Job Description
Job Summary
The Operations & Logistics Officer at Headquarters is the guardian of the project's physical resources and logistical backbone. This critical role ensures that every Registration Center, mobile team, and support function has the necessary equipment, supplies, and transportation to operate effectively and without interruption. The officer is responsible for end-to-end logistics management, from strategic procurement and inventory control to the timely deployment and maintenance of assets across urban centers and remote rural locations. By ensuring that all resources are procured, deployed, and maintained to the highest standards and within budget.
Position Title: Operations & Logistics Officer
Required No: Two (2)
Department: Operations
Reports To: Technical/Project Manager
Location: Addis Ababa, Headquarters (with extensive field travel to all regions)
Employment Type: Contract
Key Responsibilities:1.Resource Planning & Budget Compliance:
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive resource requirement plan for the entire project, forecasting needs for equipment, consumables, vehicles, and facilities across all 100 Registration Centers and mobile teams.
- Monitor all operations and logistics expenditures against the approved project budget, ensuring procurement and deployment activities remain within financial limits.
- Prepare cost estimates for logistics activities and contribute to annual and quarterly budget planning.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or operational timelines.
2.Procurement Management:
- Lead the end-to-end procurement process for all project-related goods and services, including registration equipment, furniture, consumables (forms, stationery, and sanitizers), vehicles, and fuel.
- Prepare detailed specifications, terms of reference, and bid documents in collaboration with technical teams.
- Coordinate with the procurement committee to ensure transparent, competitive, and compliant vendor selection.
- Negotiate contracts with suppliers to secure the best quality, pricing, and delivery terms.
- Ensure all procurement activities adhere to organizational policies.
3.Inventory & Asset Management:
- Establish and maintain a centralized asset register and inventory management system for all project resources.
- Track the issuance, transfer, and return of all equipment and supplies to field locations, ensuring proper documentation and accountability.
- Conduct regular physical inventory counts and reconciliations at HQ and field locations to prevent loss, theft, or misappropriation.
- Monitor stock levels of consumables and initiate timely reordering to prevent stock-outs at Registration Centers.
4.Deployment & Distribution Coordination:
- Plan and execute the timely deployment of all resources to Registration Centers, mobile teams, and field offices across all regions, including remote and hard-to-reach rural areas.
- Coordinate with field-based Admin Officers and Registration Supervisors to schedule deliveries and ensure readiness for receipt of goods.
- Oversee the packing, loading, and dispatch of materials, ensuring proper handling and documentation for all shipments.
- Develop and maintain deployment schedules aligned with project milestones and center activation timelines.
5.Transportation & Fleet Management:
- Manage the project's vehicle fleet, including allocation, maintenance, fuel management, and driver supervision.
- Coordinate transportation logistics for staff movement between HQ, regional hubs, and field locations, particularly during team rotations or redeployments.
- Arrange for the secure and efficient transport of sensitive equipment (e.g., biometric kits) to and from field locations.
- Ensure all vehicles are properly insured, registered, and maintained in safe operating condition.
- Monitor fuel consumption and vehicle usage to optimize efficiency and control costs.
6.Quality Assurance & Standards Compliance:
- Establish and enforce quality standards for all procured goods and services, ensuring they meet technical specifications and project requirements.
- Conduct pre-delivery inspections of equipment and supplies before acceptance and deployment.
- Perform spot-checks at Registration Centers to verify that resources are being used, stored, and maintained according to established protocols.
- Ensure all facilities (registration centers, storage areas) meet minimum operational standards for safety, security, and functionality.
7.Coordination & Communication:
- Serve as the central point of contact for all operations and logistics matters between HQ, regional hubs, and field teams.
- Liaise with government authorities, customs officials, and local partners to facilitate the smooth movement of goods and personnel, especially in cross-border or restricted areas.
- Collaborate closely with the Finance Officer to ensure timely processing of payments to vendors and reconciliation of logistics expenses.
- Work with the HR Officer to ensure field staff have the necessary accommodations and facilities during deployment.
8.Reporting & Documentation:
- Prepare and submit regular operations and logistics reports to the Operations Manager and project leadership, covering procurement status, inventory levels, deployment progress, fleet utilization, and any challenges encountered.
- Maintain comprehensive documentation for all procurement transactions, asset movements, and logistics activities for audit and compliance purposes.
- Document lessons learned and contribute to the continuous improvement of logistics processes and procedures.
Required Qualifications & Skills:Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
Experience:
- Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in operations, logistics, procurement, or supply chain management, preferably within large-scale projects, NGOs, humanitarian operations, or private sector organizations with extensive field presence. Experience managing logistics for a workforce of 500+ across dispersed geographic locations is highly desirable.
Technical Skills:
- Strong knowledge of procurement principles, contract management.
- Proficiency in inventory management systems and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
- Experience in fleet management and transportation coordination.
- nderstanding of quality assurance principles and inspection protocols.
- Core Competencies:
- Strategic Planning: Ability to forecast needs, anticipate challenges, and develop proactive solutions.
- Organizational Excellence: Exceptional ability to manage multiple priorities, complex schedules, and high-volume logistics simultaneously.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulous accuracy in tracking resources, maintaining records, and ensuring compliance.
- Problem-Solving Orientation: Resourceful and creative in overcoming logistical barriers, particularly in remote or challenging environments.
- Negotiation & Vendor Management: Strong skills in securing favorable terms and maintaining productive supplier relationships.
- Communication & Coordination: Excellent interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with diverse stakeholders, from field staff to senior management and government officials.
- Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to work under pressure, respond to urgent requests, and adapt to changing operational realities.
Work EnvironmentThis is a dynamic, high-pressure headquarters role with significant field engagement. The Operations & Logistics Officer will split time between an office base and extensive travel to all project locations, including remote rural areas. The role requires flexibility to respond to urgent logistical needs outside of normal working hours and a willingness to travel frequently (up to 40-50% of the time) to oversee deployments, conduct inspections, and resolve field-level challenges. The officer must be comfortable working in diverse environments, from urban centers to rugged rural terrain.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Procurement Timeliness: 100% of procurement requests processed and delivered within agreed timelines.
- Budget Compliance: All logistics expenditures maintained within approved budget allocations.
- Deployment Success Rate: 100% of Registration Centers receive required resources before activation dates.
- Inventory Accuracy: Zero unaccounted discrepancies in physical inventory counts.
- Fleet Uptime: 95% vehicle availability rate for project operations.
- Vendor Performance: 100% of contracted suppliers meet quality and delivery standards.
- Field Satisfaction: Positive feedback from field teams on logistics support and responsiveness.