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For every child, the right to a Champion
How can you make a difference?
The Somalia Country Office operates in a complex humanitarian and fragile context characterized by access constraints, security risks, and significant logistics challenges. Somalia’s supply chain faces deep-rooted challenges that constrain both humanitarian operations and long-term development efforts. Persistent insecurity, including armed conflict and road blockades, disrupts transport routes and limits access to vulnerable communities, while underdeveloped infrastructure makes the movement of goods costly and unreliable.
These logistical challenges are further compounded by partner capacity gaps and recurrent climate shocks, which trigger mass displacement, damage critical routes, and place significant pressure on the availability of essential commodities. The resulting increase in commodity prices and dependence on imports continue to strain supply systems, affecting access to food, health, nutrition, and WASH supplies.
Collectively, these factors weaken the resilience of market-driven supply chains and require coordinated, strategic investments to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential supplies and support Somalia’s long-term stability and humanitarian response efforts.
The Supply and Logistics Manager reports to Chief of Operations and is responsible for managing the supply chains of a medium to large-sized country office, and/or medium sized emergency response operation. The supply chain operations include planning, procurement, contracting, customs clearance, warehousing, in country transport and distribution, as well as monitoring of supplies, services and construction works. The incumbent collaborates closely with programme sections in defining supply interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children, while providing strategic technical and advisory support to governments, national systems and partners on resilient, risk-informed, and innovative supply chain management solutions in complex and fragile operating environments.
Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks
1. Management of the Supply Section
- Establish annual work plan; set priorities, targets, and performance indicators; monitor progress to ensure results meet timelines and standards.
- Supervise and coach staff; ensure timely performance management; promote knowledge sharing with Supply Division, RO, and global supply community to build capacity.
- Ensure operational capacity for CO supply chains, including appropriate staffing, timely recruitment, clear roles, and third-party contracting (e.g. customs, warehousing, transport).
2. Supply Chain Service Delivery and Emergency Response
- Contribute to Country Programme planning; advise on supply requirements; ensure effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of supply chain operations, including performance indicators.
- Analyze supply spend; develop procurement strategies using category management; establish LTAs for strategic supplies and services.
- Ensure timely customs clearance; establish warehousing, inventory, and in-country transport systems.
- Ensure effective vendor management, including performance reviews.
- Analyze dashboards and KPIs; conduct root cause analysis to address bottlenecks and improve supply chain performance.
- Develop emergency supply and logistics strategy based on risk analysis; ensure preparedness plans aligned with CCC (LTAs, prepositioning, staff training).
- Participate in emergency coordination with partners; collaborate with Logistics Cluster/National Logistics Working Group as applicable.
- Maintain coordination with Regional Chiefs of Supply/Operations and Supply Division to align with global/regional approaches.
- Lead end-to-end supply chain risk management, including contingency planning, diversification, vendor risk, fraud prevention, and business continuity.
- Provide strategic oversight on access-sensitive logistics, including movement planning, corridor optimization, and coordination with security, programme, and partners.
3. Collaboration with Programme and Implementing Partners
- Collaborate with programme sections in design, planning, implementation, and M&E of supply components; establish accountability frameworks.
- Provide input to donor dialogue; support supply components of proposals, including budgeting and innovative financing.
- Support partner assessments, PCAs, and monitoring under HACT.
- Maintain partnerships with Government, UN agencies, and counterparts for coordinated supply and logistics, including harmonized procurement.
4. Technical and Advisory Support to Government/National Systems
- Lead supply chain strengthening and change management with governments and partners.
- Implement capacity development initiatives in collaboration with programme colleagues; support health system supply components as relevant.
- Provide advisory support on supply solutions, including procurement services, financing, market development, and private sector engagement.
- Lead localization-focused capacity strengthening for government and local partners to enhance sustainable systems and last-mile delivery.
5. Innovation, Products and Markets
- Support pilots and rollout of new products and services with Supply Division.
- Promote innovation, critical thinking, and best practices in supply chain management internally and externally.
- Drive local market development based on supply spend analysis and procurement strategies.
- Champion digital transformation, including visibility tools, tracking, automation, and data-driven decision-making.
- Promote sustainable and climate-conscious supply chain practices, including green procurement and efficient logistics.
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
GJP - Supply and Logistics Manager Level 4 -Final (002) (1).doc
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Education: Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) is required in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field.
A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
- Work Experience: At least 8 years of relevant work experience at the national and international levels, in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
Strong understanding of development and humanitarian operations, including emergency logistics in fragile and high-risk contexts.
- Skills:
- Ability to resolve difficult, complex and sensitive situations often under pressure.
- Ability to initiate and manage change in a diverse environment.
- Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas and concepts in written and oral form.
- Ability to manage and monitor the effective use of financial and material resources.
- Ability to supervise and direct a team of professional and support staff.
- Ability to allocate appropriate time and resources for successful achievement of goals, and foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning.
- Ability to implement clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, identify priority activities and assignments, adjust priorities as required.
- Ability to work strategically to realize organizational goals, develop strategies, set clear visions.
- Advanced communication and negotiation skills to establish and maintain trusted partnerships for achievement of objectives and to develop close and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
- Skill to identify new opportunities or requirements to meet challenges in the field and propose changes.
- Strong understanding of supply chain processes, from programme needs assessment, through planning, procurement and contracting, logistics and delivery, monitoring and evaluation.
- Strong overall knowledge and understanding of UNICEF programmes, public procurement principles, financial and legal aspects of supply chain issues, ethics and risk management of supply chain operations.
- Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required
Desirables:
- Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language
- Proven change management experience supporting supply chain reforms, localization, and systems strengthening in complex operational environments such as Somalia
- Experience in Health and Nutrition supply chain management in Somalia
- Demonstrated experience in digital transformation of supply chain systems in low-connectivity and resource-constrained environments
Experience strengthening national and local partner supply chain capacity, including local service providers and government systems
- Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and 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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
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Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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.
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Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
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