Manager, Operations and Supply Chain

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.”  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 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 four main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Coordination, (ii) Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization, (iii) People and Strategy, and (iv) Legal, Governance Support and Accountability.

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

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. 

Reporting to the Head of Delegation (HoD), with a technical reporting line to the Regional Thematic Lead for Operations Coordination, the Operations and Supply Chain Manager will be responsible for leading the IFRC operation in Egypt. This includes providing strategic direction, fostering partnerships, and ensuring effective coordination with various stakeholders.

The Operations and Supply Chain Manager will support the National Society (NS) in the implementation of the emergency response operation in alignment with the approved Operational Strategy, and will play a key role in mobilizing the necessary resources to enable its successful delivery.

The role holder will also oversee and strengthen supply chain and logistics management across all IFRC-supported operations in Egypt, ensuring efficient, timely, and compliant procurement, warehousing, transportation, and coordination with Movement partners to enable effective emergency response and long-term programme delivery.

Based in Cairo as part of the IFRC Egypt Delegation, the Operations and Supply Chain Manager will serve as a member of the country senior management team, working in close collaboration with the IFRC Regional Office for MENA.

• Oversee and coordinate the ongoing emergency operations in Egypt supported by Emergency Appeals and DREFs.
• Support the negotiations, planning, and mobilisation of IFRC resources in support of the NS in the assessment, planning, and implementation of the emergency response operations and long-term programmes.
• Support the Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) in designing and coordinating emergency response actions with IFRC-wide approaches and tools, including in accessing DREF and Emergency Appeal resources.
• Ensure that the response is based on frameworks and approaches that are consistent with or have considered national and international standards and guidelines, as well as IFRC policies, procedures, and tools.
• Ensure a robust and coherent monitoring of the situation and its potential evolution and ensure that interventions are responsive to current and emerging needs and threats.
• Support the NS in developing and implementing operational standards, tools and procedures that ensure quality, consistency, and sustainability of emergency response interventions.
• Manage operational budgets to ensure that expenditure relating to IFRC-supported programmes and operations is within income and approved ceilings, in compliance with IFRC finance procedures and in line with donor earmarking requirements.
• Contribute to the update of the country risk management plan in coordination with the IFRC Regional Office.
• Develop and update the implementation plan for Egypt, including the Procurement Plan, Workforce Plan (Define and agree with the NS the relevant HR workforce and teams needed), and PMER Plan.
• Work with the regional Health, Disasters, Climate and Crisis (HDCC) Team to develop, implement and review contingency planning for identified threats in operational areas, as well as the development of capacities within the NS for emergency response.
• Work closely with the NS to monitor the potential threats in the country and support the NS in the development of readiness plans in alignment with their mandate.
• Act as security focal point in Egypt with the support of the MENA Security Regional Office.
• Lead logistics coordination forums, supervise Supply Chain Management (SCM) personnel, and promote continuous improvement and accountability across supply chain operations.
• Strengthen collaboration with ERCS and Movement partners to enhance logistics strategies, resolve bottlenecks, and build sustainable SCM systems.
• Ensure efficient and compliant logistics support for IFRC-supported programs in Egypt, covering procurement, warehousing, transportation, and overall supply chain management.

• Assist the NS, IFRC membership, movement partners and external partners in the achievement of planned outcomes and deliverables following quality standards, in a timely fashion, and within budgets.
• Support the NS in setting up the structure needed to ensure that all components of the programmes are identified, planned, and carried out in a coordinated, collaborative, and integrated manner with Movement and external partners.

• Support the HoD in all other matters related to the IFRC activities – including ensuring strategic coherence and alignment as well as programmatic and operational coordination – and be prepared to adapt working conditions and make reasonable adjustments of the job description during the mission.
• Support the NS to enhance their position vis-a-vis the national coordination mechanism.
• In coordination with the HoD and the Finance and Administration Coordinator, ensure sound financial management is applied to all Federation-assisted programmes within the NS, that budgets are monitored, and any problems identified, and solutions implemented in timely and effective manner.
• Ensure that the information needed for Scenario planning in coordination with Operation team is in place.
• Manage the logistics support within the operations, ensuring alignment with IFRC standards, practices, and procedures.
• Oversee the procurement and warehouse components of the operations.
• Regularly assess logistics arrangements and structures related to IFRC-supported programs, recommend and implement improvements.
• Lead the logistics Movement coordination Working Group in Egypt between the IFRC, ICRC and ERCS.
• Acting for the HoD when the incumbent is absent.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of IFRC’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.

Required:

• Relevant university degree or extensive professional experience in related field or professional qualification in operations management
• Basic Delegates Training Course, IMPACT or equivalent knowledge
• Fluent spoken and written English.

Preferred:

• Project Management Training/Certificate
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Required:

• Experience of working as part of a team and staff management
• Minimum of 5-7 years of relevant work experience in a humanitarian organization in developing countries and in complex emergencies or similar contexts
• Minimum 3 years professional experience in Supply Chain
• Experience in project cycle management including proposal development, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation
• Good understanding of the humanitarian environment, strong analytical skills and capacity to translate analysis into strategy and planning
• Experience of field-based implementation
• Experience of financial management to ensure compliance

Preferred:

• Good track record of managing people, networking, influencing and negotiating and building relationships effectively.
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience
• Experience of Logistics development at the NS level or in a similar structure as part of local capacity building
• Experience of report writing (narrative and financial)

Required:

• Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing)
• Coordination and partner relationship building / Excellent skills in networking with other agencies and organisations
• Demonstrated technical expertise in strategic management, project planning and budgeting, resource management, implementation ability as well as programme monitoring and evaluation
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills with the ability to represent the International Federation and to coach, mentor and influence people
• Knowledge of Red Cross Red Crescent Movement financial and project management tools
• Knowledge of communications systems (satellite phones, etc.)
• Judgement-Decision-making
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual and cross-functional environment

Preferred:

• Good knowledge of the MENA region
• Project management skills

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust