Logistics and Commodities Director -- Pyongyang

A consortium of 5 agencies (Mercy Corps, World Vision, Christian Friends of Korea, Global Resources Services and Samaritan’s Purse) is about to implement a multimillion dollar Single-Year Assistance Program (SYAP) in DPRK to response to the current food crisis. This program is funded from USAIDs Office of Food for Peace with objective to provide food to the most vulnerable populations in North Pyongan, South Pyongan, Chagang and South Hamgyong provinces through existing local institutions. The consortium, known as USNGOs will respond by addressing a number of overlapping and associated needs with food distribution activities, as well as on-going nutrition assessment and monitoring designed at improving the nutritional intake of vulnerable populations. The USNGOs goal for this program is to implement a successful feeding program according to international humanitarian standards in partnership with the Korea-America Private Exchange Society (KAPES) of the DPRK government, WFP, local institutions, and communities. The program is expected to start in June 2011 and will end one year from the start-date.

To provide overall oversight of food assistance program in the country by assisting the Team Leader in this function. Given the huge volumes of food resources in country, the Logistic & Commodities Director will be assisted by Commodity Training Specialist, CTS Coordinator and Commodity Officers at the provincial level to ensure that the implementation, monitoring, accounting and reporting are complied with for all resources received from the US Government. The Logistic and Commodities Director will be responsible for providing complete oversight of training program, installation of systems and program implementation in Pyongyang and all sub offices level. This position will also assist the USNGOs team to work closely with partner KAPES of DPRK for ensuring that program staffs are recruited according to the skills, abilities and qualities required of the food assistance program.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Installation and ensuring compliance with USAID regulations governing this program in line with the LOU signed between USNGOs and KAPES using World Vision’s standards in food resource management
• Develop and maintain the commodity management system for the total operation
• Ensure consistent of food pipeline arrive in DPRK by issuing timely call-forward and coordination with relevant authorities in DPRK and in the US.
• Train and ensure all staff in the program understands and complies with the commodity management system, flow of processes, Global and Detailed Implementation Plan.
• Train or equip KAPES with a clear understanding on how the operations will me carried out in the country.
• Work with KAPES and Team leader to prepare and monitor the Global Implementation plan (GIP). The GIP will be monitored and updated on a regular basis following various details provided by the field and KAPES.
• Prepare and disseminate various responsibilities of Public Distribution Centers, institutions, County, Provinces and KAPES in Pyongyang for each activity in the total operation.
• Provide training to all involved in the program from KAPES, County and province level for a better understanding and for smooth implementation of the program.
• Ensure that at least once a month a coordination meeting is held at each province including all county officials and province officials to discuss and sort out any issues that arise out of the program operation on a monthly basis.
• Consolidate monthly work plans for each office based on the Global Implementation Plan for the program implementation in consultation with the team leader and KAPES.
• Work out individual staff in-country travel plan along with team leader and get it endorsed by KAPES for making relevant arrangements for making the visits to PDC’s, institutions, beneficiary households and counties.
• Install World Vision’s Commodity Management System in every county that food aid program exist.
• Coordinate the installation of the WV Commodity Tracking System (CTS) in all sub offices that food aid program exist, ensuring that resources and communication infrastructure are available and functioning to support the CTS.
• Ensure that CSRs, RSR’s, LSR’s, and the narrative reports are formulated timely, accurately, and completely by all sub offices.
• Prepare and disseminate all reports on a monthly basis or as and when needed and share it with the Project Team Leader, WV FPMG unit and other offices as required and or agreed upon.
• Ensure that all forms related to monitoring, accounting, implementation and reporting are standardized and utilized in all locations.
• Prepare and maintain all shipping and port level records as per the Global WVI standards.
• Responsible for the preparation and management of the Commodity and supply section of the budget.
• Will be responsible to report and record all losses both marine and inland and follow up with appropriate authorities for approval to remove the food stocks from inventory.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned by the team leader.
• Provision of technical support through out the country including counties
• Facilitate food resource handling and management workshops that lead to equipping the staff with the required knowledge and skills to manage and implement food program activities according to the required standards USAID, LOU and standards established.
• Provide oversight to all the port operations including appointment of surveyors and port captain for all the shipments.
• Provide technical oversight to sub offices and counties by visiting and reviewing food resource systems in the country, and by providing appropriate recommendations that are “doable” and appropriate.
• Review the monthly reports coming in from sub offices for their respective counties.
• Provide support in developing new programs and in writing food resource proposals
Deputy Team leader for USNGOs in DPRK
• The position will be responsible as a deputy to the team leader on occasions when Team leader is not available in the country.
• The position will require negotiating with all stakeholders in implementing the program as per the LOU and other agreements reached between KAPES and USNGOs and between various partner agencies.
• Shall be the main advisor to the team on all supply management issues for the program and all decisions will be made in accordance with the standards that is required to manage the food resources received on behalf of USNGOs in country.
• Provide suggestions and recommendation to the team on all logistics and resource accounting management.
• The position will maintain close link with Mercy Corps US office for all call forwards and other issues that require approval from USAID and or information for making decisions on any supply management issues including the implementation.
• Provide guidance to all sub offices to manage various distributions and management of food resources for the total program.
• Will act and provide support in fulfilling responsibilities during absence of key staff from the operation due to absence or leaving the position during the operation.
• The position will support in recruitment for any staff for the program and handover of responsibilities is adequately made whenever a staff leaves the program.
• Shall work out rotation of responsibilities when staffs go on R&R in consultation with Team leader.
• Shall supervise work of the field Monitoring Officer in the sub offices and Pyongyang along with the team leader and sub office in charge.
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

REQUIRED:
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social sciences or related fields
• A formal training in food aid and logistics
• Exposure to food aid programs
• At least 5 years experience in actual food aid programs as a manager
• Knowledge of all types of mail, word, excel and other Microsoft office program, fax and e-mail, and d-base programs
• Ability to effectively develop rapport and relate to donors, NGOs, counterparts, and government agencies
• Must have the ability to travel and a flexible approach to living conditions.
• Fluency in English is essential.
• Requires ability to write well and express ideas in a sensitive manner within the context of a humanitarian approach.
• Must have excellent presentation skills.
• Must be familiar with USAID Title II food programs and all the regulations that govern USG food grants.
  
  PREFERRED:
• A second language like Korean is desired.

Logistics and Commodities Director -- Location: Pyongyang