Operations Support and Logistics (OSL) Officer

The Operations Support and Logistics Officer manages the implementation of the country level OSL strategy and coordinates supply-chain planning for health commodities and operational supplies. The role oversees importation, customs clearance, warehousing, distribution, and emergency logistics readiness, ensuring compliance with WHO standards and coordination with partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide input to and manage the implementation of the country level OSL strategy, annual workplan, business-continuity arrangements and emergency logistics plans, ensuring alignment with WHO rules, policies, technical standards, programme priorities and available resources.
• Coordinate supply-chain planning for health commodities, medical equipment and operational supplies, including demand forecasting, supply planning, prioritization, requisition follow-up, shipment tracking and coordination with procurement, finance and technical teams.
• Oversee importation, customs clearance, reception, transportation, warehousing and distribution, resolving complex constraints and holding freight forwarders, transporters and other service providers accountable for contractual performance and service quality.
• Ensure effective warehouse and inventory operations, including stock controls, traceability, storage conditions, cold-chain requirements, shelf-life monitoring, physical inventories, loss prevention, incident management and timely disposal of unserviceable or expired items.
• Coordinate national and subnational distribution plans, including rapid deliveries to priority, hard-to-reach and emergency-affected locations, and support inter-agency convoys and common logistics arrangements where appropriate.
• Lead emergency logistics readiness and surge capacity through risk-based contingency stocks, framework arrangements, scenario planning, field assessments and rapid identification of logistics capacity, needs, risks and gaps; recommend timely corrective and preparedness measures to management.
• Liaise with national authorities, UN agencies, the Health and Logistics Clusters, partners and service providers; represent WHO in relevant logistics coordination mechanisms and negotiations within delegated authority.
• Support the establishment, update and enforcement of OSL standard operating procedures, internal controls, quality-assurance arrangements and risk-mitigation measures. Ensure compliance with WHO requirements, donor conditions, good storage and distribution practices, contractual obligations and audit recommendations, and lead corrective action where gaps are identified.
• Monitor OSL performance, financial and risk-monitoring mechanisms, including relevant KPIs, dashboards, service-provider performance measures and BMS records; analyze trends and provide evidence-based recommendations to senior management and emergency coordination structures.
• Supervise and guide OSL personnel as assigned, including workforce planning, delegation, coaching, staff development and performance management promote teamwork, knowledge sharing and compliance with established procedures.

Requirements

• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's level) in supply chain management, logistics, business or public administration, engineering, pharmacy, health sciences or another field relevant to the functions of the position from an accredited/recognized institution.
• An advanced university degree (Master's level) in one of the above fields is desirable.
• Professional certification in humanitarian logistics, supply-chain management, transport, warehousing is desirable.
• Training in information management systems and their application to supply-chain monitoring is desirable.
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience, at the national and/or international level, in logistics or supply-chain operations, including experience supporting emergency or humanitarian operations, coordinating multiple supply-chain functions, previous experience in team management.
• Experience providing strategic advice to senior management and leading logistics or supply-chain operations across multiple locations in a complex field setting is desirable.
• Relevant experience with WHO, the United Nations system, Health or Logistics Cluster partners, a recognized humanitarian organization or an international nongovernmental organization is desirable.
• Experience in health logistics, import/export and customs administration, warehouse and inventory management, cold chain, last-mile distribution, emergency preparedness, service-provider or contract management, and performance, financial or risk monitoring is desirable.
• Proven experience in managing a team.
• Advanced knowledge of end-to-end supply-chain and logistics management in emergency and humanitarian settings, including strategic planning, forecasting, transport, customs clearance, warehousing, inventory control, cold chain and distribution.
• Strong strategic, analytical, planning and organizational skills, with the ability to translate programme priorities into supply-chain strategies, governance arrangements, SOPs, KPIs and practical risk-based solutions in complex and rapidly changing operating environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, manage resources and performance, establish priorities, make sound decisions under pressure and maintain business continuity in high-risk operations.
• Excellent interpersonal, advisory, coordination and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence decisions, build consensus and engage senior national authorities, UN entities, humanitarian partners and service providers with tact and diplomacy.
• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and demonstrated ability to use ERP and supply-chain information systems, including BMS or comparable platforms.
• Advanced skills in database and dashboard use for demand forecasting, shipment tracking, inventory management, distribution monitoring, KPI reporting and data-quality assurance.
• Working knowledge of communications and emergency logistics equipment, including radios and satellite telephones, is desirable.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Expert knowledge of Ukrainian.
• Intermediate knowledge of any other UN language.

Skills

• Supply Chain Management
• Logistics Management
• Humanitarian Logistics
• Emergency Logistics Preparedness
• Team Management
• Strategic Planning
• Forecasting
• Transport Management
• Customs Clearance
• Warehousing and Storage
• Inventory Management
• Cold Chain Management
• Last Mile Distribution
• Contract Management
• Performance Monitoring
• Financial Monitoring
• Risk monitoring
• Microsoft Office Suite
• ERP Systems
• Supply Chain Information Systems
• Database Management
• Dashboard Use
• Demand Forecasting
• Shipment Tracking
• Distribution Monitoring
• KPI Reporting
• Data Quality Assurance
• Negotiation Skills
• Coordination Skills
• Advisory Skills
• Telecommunication Equipment
• Emergency Logistics Equipment

Languages

English, Ukrainian