Supply Chain Management Technical Advisor II

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries worldwide. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS's work encompasses various sectors, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency fosters a collaborative, mission-driven culture and welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values. CRS is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and its processes reflect this commitment. The organization prioritizes hiring candidates from the regions in which it operates, ensuring that its workforce is representative of the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The Supply Chain Management Technical Advisor II will play a crucial role in providing technical support, training, and accompaniment to EMPOWER partners in South America. The primary objective is to enhance supply chain and operational preparedness for rapid emergency response. This position involves working closely with partners to improve their supply chain capabilities, enabling them to establish and operate multiple modality supply chains efficiently. The advisor will focus on five key areas: updating specifications for relief items and cash voucher assistance, strategic sourcing to identify quality suppliers, establishing prepositioned stocks of essential items, setting up open contracts with suppliers, and fostering continuous improvement in procurement and logistics processes. The advisor will collaborate with partners and CRS teams to identify bottlenecks, test readiness systems, and ensure compliance with applicable standards, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of emergency assistance.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Supply Chain Management Technical Advisor II will lead the setup of multiple modality supply chains across five target countries, coordinating closely with partner supply chain teams. Key responsibilities include executing the five priority focuses: updating specifications, strategic sourcing, establishing prepositioned stocks, setting up open contracts, and driving continuous improvement. The advisor will support programming teams with market and logistics analysis, stakeholder mapping, and workplan development. They will work with technical leads to establish quality standards, validate kit contents against local market availability, and develop costing matrices. The advisor will assess and prequalify suppliers and service providers, maintain vendor databases, and support partners in preparing open contracts and emergency procurement templates. Additionally, they will map financial service providers for cash assistance, assess partner procurement processes, and provide guidance on warehouse requirements. The advisor will develop readiness checklists and action plans, conduct supply chain constraint analyses, and facilitate training sessions to ensure partners can effectively implement the tools and procedures developed during the assignment. Finally, they will consolidate and hand over a comprehensive supply chain readiness package at the end of the assignment.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong technical knowledge in emergency procurement, sourcing, vendor management, transport, warehouse management, inventory control, quality assurance, and distribution logistics. They should demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate assessments into actionable tools. The ability to facilitate partner-led processes, build trust, and adapt technical depth to partner needs is essential. Excellent planning, coordination, and organizational skills are required, along with strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with diverse teams. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and information management systems is also necessary.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, logistics, procurement, business administration, international development, humanitarian assistance, or a related field is required for this position. A Master's degree in a similar field is preferred and may enhance a candidate's qualifications.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian supply chain, procurement, logistics, warehousing, inventory management, or emergency operations. Experience in complex or rapid-onset responses is essential, along with a demonstrated ability to develop practical supply chain readiness tools and conduct market assessments in various operational contexts. Experience supporting local partners through technical accompaniment and capacity strengthening is also highly valued.

Languages:
Professional fluency in English and Spanish is required for this position. Proficiency in Portuguese is strongly preferred, while knowledge of French is considered an advantage for engagement across the target regions.

Additional Notes:
The position is primarily remote, with potential in-country or regional travel to priority partners and operational areas as needed. The selected candidate must be willing to travel within South America and adapt to diverse operating environments. The role includes supervisory responsibilities and offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a retirement savings plan for U.S.-based staff. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits will be based on the country of employment. The anticipated duration of the assignment may be influenced by the type and level of the job and the agency's needs. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and ensuring that all staff adhere to the organization's Code of Conduct.