The Advisor, Food Operations and Technical Unit (FOTU), will lead in the development and implementation of Save the Children’s commodity management strategy for Save the Children’s growing USDA McGovern-Dole Food for Education (FFE) portfolio. The position will represent Save the Children’s commodity management and school feeding work in the field of food aid programming both internally and externally, and will collaborate with FOTU and other colleagues in sharing learning, fostering collaboration, and influencing the adoption of best practices globally.
The Advisor will lead country offices and technical experts in the positioning for and development of competitive proposals highlighting Save the Children’s organizational capacity in commodity management and direct distribution in support of education and nutrition objectives. The Advisor will lead efforts to minimize both financial and reputational risks for Save the Children associated with large commodity losses. The Advisor will provide technical assistance and best practices to active FFE programs to ensure Save the Children exceeds donor expectations in the delivery of daily school meals to thousands of children every year across multiple countries and in challenging environments.
Areas of Responsibility:
Commodity Operations Technical Support (55%)
- The Advisor will provide strategic solutions and strategies related to commodity selection and management at the country level and work with country leadership on commodity-related project design and innovation.
- The Advisor will provide a high level of technical assistance for commodity operations, with a particular focus on risk mitigation, to the growing USDA FFE portfolio that currently includes projects in Guatemala, Liberia, and Sri Lanka.
- The Advisor will collaborate with colleagues across Save the Children, as appropriate to: (a) continue to support the uptake of commodity management best practices at the country level; (b) develop USDA specific guidance on supply chain management for the school feeding context.
- The Advisor will travel to program implementation areas to support startup activities and to conduct reviews of program implementation, looking particularly at limiting SC’s exposure to risk as related to the importation, storage, transport and distribution of food stocks.
- The Advisor will develop tools and standard operating procedures to minimize organizational and financial risks associated with large commodity losses, including but not limited to review of applicable regulations, engagement with external commodity stakeholders, communication with USDA Washington, DC and Kansas City.
New Business Development (30%)
- The Advisor will play a key role in new business development, designing competitive and comprehensive commodity management plans as a component of integrated food aid proposals.
- The Advisor will work with other business unit technical advisors to develop appropriate commodity rations for the targeted population, with particular attention paid to local context acceptance, dietary requirements, and price competitiveness.
- The Advisor will conduct desk research and travel during capture and active proposal phases to collect critical country specific information regarding import requirements, duty free tax status, commodity preferences, primary and secondary warehouse availability, and local in country transport options.
Continuous Improvement, Thought Leadership, and Representation (15%)
- In collaboration with the DECP USDA Director and DHR senior management, the Advisor will develop and communicate an overall strategy to establish and ensure proper commodity management procedures across the growing USDA portfolio. The Advisor will then be responsible for setting clear objectives and measures for self and others in the execution of the portfolio strategy.
- The Advisor will work with FOTU colleagues and SCUS program award managers to engage with COs on new or evolving commodity systems or processes, emerging supply-chain technology, monetization, Local and Regional Procurement (LRP), and the development of local and regional commodity producers/suppliers and associated value-chains.
- The Advisor will represent Save the Children’s work on commodity management for school meals internally and externally, sharing learning, fostering collaboration, and influencing the adoption of best practices across the field.
- The Advisor will collaborate with FOTU team members and other Business Teams as appropriate in the development of a FOTU team strategy that supports enhanced services, innovation and growth across Save the Children commodity awards
International Travel Requirement: Up to 25%
Educational Background:
Bachelor’s degree is required.
Skills/Experience:
- Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in international humanitarian/development work with a minimum of seven (7) years USDA FFE, PL-480 Title II, and/or WFP commodity management experience in country offices, in both a development and emergency context.
- Professional fluency in Spanish.
- Professional level of technical or managerial knowledge, skills, and experience to manage the operational activities of a unit or team, or provide the technical and management support related to various size programs, grants or projects.
- Experience in the development and implementation of monitoring systems (including complaints mechanisms), commodity management risk mitigation procedures and practices, and the establishment and delivery of training modules.
- Thorough knowledge of USDA, USAID, WFP donor requirements, policies and procedures, especially as they relate to commodity management. Conversant with Code of Federal Regulations, 1599, 211, and 216.
- Thorough understanding of all aspects of the commodity supply-chain from ordering commodities from various donors, trans-ocean shipment, customs clearance and working with freight-forwarders, beneficiary targeting and verification, commodity storage (warehouse operations), distribution methodologies and end use monitoring techniques of USDA, USAID, and WFP commodity programs.
- Proven ability to make key decisions independently
- Ability to set objectives and met milestones; proven project management skills
- Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with key senior leaders inside and across the movement effectively.
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience developing strategies and project plans
- Able and willing to travel internationally up to 25% of the time, occasionally to challenging locations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s Degree or equivalent prior experience
- Prior experience in implementing and advising USDA FFE and USAID Title-II programs.
- Knowledge of USCFR Sec. 226 and 228 is an advantage.
Compensation/Benefits:
- Meaningful work, with a knowledge that you are changing the lives of children all around the world
- A family friendly work environment
- Highly collaborative and innovative teams
- Generous paid vacation days, holidays, family leave days, and sick time
- Healthcare plans including medical, dental, and life insurance
- Retirement savings account with matching company contributions
- Structured and formalized management development and coaching programs for mid and senior level managers
- Extensive e-learning opportunities on a variety of topics offered through our affiliation with several prestigious universities as well as language learning opportunities
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Oct 28 2018
Active Until:
Nov 28 2018
Hiring Organization:
Save the Children US
industry:
Nonprofit