Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. CRS has been working in Ethiopia for nearly 60 years, responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS' disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance.

Job Title:                Supply Chain Manager-Procurement

Job grade:                      10

Required number:        One

Department:                 Operations

Employment Term:      Indefinite

Reports To:                   Deputy Country Representative-Operations

Country/Location:       CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Deadline:                        June 9, 2024

Job Summary

You will plan, manage, and provide technical and operational oversight of supply chain activities including procurement, information management, and supply chain reporting - to ensure effective and efficient delivery of goods to the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and experience will allow you to anticipate and manage supply chain needs and challenges, and introduce improvement solutions, as you apply the principles of stewardship, integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with direct reports and various departments, especially programming leads to strengthen the Procurement plan process. Manage the determination of procurement and logistics service requirements, desired specifications and delivery schedules, and how sourcing strategies are defined, ensuring proper coordination and communication.

• Provide leadership on the development of fully compliant procurement systems and standardization of operating procedures and tools for end-to-end planning and implementation of procurement processes in accordance with Procurement policies and the GSCM handbook.

• Collaborate with budget holders to develop annual budget plans that meet procurement needs.

• Ensure accountability and transparency of all supply chain Procurement processes in compliance with CRS and donor regulations, and international and local standards and requirements.

• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high-quality programming.

• Lead design and implementation of a strategic sourcing and procurement process to identify, assess, select, and contract suppliers that will deliver the maximum value for money to the organization. In close coordination with the Senior procurement Manager, oversee relationships with key suppliers and assess supplier performance.

• Create and maintain the proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Provide capacity strengthening guidance, which includes cross-departmental learning.

• Manage and control the analyze-to-contract process with strategic sourcing solutions to ensure the best value for money: market research and analysis, goods/services specifications and supplier evaluation criteria, solicitation documents, a transparent and consistent bidding process, and prepare contracts.

• Ensure the highest level of transparency and integrity amongst the procurement department and prevent fraud along the procurement process. Conduct periodic risk assessment along the procurement process.

• Oversee and monitor relationships and transactions with suppliers, supplier performance, and contractual obligations to ensure contract completion per authorized terms and conditions. Take action to address current and/or potential contractual issues and/or inefficiencies to mitigate risk. Advise on contract/purchase order modifications, if needed.

• Monitor payment terms and schedules through maintenance of Insight open order report and oversee coordination with the finance team to ensure timely payments to vendors.

• Manage a reliable procurement document trail and database management system for control, accountability, and input for proper inventory recording. Ensure all required information and records are complete, accurate, up-to-date, and properly filed. Oversee reports preparation, consolidate reporting, and analyze data for decision-making.

• As part of Project Insight, lead the CP’s preparations, implementation, maintenance, and Full Adoption of the SCM workstream in Oracle, ensure that proper optimization is enhanced.

• Close collaboration with the SCM-Commodity to ensure that inventory transactions are reflected timely in Insight with appropriate supporting documentation per CRS policies; and with the Finance Manager to ensure that all transactions from the Procurement and Inventory modules are accurately reflected in the General ledger.

• Lead the CP capacity strengthening initiatives for staff and partners through helping, adopting learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching, which includes cross-departmental learning.  Work with SCM RTAs to develop a technical assistance framework for partner capacity building and partner systems strengthening.

Job Requirements

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement or relevant qualifications. Minimum of 5 years work experience in supply chain/logistics/procurement management with progressive responsibilities, preferably with relief supply chain management.

• Knowledge of and experience with various public donors’ regulations. Understanding of the Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR), WHO regulations and Generally Accepted Commodity Accountability Principles (GACAP).

• Knowledge of national and international import/export legislation and common customs regulations.

• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.

• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio) and information management systems. Experience with ERP systems is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in supply chain, other relevant Master’s, or equivalent experience strongly preferred. Professional certification(s) in supply chain a plus.

• International supply chain management experience strongly preferred.

• Extensive experience with supply chain ERP systems strongly preferred.

Required Languages - English

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·       Excellent planning, coordination, prioritization, and time management skills.

·       Excellent analytical skills with ability to make independent judgments and decisions.

·       Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics.

·       Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.

·       Ability to work collaboratively.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

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.

·       Serves with Integrity

·       Models Stewardship

·       Cultivates Constructive Relationships

·       Promotes Learning

Work Conditions/Environment Conditions

·       The position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and requires approximately 40% travel.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory Responsibilities: Senior Procurement Manager.

Internal: CP Leadership Team, CP Senior Management Team, Regional Office – DRD-Operations; RTA-SC; HQ GSCM.

External: Sub-Recipients, Donor Compliance teams, Office of Inspector General & Government authorities.

What we offer

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

How to Apply

If you are ready to take on this rewarding opportunity and make a difference in the lives of others, you may fill the application form through this link: HERE and attach your up-to-date CV on / before the application deadline June 9, 2024. You will be contacted only if selected for written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.   

What we offer: 

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan 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 requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. 

** Qualified women & persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply**

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer