Supply Chain Management Specialist - Retainer (IICA2/LICA10), Multiple positions

UNOPS is undertaking a project “Strengthening Resilience in the Vaccines Supply Chain in Yemen”, which has the objective of strengthening the operational capacity of the supported health storage warehouses at the national (central) and subnational (governorate) levels through rehabilitation works of the warehouses’ infrastructure and provisions of equipment and capacity building training.

UNOPS will be responsible for the design and rehabilitation works of the targeted facilities, ensuring highest standards in design and rehabilitation works, and respect of ‘state of the art’ requirements for safety, sustainability, security, and disability access. In addition, UNOPS will be responsible to provide the targeted facilities with priority equipment and supplies, as well as strengthening capacities through conducting training activities.

As a result, the practices currently used at all stages of supply chain are to be reviewed by the Specialist starting from identification of needs, quantification and forecasting till the required delivery as per the project scope. All weaknesses and areas requiring improvement should be duly identified and addressed, the remedial actions to be proposed by the Specialist to define the needs and readiness of the sustainability of national supply chain Storage Warehouses, including technical requirements, operational processes, storage capacity, spatial requirements, etc. for each Storage Warehouse\Level.

Objectives.

The main objective of the Specialist’s mission is to contribute to the project’s scope to strengthen the operational capacity of the supported health storage warehouses at the National (Central) and Subnational (Governorate) levels through (1) Rehabilitation Works of the warehouses’ infrastructure, (2) Provisions of Furniture and Equipment and, (3) Capacity Building Training to the current\existing Supply Chain Management (SCM) techniques for the targeted facilities under the project.

As a result, the practices currently used at all stages of supply chain are to be reviewed by the Specialist starting from identification of needs, quantification and forecasting till the required delivery as per the project scope. All weaknesses and areas requiring improvement should be duly identified and addressed, the remedial actions to be proposed by the Specialist to define the needs and readiness of the sustainability of national supply chain Storage Warehouses, including technical requirements, operational processes, storage capacity, spatial requirements, etc. for each Storage Warehouse\Level.

Scope of Work.

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the project manager, and in close collaboration with UNOPS project team. the Specialist is expected to provide recommendations, guidelines, requirements, specifications and clear reports for the below activities:

Assessments of the Existing Supply Chain Systems and Infrastructure.

Conduct desk review and liaise with the project team to fully be familiar with the existing situation of the health storage warehouses at the National (Central) and Subnational (Governorate) levels to ensure all aspects of the existing Supply Chain has been discussed and evaluated within the framework of implementation of the project, including:

• The existing Storage\Warehouse facilities’ space and layout including the existing cold storage areas i.e., the Walk-in Cold and Freezer Rooms.

• The Martials Handling Equipments currently in use i.e., racking systems, shelving, lift trucks, hand trucks, etc. including the transportations vehicles for each facility.

• Analysis of inventory control and stock management practices currently applied.

• Review the effectiveness of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Process Safety Management System (PSM) in use in the Country.

• Identify the existing weaknesses and bottlenecks preventing normal Supply Chain Management (SCM) functioning.

Propose and present the remedial actions and develop the concrete and clear tools for elimination of the problems identified in order to determining of the potential scope and nature of UNOPS interventions for each Storage Warehouse within the framework of implementation of the project, including:

• Provide recommendations of Greening the supply chain including energy efficiency and low-carbon footprint of the storage and distribution systems, by operationalizing greening principles, introduction of latest solar technology for warehousing and cold chains.

• Prioritize the recommendations into short (3-5years), medium (6-10 years) and long term (10-20years) so that it guides the master plan.

• If required, provide recommendations in form of sketch drawings illustrate the required remodeling \ rearrange of the existing interior and exterior layout to comply with the relevant standards and requirements, taking into consideration, (1) the designated areas for particular purposes i.e., cold store, quarantined products, etc. (2) the exterior spaces, vehicle movement, loading/off-loading areas/canopies, parking, waste disposal, fuel storage, etc.

• If the estimated current\future storage requirement significantly exceeds the actual capacity of the existing buildings, or if the existing buildings are ill-suited, the consultant will make recommendations in the form of sketches on how the building(s) might be modified or extended to provide the required space.

• Advise on the required cold storage capacity of walk-in cold and freezer rooms for each Storage Warehouse\Level.

• If required. Advise on technical matters relating to the implementation of the large size cold and freezer rooms, clarify and improve specifications in case inadequacies are observed, detect possible gaps and propose substitute or alternative approaches as necessary.

• Provide technical inputs to the QA company in charge of designing the vaccine stores to house the cold and freezer rooms, include plans for floor layout, building envelope thermal insulation, electricity supply, backup generator supply, electrical protection, lighting, ventilation, etc.

• Advanced university degree from a recognized academic institution preferably in one or more of the following areas is preferred: Public Health / Medical Pharmacy / Supply Chain Management / Logistic and Warehousing.
• First university degree combined with 2 years of additional relevant professional work experience 

• Product knowledge on cold chain equipment, new cold chain technologies and understanding of the principles of vaccine management, knowledge and experience working with regulatory bodies such as WHO / UNOPS, data management analysis and reporting are essential. Knowledge of procurement processes and good distribution practice will be an asset.

• Minimum 5 years progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in managing Cold chain equipment, vaccine management and supply management. 
• Work experience in managing large-scale projects, working with governments, working in resource-limited settings, monitoring and evaluating supply chains, and risk management and mitigation will be an asset.
• Understanding of relevant functions of pharmaceuticals and health products supply chain and logistics operations and infrastructure in a country levels program area may be considered an asset

Fluency in English is required.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.