Commodity Security Officer (CSO)

SCOPE OF WORK

Chemonics International Inc.

JOB DESCRIPTION/SCOPE OF WORK

TITLE: Commodity Security Officer (CSO)

PROJECT: Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) Nepal

General Summary and Background: The purpose of the Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project is to ensure the uninterrupted supply of health commodities in support of United States Government-funded public health initiatives. The project provides direct procurement and supply chain management support to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and population and reproductive health. In support of these activities, the project develops and manages an array of services for health commodity procurement and related systems-strengthening technical assistance across a comprehensive supply chain. 

At the country level, the project supports country strategies and priorities that fall under the following three objectives:

• global commodity procurement and logistics
• systems strengthening technical assistance
• global collaboration to improve the long-term availability of health commodities.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

Chemonics International seek to recruit a commodity security officerfor its USAID-funded GHSC-PSM Nepal project. 

The Commodity Security Officerwill primarily engage with the Logistics Management Division (LMD) or the entity responsible for supply chain management and with the Ministry of Health, relevant Government of Nepal (GoN) divisions and ministries in the provinces and external development partners (EDPs) to identify and keep the project and USAID informed about significant changes, progress and challenges related to the health commodity supply chain and related regulations, actors and projects.

Acting as a focal person, the main responsibilities will be the continuous tracking, coordination, reporting and interventions for the continuous improvement of:

• USAID shipments through GHSC-PSM’s Automated Requisition Tracking Management Information System (ARTMIS)
• Ministry of Health stock status(pipeline, stock availability and reporting)
• Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) reporting (monthly and quarterly)on Ministry of Health commodities.

All monitoring support and interventions will aim to ensure the uninterrupted availability of health commodities at health facilities. This highly demanding job requires skills, tact and excellent coordination and communication skills with the ability to coordinate and deal with a complex environment within the field office and with counterparts. It also requires a good understanding of government systems, the ability to be a change agent and a problem-solving approach. 

The Commodity Security Officer will carry out the following tasks:

• Work with USAID, GHSC-PSM HQ and Nepal Contraceptive Retail Sales (CRS)to raise and get the timely approval of requisition orders in ARTMIS to ensure timely shipments.
• Process commodities as per ARTMIS commodity flow chart including receiving, processing, shipping and documentation for waivers and clearances while keeping in constant touch with the USAID Mission and CRS, shippers and relevant ministries; and, to update the flow chart and shipment status as needed.
• Ensure physical inventory counts of stock on inventory worksheets in coordination with the project’s field support officers(FSOs).
• Submit timely invoices to commodity recipients and GoN upon the delivery of commodities.
• Provide leadership and support to provinces to analyze reproductive health and maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) commodity security systems.
• Work closely with the FSOs at regional/provincial medical stores, track the status of stocks of key family planning, MNCH and other commodities and monitor the shelf life of commodities.
• Monitor stock availability rates and initiate interventions to prevent stock outs and the expiry of products.
• Prepare, update and present stock status reports and present them to EDP meetings.
• Analyze stocks of commodities for supply planning and assist the procurement of health commodities.
• Visit warehouses to verify stock book balances with physical stock balances of usable and unusable (damaged or expired) commodities.
• Periodically review warehouse ledgers, waybills, and physical inventory worksheets and ensure that all documents and ledgers have been countersigned.
• Provide orientation and coaching or on-site training to warehouse staff.
• Ensure that adequate quantities of needed materials and equipment are available in warehouses.
• Review quarterly distribution plans and commodity lists, update stock out rates to ensure fewer stockouts and increase the reporting rate and quality of reports. Also, flag up issues, discuss within the project office and with LMD and EDPs as appropriate and follow up on issues; and review eLMIS reports, quarterly LMIS reports and plan follow up actions.
• Coordinate with provinces on stock availability and attend quarterly commodity coordination meetings.
• Prepare analytical reports on stock availability based on FSO’s monthly reports on monthly, quarterly, and annual basis and ensure follow up action are taken.
• Other tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Job Qualifications

• At least five years professional experience preferably with two to three years’ experience of health commodity supply chain management.
• A related master’s degree or equivalent experience of supply chain logistics.
• Experience with USAID-funded projects preferred.
• A proven record of being a manager and a self-starter with an outgoing, and results-oriented approach and good problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work on complex assignments using judgment and initiative to resolve problems.
• Ability to coordinate activities within the project office and with field based and LMD staff.
• Proficient writing skills, data analysis and presentation skills; excellent interpersonal, and oral communications skills in English and Nepali.
• Expert user of Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability and willingness to travel across Nepal.

Supervision

The Commodity Security Officer will report to the Country Director or someone delegated by the Country Director.

Working Conditions and Duration of Assignment

This position is based in Kathmandu, Nepal with frequent travel outside the Kathmandu Valley. The planned start date is 1 July 2018.

To apply for this position please email the following to psmnepalrecruit@gmail.com by June 10, 2018 before 5:00 PM.

1. A 2 to 3-page write up with your thoughts on how you would carry out the job.
2. Your up-to-date resume including the names of three referees and their phone numbers and email addresses.

Notes:

• Only Nepali nationals can apply for this position.
• No phone calls concerning this position please. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview.
• The closing date for the receipt of applications is June 10, 2018.