Regional Head, Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management

The Regional Head, Global Humanitarian Services and Supply Chain Management is responsible for developing, leading, and implementing the Supply Chain function both within the hub and across the region. The incumbent will optimise service quality and cost‑effectiveness strategies to ensure the successful operational implementation and service delivery to the IFRC network, partners, and service users, ensuring value‑for‑money (VfM) as measured for the end‑to‑end supply chain and benchmarked against the humanitarian supply chain sector.

The incumbent provides strategic and operational leadership for regional supply chain activities, including procurement, logistics, warehousing, fleet, preparedness, humanitarian services, and supply chain development initiatives. The role is accountable for ensuring high-quality, customer-focused, and cost-effective service delivery to IFRC operations, member National Societies, partners, and external service users while ensuring compliance with IFRC policies, procedures, and global standards.

As a member of the GHS&SCM management team, the Regional Head contributes to the implementation of the IFRC Supply Chain Strategy, organizational transformation initiatives, and the continuous improvement of global humanitarian supply chain capabilities and services. The post holder leads the regional supply chain and humanitarian services function in Asia Pacific and contributes to the broader global network of GHS&SCM hubs and operations.

Supply Chain Management is a function dedicated to:

• Provision of goods and services to the member National Societies of the Region to deliver to the most vulnerable.
• Provision of capacity development support to the member National Societies, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and strengthening its control.
• Building on and utilising the capacities of the National Societies in the Region and the Participating National Societies in SCM.

Key stakeholders of this position are operation managers, appeal managers, project managers, heads of delegation, Directors General and Secretaries General of Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies, and counterparts in humanitarian agencies, governments, and universities.

Service Delivery

• Oversee supply chain operations for the Asia Pacific region, including the Kuala Lumpur Regional SCM Hub and sub‑regional hubs supporting the region, ensuring harmonisation of supply chain standards, processes, and service delivery across all hubs.
• Provide support for dispatch and procurement activities in other regional offices as required, ensuring seamless coordination and high‑quality service delivery across these regions.
• Provide support to the Global Fleet Unit, supporting operational effectiveness and compliance with IFRC procedures.
• Ensure the delivery of all goods and services such as Cash and Goods‑in‑Kind (right quality, right price, right time) in close coordination with the global operational supply chain team, global procurement team, and global fleet team.
• Assume full accountability for delivering the best value for money for the Asia Pacific region, including oversight of contract management for goods and services, including cash modalities.
• Ensure KPIs for the operational logistics, procurement, and supply chain function are captured and reported to senior management on an ongoing basis.
• Define and monitor the efficiency, effectiveness, and success of supply chain activities using appropriate controlling tools.
• Support all IFRC emergency and programme operations with direct and technical logistics support as required.
• Proactive coordination and delivery of National Society Logistics Development (NSLD) within the NSD, PER, and OCAC approaches.
• Lead regional supply chain preparedness and operational readiness initiatives in support of IFRC and National Society emergency response capacities, including contingency planning, surge mechanisms, preparedness stocks, and readiness improvement activities.
• Develop, communicate, and make available proven value‑for‑money goods and service solutions to National Society domestic programmes.
• Provide reactive and proactive support to National Societies implementing and utilising the suite of logistics digital tools.

Leadership and Networking

• Coordinate and optimise supply chain processes and service delivery across all supported regions and hubs.
• Collaborate closely with the Procurement Lead (Global) and the sourcing hub in Budapest and the Procurement Hub in Dubai to ensure functional alignment of sourcing, medical supply chain activities, and adherence to global procurement standards.
• Manage internal relationshipbuilding to ensure crossfunctional cooperation and integration that minimises risk and results in highquality technical supply chain solutions.
• Provide leadership of the Supply Chain function in line with the Supply Chain Management strategy and goals.
• Develop the Supply Chain strategy, annual and longterm plans, the delivery of measurable objectives, and the development and implementation of internal communication plans.
• Develop, motivate, and set annual and longerterm performance objectives for supply chain staff aligned with short, medium, and longterm regional objectives, goals, and targets.
• Where applicable, work closely with the PSK Unit, particularly the Regional Emergency Supply Chain & Strategic Capacity Building Coordinator, ensuring that all networking actions align with Supply Chain plans.
• Identify gaps in the skills and competencies of regional operational supply chain team members and establish and implement personal development plans.

Compliance and Supply Chain Improvement

• Support the improvement of the Supply Chain systems to enhance efficiency, compliance, and processes.
• Ensure that all IFRC Supply Chain services are compliant with IFRC and Supply Chain policies and procedures (including procurement, logistics and fleet) and provide recommendations of best practices to enable consistent best value for money and operational service delivery.
• Ensure that the supply chain delivers a supply chain service that understands and meets the needs of the IFRC, partners and services users, balancing service quality against the best value for money. Evaluate continually and optimize the range and volume of available materials held both virtually and within warehouses where applicable to ensure the ability to meet on-going and unexpected relief requirements whilst minimizing inventory costs.
• Provide expert support to National Societies and IFRC to enhance and optimize operational supply chain services. Support the National Societies in building a business case on supply chain services, including fleet.
• Facilitate implementation of Global/Regional Framework Agreements, identify, and remove potential barriers in implementing GFA/RFA to ensure GFA/RFA are implemented and available regionally and globally.
• Champion the implementation of supply chain transformation initiatives, digital solutions, process harmonisation efforts, and continuous improvement activities across the region to enhance service quality, operational efficiency, compliance, and value for money.

Key Areas of Influence and Internal / External Relationships

• Development of Supply Chain Hub medium terms goals, objectives and annual plans requiring the agreement of the Global Head and the Director: Global Humanitarian Services & Supply Chain Management and collaboration with relevant teams.
• Relationship building with partners and service users to ensure an effective and efficient logistics network for humanitarian service provision. Includes regular 2-way communication (media and language aligned to intended audiences) building an understanding of the customer service support available and delivered and measuring and responding to customer satisfaction ratings.
• Provision of operational advice and coordinated technical HR mobilisation to National Societies to build supply chain capabilities and capacities, including fleet.
• Ensure good relationships with the different humanitarian stakeholders for strengthening the overall supply chain.
• Ensure a good relationship with local, national, and regional officials.
• Full accountability and high autonomy in managing resources (people and budgets) including planning and managing a multi-million operational procurement budget to deliver the agreed activities in line with IFRC’s policies and procedures.
• Manage, motivate, develop, and retain a team of world-class Supply Chain professionals including procurement and logistics to push the highest levels of performance and capability.
• Drive the development of talents providing guidance on and support to personal development and career paths.

Required

• University degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, or other relevant experience in the area.
• Degree and/or post-graduate qualification in logistics strategy and management.

Required

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in managing complex international logistics and supply Chain operations.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in field operations.
• Experience in managing resources (people and budget) in large-scale operations.
• Experience in managing and integrating complex global supply chain services.
• Experience in setting up the complex supply chain and logistics infrastructures.
• Experience in annual planning and strategy implementation in a global organization.
• Experience in establishing and managing the operational budget
  Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience.

Preferred

• Experience within the commercial sector including the development of effective customer commercial and operational targets and relationships at the global level.

Required

• In-depth knowledge of complex supply chain management.
• Drive for change and improvement and ability to deliver strategies in a challenging environment.
• Commercial acumen.
• Strong budget and financial management skills.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a good understanding of the global organization.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks.
• Excellent negotiation and diplomacy skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to provide authoritative advice.
• Proven experience to carry out logistics assessments and set up large operations.
• Ability to work toward tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks.
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values.
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication and collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety and security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

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