Humanitarian Logistics and Security Advisor (Oxfam)- Employment, career opportunity in USA

Job Title:  Humanitarian Logistics and Security Advisor
Organization:  Oxfam America
Country:  United States of America
Deadline:  25th Sept 2013
Job Title: Humanitarian Logistics & Security Advisor
Reports to: Deputy Director, Humanitarian Response Department (HRD)
Department: Humanitarian Response
Location: Boston, MA

Coordinates with: HRD staff, Regional Humanitarian Coordinators (RHC), and Regional Program Department (RPD) Program Associates. Might also liaise with Human Ressources Department, Regional Programs Department, Regional Directors and Country Directors if necessary.
Purpose of position: To lead and support Humanitarian Response Department (HRD), the Regional Offices and their partners in their development and growth in humanitarian logistics and security and to advise on agency-wide operational systems and procedures to improve preparedness and implementation of emergency response and security in field operations.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities: The position would have three broad areas of work. The percentages indicated below would change during the time of an emergency with increasing effort devoted to logistics. During emergencies the post holder will be available to undertake an initial assignment at the beginning of a response with subsequent assignments as deemed necessary.

    Lead the development of HRD’s logistics strategy, policies, and protocols, in line with OI’s Supply and Logistics standards, and coordinate/support the implementation of these in the field offices (35%)

•Develop HRD’s logistics strategy, policies, systems, and protocols that respond to our (HRD and Regions, partners) operational needs and establish a roll out & capacity building process.
•In collaboration with the CD’s and RHC’s, oversee regular regional assessments and analyses of Supply & Logistics (S&L) performance across regions, identify gaps, and help develop and support plan for developing office and partner capacity.
•Develop and manage register of preferred providers and negotiate contracts with providers, including OXFAM affialites; support regions in maintaining similar regional registers.
•Support the establishment and management of regional contingency stocks, according to needs and priorities.
•Establish contacts and network with key actors at global and regional levels, including private sector players, where relevant, to keep abreast of trends and to identify new opportunities for securing supplies.
•Link with the Logistics Emergency Managers Network (EMN) to establish standards and ensure OA compliance

    Support HRD’s development of operational systems (and when necessary, that of partners) and processesto improve speed and quality of responses, and oversee logistical aspects of emergency responses: (35%)

•Support the logistic assessments and start up of ermergency responses when needed. This implies working with the regions and country teams and in close collaboration with our partners in the field.
•Review timeliness of OA’s response in emergencies in terms of supply and logistics and follow up to address specific issues that hamper rapid response and quality delivery by developing improved logistic procedures and systems.
•Document lapses or shortcomings in intra-agency collaboration and, working with HRD leadership, develop proposals to improve collaboration between HRD with other OA departments which have a role in emergency response (e.g., Regional Programs Department, Human Resources, Finance). Ensure the implementation of agreed adjustments, improvements and changes.
•Organize routine meetings with other OA departments on how responsiveness for emergency operations can be improved.

1.Support security for OA’s response work (30%)

The position will make sure that Security and Safety policies and procedures are taken into consideration and integrated into humanitarian assessments and program design and staff is trained to guarantee a proper implementation of those. The position will not be responsible for the implementation of safety and security procedures at OA level, but just within the limits of humanitarian programming and staff. He / she will however provide support to country offices and beyond the scope of humanitarian programs if requested.

•Establish (when necessary) and / or support the implementation of standards for OA security management within the scope of humanitarian programms and staff and in line with OA’s policies and procedures.
•Review existing security systems in place in the field; make recommendations on additional measures that may be necessary to meet Oxfam International (OI) standards and InterAction’s Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS).
•Plan security trainings that will provide an appropriate orientation for personal security awareness to all staff based in Regional Offices (RO) or who travel to ROs.
•Ensure that humanitarian staff in the field offices have appropriate security and safety training and support to meet these responsibilities.
•Contribute to the review of OA preparedness to manage a critical event (e.g., kidnapping, attack on OA offices/staff. etc.).
•Enhance OA’s security support network by being an active participant in: OI Security EMN and if possible other fora like the InterAction Security Advisory Group, and Overseas Security Advisory Council.

Expectations for the position:

•The incumbent will work effectively and collaboratively in support of building a team-based culture of work, will perform all duties appropriate to a multi-cultural environment, treating all persons with dignity and respect, and will be familiar with and committed to Oxfam America mission and goals.
•The incumbent will stay abreast of policies, standards, trends and issues affecting this set of responsibilities.
•The incumbent will have frequent travel to regional and field offices on short notice during emergencies.

Qualifications:

Required:
Education:
•Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience.

Experience and Core Competencies:

•A minimum of ten years of experience with international agencies providing large scale emergency response.
•A minimum of ten year of hands on experience in the fields of logistics and security for humanitarian response.
•Knowledge and ability to apply NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, SPHERE,
•Ability to take initiatives and make decisions with limited support in fast moving environments;
•Complete familiarity with current standards, best practices, and major trends in the fields of logistics and security for international humanitarian response and a broad understanding of these for the humanitarian field generally.
•Proven experience in emergency assessments and excellent planning and report writing skills.
•Proven practical experience with capacity building issues, including capacity gap assessments, designing and implementing capacity building activities.
•An established network of professional colleagues in the fields of humanitarian logistics and security.
•Sound judgment on credibility and accuracy of information from diverse sources, ranging from private sector research to data collection in programs/projects.
•Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, including the ability to make complex technical information accessible and usable by non-specialists.
•Ability to identify and deal with sensitive issues both externally and internally, including sensitivity to cultural differences, demonstrable understanding and experience of gender equity issues and their relevance to humanitarian response work, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts;
•Proven analytical and strategic skills;
•Well-developed computer/system experience.

Preferred:

◦Fluency in Spanish and/or French.
◦Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation.
◦Previous experience with Oxfam affiliates and knowledge of its systems and standards.

How to apply:

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