics roles.
• Experience in roles involving inter-agency collaboration.

Language

• A level C qualification (proficiency or mother tongue) in one of the UN languages (preferably English, French, Spanish, or Arabic) is mandatory.
• Good working knowledge of English is essential, while proficiency in another UN language (particularly French, Spanish, or Arabic) is an asset.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Willingness and ability to deploy at short notice to areas with potentially challenging environments for a minimum duration of one month is a strict requirement. Ability to quickly adapt to and establish new operations or integrate into ongoing activities as surge staff.
• Leadership and decision-making capabilities, with the ability to develop a strategic vision and shared goals based on humanitarian principles, following a partnership and service-oriented mindset, demonstrating integrity, a results-oriented and proactive engagement approach, and attention to gender and cultural sensitivities, fostering a climate of teamwork internally and externally, and encouraging mutual learning.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to establish and manage collaboration and coordination, including chairing or contributing to multilateral working groups, working across a diverse group of stakeholders (internally and externally), building consensus, and delivering joint outputs. Excellent listening, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Analytical skills, including the ability to analyze and evaluate data and translate it into meaningful information to facilitate decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively and meet tight deadlines in remote and high-pressure environments, focusing on solutions. Ability to motivate a team, maintain morale, and achieve objectives in challenging circumstances. Project management skills, including planning, timely execution, monitoring and controlling, and closure or transfer of activities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and other related software.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Understanding of stakeholders' mandates, considerations, and requirements.
• Ability to understand and anticipate information needs of stakeholder groups.
• Comprehension of the international humanitarian response architecture, including key stakeholders, coordination mechanisms, Humanitarian Reform, humanitarian action, and international emergency response funding mechanisms.