Job Details

Job Description

Chemonics seeks a Distribution Center Logistics (DCL) Director to support the Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project in Zambia. The GHSC-PSM project is the primary vehicle through which USAID procures life-saving health commodities and provides technical support to improve health outcomes around the world.

With about 100 staff across eight offices around the country, this diverse and complex program sets out to strengthen capacity of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) to develop sustainable systems that promote availability and security of essential health commodities through:

1. Increased data availability and use for informed commodity management
2. Improved quantification, procurement planning, and coordination
3. Provision of cost-effective, reliable international and local procurement services
4. Improved efficiency in warehousing and distribution by the central medical store, Zambia Medicines, and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA)
5. Increased strategic management and planning by Ministry of Health (MOH) for improved commodity security approaches

The DCL Director will work with the Country Director and Deputy Country Director to lead in-country technical assistance for GHSC-PSM in Zambia for improved warehousing, inventory management, and distribution of public health commodities for ZAMMSA, the MOH, and the GRZ. The DCL Director will report directly to the Country Director, and will be responsible for developing technical strategies, setting standards, providing technical assistance, and monitoring the progress of implementation for a component of the project focused on distribution center logistics technical assistance. The director will also serve as a member of the PSM Zambia Senior Management Team and will develop and communicate the vision and strategic direction of the project. This position will be based in Lusaka, Zambia.

Responsibilities include:

Technical Implementation

• Lead and coordinate technical assistance activities for ZAMMSA warehousing operations and build staff capacity to enhance distribution center logistics and processes to promote continuous availability of quality pharmaceutical commodities, to include products related to HIV/AIDS, malaria, family planning, and maternal and child healthcare commodities

• Promote technical assistance for ZAMMSA to meet international standards and practices for pharmaceutical warehouses, such as guidelines of the World Health Organization

• Refine and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for warehousing, order management, distribution, inventory control, receiving of stock, and returns

• Promote implementation and adherence to SOPs, implement use of cloud-based education tools to train ZAMMSA staff, and test and assess their competence

• Provide oversight of technical assistance for optimization and simulation analysis activities to support ZAMMSA to make informed decisions on policies and allocation of resources to enhance the warehousing and distribution of health commodities centrally and nationally

• Strengthen ZAMMSA governance and leadership to enable agile management and responsiveness to organizational needs. Review country supply chain strategic planning and provide technical assistance for a regional warehouse model

• Increase ZAMMSA’s Customer Service Center (CSC) capacity to review incoming data, determine the appropriate quantities to issue, and process orders and queries

• Provide technical assistance to ZAMMSA, MOH, and Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) to take active steps towards adopting GS1 and supporting serialization to enhance commodity security

• Work with Data Analytics team to develop and refine a dashboard of key performance indicators (KPIs) for efficient warehouse operations and provide technical assistance to institutionalize management of performance

• Provide technical assistance to improve ZAMMSA’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) capabilities and to ensure that all systems developed (hub capacity tool and order routing portal a.o.) support the decentralization policy of the government

• Provide technical support for the roll out of the electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) system nationally to support commodity security initiatives
• Work closely with warehouse supervisors and other warehouse staff to apply foundational knowledge of best commercial practices and supply chain solutions

Management

• Supervise the managers and advisors under his/her responsibility, develop roles and responsibilities, design and monitor professional development plans, conduct annual performance appraisals, develop SMART goals, and periodically monitor progress towards objectives

• Provide oversight of a team of technical specialists to optimize warehousing space, enhance distribution services, increase storage capacity in country, and strengthen organizations involved in leading supply chain logistics in country. Keep staff abreast of current best practices such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) and GS1

• Support development and management of annual work plans and budgets for distribution center logistics based on GRZ and USG priorities

• Develop scopes of work for short-term technical assistance (STTA) in collaboration with the PSM Zambia field team and Headquarters. Provide technical oversight of consultants and review associated outcomes and deliverables to ensure quality and timely submission to the client

• Represent PSM project at various technical meetings with collaborating partners, senior government officials, and/or donor agencies

• Ensure that staff understand and adhere to established policies and procedures

• Verify that USAID regulations, Chemonics policies, and quality management best practices are enforced consistently

• Exhibit Chemonics values and build culture of “Living our Values” within the team
• Carry out additional responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics, or a related field required; and master’s or other advanced degree preferred

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience managing or providing technical assistance for distribution center logistics, to include warehousing, inventory management, WMS implementation, and distribution

• Experience in the application of GS1, the SCOR model, Lean, ISO, and supply planning concepts required

• Experience working in a semi-automated warehouse operational environment is a plus

• Experience in material handling equipment, lease versus ownership strategies, and facilities management knowledge as it relates to periodic maintenance

• Experience providing technical assistance for management of public sector health commodities in an international setting

• Experience managing supply chain operations in a private sector setting

• Knowledge of USAID funding and its contractual and reporting requirements

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Strong project management skills and leadership and motivational abilities

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills

• Written and spoken English proficiency required
• Willingness to travel six to eight weeks per year

Location of the Assignment:

This is a long-term assignment in Lusaka, Zambia.

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please use this link . Applications must be submitted by October 13, 2024, at 11:59pm United States Eastern Daylight Time (ET) zone (UTC−04:00). No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.