Senior Technical Officer - Emergency Response (Health Emergency Supply Chain Management Officer) at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Technical Officer - Emergency Response (Health Emergency Supply Chain Management Officer)

Requisition ID: 2456
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethopia
Job Grade: P3
Reports to: Head of Supply Chain Division
Directorate/Department: Africa CDC
Division: Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR)

Purpose of Job

• The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, Solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of African and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide.
• Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia. 
  In seeking to achieve this objective and deliver on this mandate, the Africa CDC, is building strong, trustful and respectful partnership with other public health organizations.
• In this regards, Africa CDC and GAVI have signed a memorandum of understanding highlighting 7 shared priorities including (1) Scale up Routine Immunisation (2) Build public trust and confidence in routine immunisation and COVID-19 (3) Facilitation of efficient regulatory pathways and timely authorisations of vaccines and efficient, effective pharmacovigilance (4) Strengthen diagnostic and disease surveillance capacity for epidemic prone vaccine preventable diseases (5) Engagement on the continental vision to expand vaccine manufacturing in Africa (6) Information sharing, coordination and aligned public communication on vaccine-related goals and (7) strengthen Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.  
• The implement this MoU, Africa CDC and GAVI have developed a two-years operational Joint Action Plan (JAP) with detailed activities. The Africa CDC therefore seeks to recruit a national and citizen of any Member State of the African Union to the position of Senior Technical Officer Emergency Response (Health Emergency Supply Chain Management Officer) within the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division.

Main Functions
The Senior Technical Officer Emergency Response (Health Emergency Supply Chain Management Officer), shall perform the following major duties and responsibilities:

• Ensure identification, specifications, forecasting and quantification of high priority VPDs medical and countermeasures (MCM), and other priority epidemic prone diseases to strengthen Pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. 
• Ensure procurement and stockpiling of prioritized MCM for VPDs and other priority epidemic prone diseases,
• Ensure active shipment monitoring, supply planning and distribution of MCM for VPDs and other priority epidemic prone diseases during health emergency,
• Undertake periodic forecast accuracy and performance analyses to ensure product availability and sufficiency,
• Ensure compliance of all procurement procedures with AU Financial Rules and Regulations, procurement rules as well as partners’ rules and regulations as per cooperation agreement signed. 
• Initiate requests to all Africa CDC projects for inputs in the development of the Annual Procurement Plan; 

Specific Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly statements of Purchase Orders issued for sake of tracking; 
• Prepare a detailed Annual Report and other periodical reports requested by partners on procurement activities; 
• Provide guidance and assistance to the Local Tender Boards, the Tender Opening Committee and Tender Evaluation Committee; 
• Attend to Tender Board meetings as and when requested; 
• Prepare and obtain quotations and samples for locally and internationally procured items whose purchase is not subjected to the Tendering process. 
• Prepare purchase orders; 
• Undertake regular survey of new suppliers, products and prices in the local market; 
• Reconcile suppliers account on regular basis, and initiate action on accounts receivable/payable as the case may be; 
• Track orders to ensure prompt delivery; 
• Initiate action on clearance of imported items for Africa CDC; 
• Active monitoring and management of MCM for VPDs stock to ensure 7R’s  of supply chain management are realised;
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in Procurement, Purchasing and Supplies, Material and Supply Chain Management or Finance, Business Management, Accounting or any other relevant discipline with at least seven (7) years of progressive experience in supply chain management and procurement environments at national, regional or international level 
• Or 
• Bachelor Degree in Procurement, Purchasing and Supplies, Material and Supply Chain Management, and Pharmacy with ten (10) years of progressive experience in supply chain management and procurement environments at national, regional or international level 
• Candidates must have a minimum of Seven (7) years of relevant working experience in supply chain management and procurement environments at national, regional or international level of which at least 2 years should be at lower management level. 
• Strong and demonstrable experience in supply chain management during public health emergencies 
• Previous experience working in Africa that reflects an in-depth knowledge of public health issues and public health workforce in general.
• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of operations of the Africa CDC and Regional Collaborating Centres.
• Understanding of the African Union’s way of working and managing associated relationships with Member States and partners is a valuable asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and personal qualities of integrity and credibility
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to details

Required Skills:
Communication: 

• Effective written, oral and presentation skills, particularly the ability to present information in a concise yet accurate manner; ability to develop consensus among people with varying points of view.

Computer literacy: 

• Working knowledge of data analysis; SAP ERP System 
• Bargaining and negotiation Skills 

Personal Abilities:

• Leadership: Ability to lead and influence a team of professionals from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. 
• Planning and organizing: Ability to plan and organize work within a project and ability to make timely decisions. 
• Teamwork: excellent interpersonal skills and ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds with respect for diversity.
• Judgment/Decision-making: Good judgment and initiative, imagination and tact; ability to ensure effective work structure to maximize productivity and achieve goals. 

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation

Tenure of Appointment:

• The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables. 

Gender Mainstreaming

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$  96,921.34  (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
8th November, 2024; 11h59 p.m. EAT.