The posting
Job Description
Job Summary:
Plan, manage, coordinate and provide technical and operational leadership for the project supply chain, ensuring the safe, timely, cost-effective, compliant and accountable movement of commodities and other project goods. Lead end-to-end commodity management from shipment/import interfaces and Port of Mombasa clearance through inland transportation, warehousing and delivery to Final Distribution Points (FDPs), maintaining traceability and controls against loss, damage, contamination, fraud and diversion.
Work closely with the DCoP – Operations, Logistics & Compliance Monitoring, project management, Field Operations Manager, MEAL, Compliance, Security, Finance, Procurement and partner teams to align commodity pipelines and distributions with program needs. Coordinate closely with World Vision Kenya on Turkana commodity operations and relevant Marsabit implementation teams, while maintaining clear accountability and adherence to CRS and applicable donor requirements.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
1. Supply Chain Planning and Commodity Pipeline Management
- Lead and regularly update the project supply-chain and logistics plan in line with approved implementation schedules and distribution requirements.
- Maintain end-to-end pipeline visibility from shipment through receipt, storage, dispatch and FDP delivery; translate verified caseloads, ration requirements and distribution calendars into supply-chain requirements.
- Monitor commodity availability, storage capacity, transport needs and projected dispatches; forecast constraints, develop contingencies and provide regular pipeline, logistics and commodity-status updates to project leadership.
2. Importation, Customs Clearance and Port Operations
- Coordinate receipt of commodities through the Port of Mombasa, including arrival monitoring, local documentation, service-provider readiness and onward transportation.
- Coordinate clearing and forwarding agents, independent surveyors, transporters, warehouse providers, relevant Kenyan authorities and CRS functions to support timely clearance, release, duty/tax exemptions and other import requirements.
- Ensure container stripping/de-stuffing, tallying, inspection, weighing and receipt documentation follow approved procedures; promptly document, report and escalate shortages, damage, contamination, pilferage or other discrepancies.
- Minimize port and transit-storage time and costs through planning and coordination.
3. Transportation, Warehousing and Inventory Management
- Lead inland transportation planning and oversight from Mombasa to primary warehouses and onward to approved FDPs; coordinate competitive procurement and performance management of transport and specialized logistics providers with Procurement and responsible functions.
- Ensure transport providers meet vehicle, driver, sealing, GPS tracking, communication, security and commodity-accountability requirements. Monitor dispatches, routes, vehicle movements, deliveries and destination reconciliation; use approved geofenced routes where applicable and coordinate route/security risks with Security.
- Ensure that secure overnight staging locations for loaded trucks serving hard-to-reach FDPs are identified and assessed in advance to mitigate security and operational risks, where feasible.
- Plan for seasonal access constraints, road conditions, contingency routes and schedules.
- Oversee readiness and management of project-supported storage facilities within CRS's area of responsibility, ensuring structural, safety, security, food-quality and commodity-management requirements are met before receipt.
- Ensure accurate warehouse documentation including stack/bin cards, stock control cards, waybills, other delivery records (per the SOPs), and physical-inventory records; conduct required cycle and physical counts, spot checks, and planned/unannounced inspections.
- Ensure the implementation of an integrated pest management approach across all project storage facilities, including verifying that fumigation service providers are appropriately qualified and comply with established fumigation procedures and requirements.
- Ensure compromised commodities are segregated and managed under approved procedures; maintain appropriate fire prevention, emergency response, sanitation and warehouse access controls; monitor utilization and storage capacity.
4. Last-Mile Delivery and Partner Coordination
- Coordinate with project management, field operations, partners, MEAL and Compliance so commodities reach approved FDPs safely, completely and on schedule, aligned with verified caseloads, distribution calendars, vehicle needs and access conditions.
- Ensure distribution plans align with the approved dispatch authorization while remaining flexible and responsive to identified security and climatic risks.
- Ensure commodities are not routinely stored at FDPs; synchronize deliveries with distributions. For exceptional overnight vehicle staging, obtain relevant security and commodity-management approvals.
- Maintain clear delivery handover/reconciliation and immediately escalate material discrepancies, shortages, losses or unexplained variances.
- Provide supply-chain coordination and technical support to partners. Coordinate particularly closely with World Vision Kenya, which assumes custody and day-to-day commodity management responsibility in Turkana under the approved implementation model.
- Conduct routine partner supply-chain performance reviews covering pipeline, warehousing, transportation, reconciliation, accountability, incidents and corrective actions; strengthen partner capacity and escalate significant performance or control concerns.
- Maintain clear distinction between partner operational responsibilities, CRS supply-chain oversight and independent compliance-monitoring functions.
5. Commodity Accountability, Risk, Systems and Reporting
- Maintain preventive and operational controls, complete traceability and custody documentation at all handoff points to prevent or detect loss, damage, contamination, fraud and diversion.
- Identify supply-chain risks, contribute to project risk-register reviews, monitor incidents/exceptions and implement approved corrective actions. Immediately escalate suspected fraud, diversion, loss, safeguarding concerns or other serious misconduct through established CRS mechanisms.
- Collaborate with Compliance Agents, MEAL, Security and project management on risk-based monitoring and reviews, while maintaining Compliance as an independent monitoring and assurance function.
- Ensure timely, accurate supply-chain data and reporting on receipts, balances, dispatches, deliveries, losses, damages and adjustments. Work with MIS and project teams to integrate commodity information into information-management/dashboard systems.
- Use data to identify bottlenecks, service-provider issues, route deviations and accountability concerns; ensure source documentation supports full traceability and auditability.
6. Budget, Service Providers, Staff and Coordination
- Contribute to forecasting and management of transportation, storage, handling and related budgets; monitor expenditures, commitments and forecasts, identify variances/cost pressures and recommend management action while protecting commodity integrity, timeliness, safety and compliance.
- Monitor contractor/supplier performance against agreed standards and coordinate Finance, Procurement and project leadership on contract-performance or expenditure issues requiring corrective action.
- Supervise designated supply-chain staff under the approved structure; set expectations, coach and manage performance, promote teamwork and staff well-being, and address staff/partner capacity needs. Coordinate specialized support from the Global Technical Advisor – Supply Chain as required.
- Maintain effective relationships with government authorities, port/customs actors, warehouses, transporters, surveyors, clearing/forwarding agents and other stakeholders; represent the project or CRS in relevant coordination meetings as delegated.
- Coordinate project management, program, Finance, Procurement, Security, Field Operations, Compliance, MEAL and partners. Escalate strategic, high-value, high-risk or policy-level decisions to the DCoP or appropriate project leadership.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of supply-chain planning, commodity logistics, transportation, warehousing, inventory control, accountability, traceability and loss prevention.
- Understanding of donor requirements applicable to humanitarian supply chains and donor-funded programs, and Kenyan import/export and customs processes relevant to humanitarian commodities.
- Strong contract, supplier and transporter performance management; logistics risk management and business continuity; analytical and problem-solving ability with pipeline, inventory, transport and cost data.
- Excellent planning, coordination, prioritization, time management, staff management, capacity strengthening and cross-functional interpersonal skills.
- High standards of integrity, stewardship, transparency and accountability; sound judgment to act within delegated authority and escalate appropriately.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant ERP, inventory, supply-chain and information-management systems.
Required Languages: Fluency in English and at least one local language
Travel
Must be willing and able to travel regularly to Mombasa, Marsabit, Turkana and other locations in Kenya as required for port operations, commodity monitoring, warehouse oversight, partner support and supply-chain management.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervise designated supply-chain staff under the approved structure; set expectations, coach and manage performance, promote teamwork and staff well-being, and address staff/partner capacity needs. Coordinate specialized support from the Global Technical Advisor – Supply Chain as required.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Coordinate project management, program, Finance, Procurement, Security, Field Operations, Compliance, MEAL and partners. Escalate strategic, high-value, high-risk, or policy-level decisions to the DCoP or appropriate project leadership
External: Maintain effective relationships with government authorities, port/customs actors, warehouses, transporters, surveyors, clearing/forwarding agents and other stakeholders; represent the project or CRS in relevant coordination meetings as delegated.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Business Administration, Operations Management or another relevant field.
- Minimum five years of progressively responsible supply-chain experience, including logistics, transportation, warehousing, procurement, inventory or commodity management; demonstrated experience managing complex supply-chain operations and associated documentation/controls.
- Experience supervising staff and multidisciplinary teams and managing suppliers, contractors and logistics service providers.
- Experience in humanitarian or international development supply chains is highly desirable.
Preferred Qualifications :
- Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management or a related field; professional supply-chain certification is an advantage.
- Experience managing humanitarian food commodities or other high-volume relief supplies; U.S. Government-funded commodity or food-assistance supply-chain experience is strongly desirable.
- Experience with importation, customs clearance, inland transportation and warehouse management, including remote or complex operating environments.
- Experience with ERP, digital commodity tracking, warehouse-management or logistics information systems.
Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Personal Accountability - Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others - Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn - Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
- Lead Change - Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others - Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhances team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset - Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
Disclaimer:
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
What we offer:
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world. CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting men, women, boys and girls safe from abuse, exploitation, and harm.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for this position, especially those from marginalized and people with disabilities backgrounds
Data Protection/Disclaimer:
Catholic Relief Services is committed to ensuring the security and protection of the personal information that we process, and to provide a compliant and consistent approach to data protection.
Recruitment Disclaimer:
We wish to notify that CRS does not demand or charge any fee/charges from the aspiring candidates for considering their candidature, or at any time during the recruitment process, nor have we authorized any individual, agency or firm to recruit candidates for us. Any person seeking employment with CRS needs to be cautious and not trust any agency or individual claiming to be our representative and charging fees for providing/securing employment with us.
By applying this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect, and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.
About Us
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.
CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
General Requirements
CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements. All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.
