Regional Advisor, Supply Chain – Central and West Africa

Location: Senegal, Cameroon, Lebanon, or any other country where CRS has an office and the candidate can be appropriately based.

Job Summary

The Regional Advisor, Supply Chain provides advice, guidance, and support for all Supply Chain Management (SCM) activities and initiatives across countries in the region. This includes supporting the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of agile, compliant, and efficient SCM systems that support high-quality programming. This role works closely with countries, including regular field travel, as well as the Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) team to align regional operations with global strategies, systems, and standards. The incumbent’s technical knowledge, advice, and guidance will ensure effectiveness and efficiency in SCM systems and application of the principles of stewardship, integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Strategic Input and Engagement

• Support the development and implementation of regional and agency-wide strategies, policies, standards, tools, and best practices in supply chain that effectively engage partners, donors and governments. 
• Provide input on supply chain aspects of proposal development and review at the regional level. Contribute to the development of SCM Plans, Commodity Calculators, Procurement Plans, and other proposal inputs.
• Help to ensure that procurement decisions are guided by climate action and environmental sustainability principles, in line with CRS' broader commitments.
• May represent CRS at regional planning and coordination meetings and forums on SCM. Build relationships with donors, peer organizations, and other stakeholders.

1. Supply Chain Operations

• Collaborate with operations and programming leads in countries on implementing and strengthening supply chain systems, processes, and policies to meet all programming needs and donor requirements, including logistics, procurement, warehousing, and fleet management.
• Support deployment and ensure effective and quality use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., Oracle) for supply chain operations. Support countries in leveraging system capabilities for planning, execution, and reporting.
• Support countries in developing and implementing annual procurement plans and identify opportunities for procurement rationalization and coordination across the region. Review tender documents including Requests for Proposal (RFPs), bid packages, contract, and due diligence documentation for complex tenders to ensure quality and compliance. 
• Support countries to develop and implement efficient and effective fleet and driver management systems, including policies, training, and telematics.
• Promote the use of supply chain performance metrics and KPIs at both regional and country levels to drive continuous improvement, inform decision-making, and ensure accountability in procurement, logistics, warehousing, and fleet management. 

1. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze, and respond quickly to small deficiencies. 
• Contribute to capacity strengthening within assigned region by helping to develop and facilitate learning and training strategies, workshops and conferences, and mentoring staff. 

1. Compliance and Risk Management

• Support countries in addressing audit findings and implementing corrective actions.
• Promote compliance with donor regulations, CRS policies, and international standards.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in international supply chain, logistics, or procurement.
• Experience with ERP systems (Oracle preferred).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional certifications (e.g., CIPS, APICS).
• Experience managing Global Fund, USG food aid, or other large-scale donor programs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in MS Office packages and information management systems. 
• Strong knowledge of general procurement and trading policies and regulations, international import/export legislation, and customs regulations. Understanding of Generally Accepted Commodity Accountability Principles (GACAP).
• Technical expertise in warehouse operations and inventory control: storage standards (FIFO/FEFO), cycle counting, stock reconciliation and root-cause analysis, ABC analysis, batch/lot and expiry management, warehouse layout and space utilization, loss/shrinkage prevention
• Experience in transportation including dispatch planning
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices. 
• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including via Outlook and Teams. Responsive and proactive in a remote working environment.  
• Strategic, analytical, organizational, and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment calls.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Ability to leverage a proactive, resourceful and results-oriented mindset.

Required Languages: Fluency in EnglISH required. Fluency in French, Spanish or Arabic highly desirable.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: No

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.