Switzerland: Director of Logistics Department

Background
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 190 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC or “the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The Federation is a membership organisation established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Federation is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies 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.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. The Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main business groups: (i) Partnerships, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management Services. The Director, Logistics Department reports directly to the Under Secretary General, Programmes and Operations. The position is located in the IFRC Secretariat headquarters in Geneva.
Job Purpose
Under the direction of the Under Secretary General, Programmes and Operations, the Director of Logistics Department is responsible to provide long-term strategic direction and leadership for the IFRC’s global Logistics services to ensure the delivery of an efficient, timely and cost-effective logistics service which supports the organisation’s over-arching strategic goals and meets the needs of the Federation and partners.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
This role operates at management level within the IFRC and as such requires senior leadership, negotiation and networking. The role holder is expected to leverage internal and external relationships and opportunities to ensure that the IFRC remains at the forefront of logistics services provision for humanitarian relief. Key areas of influence and key internal relationships include:

Logistics strategy development requiring agreement from the Global Senior Management Team.
Logistics budget management Logistics guidance development (polices & guidelines).
Review and development of logistics information management and reporting system.
Line management of Geneva based Logistics Heads of Unit and internationally based Heads of Regional Logistics Units and Head of Logistics Service Dubai Office.
The role leads the logistics services through the global network outlined above and carries ultimate accountability for ensuring the delivery of an efficient, timely and cost effective logistics services to the Federation and partners. As such, the role also includes ensuring adequacy of internal controls to meet stakeholder requirements.
He/she furthermore safeguards:

A coherent global strategy guiding the delivery of logistics services meeting the needs of the Federation and partners.
Logistics standards, processes and tools meeting the international standards for logistics and underpinning the accountability and transparency framework adopted by the Federation.
Synergies and working in partnership (with ICRC, NS and other partners) to connect available resources and ensure the best use of these.
Alignment to recognized best practice and innovation to further drive humanitarian logistics efficiency and value for money.

Key Accountabilities:

To provide global level leadership for logistics services in line with the overall IFRC Strategy 2020, overseeing the creation of Logistics strategy, policy and guidance for the Federation and negotiating with senior internal stakeholders to develop an effective logistics services.
To contribute to the creation of global strategies and plans, including the integration of logistics into the broader disaster management environment, in order to drive forward the work of the IFRC in improving the lives of vulnerable people and achieving results.
To lead on relationship building and working in partnership within the Movement and with potential key external partners in order to promote the work of the IFRC and to develop a global logistics network and capability to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of supplies and services in response to humanitarian need.
To ensure that the Logistics Department continues to meet the needs and requirements of its internal and external partners and has the necessary performance measurement in place to meet such needs most and demonstrate best value to those partners efficiently and effectively.
To lead the development and implementation of the global logistics communication strategy.
To lead the delivery of logistics services improvement, good practice, continuous learning and knowledge sharing between the IFRC, National Societies and partners.
To develop and manage relationships with academic circles to ensure that the IFRC remains at the forefront of logistics practice.
To develop, communicate and continuously review a set of financial, commercial and operational standards and targets which will directly deliver the necessary transparency associated with a cost recovery model whilst ensuring that the department meets the organizational objectives.
To develop, motivate and set performance objectives for individual senior staff in order to deliver sustainable logistics capability to National Societies and partners and to embed/support a culture of continuous improvement and high quality service delivery.
To plan, manage and monitor the use of available resources (people, budgets etc) in order to deliver an optimal level of service provision against cost for the Logistics.
To represent the IFRC and the Logistics Department at strategic forums, humanitarian logistic s conferences, foreign governments, high-level working group meetings and other external events.

Education
Degree and/or post graduate qualification in Business Administration, logistics, management and supply chain management.

Experience

Required:

12+ years of relevant experience in international logistics with minimum 5 years in logistics at a senior management position both at Headquarter level and in the field.
Extensive experience of managing and integrating complex services in a global environment.
Extensive experience in long-term strategy development and implementation at global level and set-up.
Experience in procurement, supply chain and fleet management.
Experience in developing logistics support systems.
Experience of managing logistics cost-recovery models of service provision.
Demonstrated ability to adapt and apply best practices and innovative approaches in logistics.
Experience in high-level relationship and partnership building.

Preferred:

Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience.

Knowledge, skills and languages

Required:

Demonstrated managerial skills and leadership experience.
Service mind-set and effective inter personal skills.
Distance management skills and experience.
Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of large-scale budget management.
Solid experience of ensuring accountability and compliance.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Excellent communications skills, networking and representation at high level.
Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment.
Complete in-depth grasp of international complex supply chain management.
Problem-solving abilities.
Drive for changes, improvements and innovation.

Preferred:

Excellent understanding of the global Red Cross / Crescent Movement.

Required Languages:

Fluently spoken and written English.
Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Competencies and values
Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability
Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision
Making, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust
Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development
Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others

Comments
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please apply on organization's website: http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=2429