Operations Support and Logistics (OSL) Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With over 7,000 employees and operations in more than 150 countries, WHO plays a critical role in coordinating global health responses, setting health standards, and providing technical assistance to countries. The organization focuses on various health issues, including disease prevention, health system strengthening, and emergency response, ensuring that health equity is at the forefront of its initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Operations Support and Logistics (OSL) Officer position is crucial for managing and implementing logistics strategies that align with WHO's objectives in Ukraine. The officer will be responsible for coordinating supply chain operations, ensuring the effective distribution of health commodities, and managing logistics during emergencies. This role requires a strategic approach to logistics management, including planning, execution, and monitoring of supply chain activities. The OSL Officer will work closely with national authorities, UN agencies, and other partners to ensure that health services are delivered efficiently and effectively, particularly in challenging environments. The position demands a proactive mindset to anticipate logistics needs and address potential challenges in real-time, ensuring that WHO's mission of health for all is achieved.

Duties and 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. 1
• 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.

Required Qualifications:
Essential: 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. Desirable: An advanced university degree (Master's level) in one of the above fields. Professional certification in humanitarian logistics, supply-chain management, transport, warehousing Training in information management systems and their application to supply-chain monitoring.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree (Bachelor's level) in relevant fields such as supply chain management, logistics, business or public administration, engineering, pharmacy, health sciences, or other related disciplines from an accredited institution. An advanced degree (Master's level) is desirable and can enhance the candidate's profile. Additionally, professional certifications in humanitarian logistics or supply-chain management are advantageous, as well as training in information management systems relevant to supply-chain monitoring.

Experience:
The position requires at least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in logistics or supply-chain operations at the national and/or international level. This includes experience in supporting emergency or humanitarian operations and coordinating multiple supply-chain functions. Previous experience in team management is essential. Desirable experience includes providing strategic advice to senior management and leading logistics or supply-chain operations across multiple locations in complex field settings. Relevant experience with WHO, the United Nations system, Health or Logistics Cluster partners, or recognized humanitarian organizations is also beneficial.

Languages:
Essential: Expert knowledge of English and Ukrainian is required. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of any other UN language is considered an asset, as it can facilitate communication in a diverse working environment.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a National Professional Officer role, meaning that only applications from nationals of Ukraine will be accepted. The remuneration for this position starts at an annual base salary of USD 64,825, subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance. Staff members are entitled to 30 days of annual leave. The position may involve a written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment as part of the screening process. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for further steps. WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from women, persons with disabilities, and individuals from underrepresented Member States. The organization adheres to the highest ethical standards and has a zero-tolerance policy towards abusive conduct. Additionally, WHO offers a range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and flexible work arrangements to promote a healthy work-life balance.