Logistics Assistant, GS-5, TA #129800, Global Transport Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, inspiration.

UNICEF’s supply and logistics headquarters – Supply Division – is located in Copenhagen, which is also home to the largest humanitarian warehouse in the world. About a half of the 1000 colleagues are housed in Supply Division, Copenhagen with areas of expertise including logistics, procurement, warehouse management, product innovation, market insights, finance, pharma, nutrition, vaccines, cold chain and health technologies and engineering. Over 1000 colleagues work in the Supply Function across 97 countries and 173 offices and form the Supply Community.

This position as Logistics Assistant is in the Immunization Logistics Unit of the Global Transport Centre in UNICEF Supply Division.

How can you make a difference?

The incumbent will coordinate, and monitor activities related to the international transport of Immunization supplies (vaccines, cold chain equipment and devices) to ensure timely and cost-effective international air and sea movements/transportation, with the overall goal of meeting the needs and requirements of UNICEF assisted programs and procurement service customers.

Under the supervision of the Logistics Specialist, the Logistics Assistant will perform all international logistics and shipping activities in compliance with UNICEF Supply Division Manual,  Financial Rules and Regulations, and other applicable procurement procedures in order to ensure timely deliveries of vaccines including:

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Plan and execute the planned shipments of immunization supplies (vaccines, devices and cold chain equipment) and related supplies.
2. Co-ordinate and monitor all immunization shipments from manufacturers to recipient countries, ensuring all deliveries are made in a timely efficient and cost-effective manner, including related communication with procurement staff within the Vaccine Centre and Immunization Technology Centre, manufacturers, freight forwarders and UNICEF Country Offices.
3. Monitor and track ongoing shipments until final delivery, anticipating problems or bottlenecks and proactively taking preventative and corrective actions. Use IT systems and internal trackers and tools to handle and monitor shipment status, delivery quantities and times, transportation budgets, and other transport related data and requirements.
4. Closely monitor high priority shipments related to emergency and outbreak response, charter operations, high value shipments, and sensitive countries and provide increased visibility to all stakeholders.
5. Validates all shipping documentation including airway bills, packing lists etc, for accuracy and compliance with recipient country requirements and PO instructions.
6. Monitor Freight Forwarder performance ensuring compliance with UNICEF LTA, with any performance related issues immediately addressed and promptly reported to the contracts manager,
7. Provides guidance and advice to field offices and other centres in Copenhagen on shipping matters such as packing, containerization, consolidation, mode of shipment, routings, etc. enabling correct instructions in purchase orders by Procurement and cost-effective delivery.
8. Promptly address any incidents and complaints and assist in processing insurance claims by identifying and implementing Corrective and Preventive Action.
9. Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor.

The Immunization Logistics Unit provides for provides extensive opportunities and experience for applicants that are desirous to gain additional logistics and shipping experience organizing and operating cold chain supplies (vaccines, cold chain equipment and devices).

• The unit offers the opportunity for its team members to operate international delivery by air and sea transport modes.
• The unit provides opportunities for team members to support emergency supply operations globally with delivery of vaccines, devices and cold chain equipments.

To qualify as a advocate for every Child you will have…

Required:

• Completion of secondary education with additional training in Logistics or transport or a related field.

NOTE: A Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree from a recognized academic institution may be considered in lieu of three or four years of related work experience respectively.

• A minimum of five years of relevant working experience in logistics operations with demonstrated knowledge of air freight shipping operations with 1-year experience in shipping logistics
• Proficiency in MS Office, specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Fluency in English

Desirable:

• Proficiency in another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://www.unicef.org/careers/getprepared#Values  

UNICEF competencies required for this post are… (1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

The closing date of this position is 15 August 2024

Please be informed that all applications to UNICEF are handled via UNICEF’s online recruiting system. You can apply to the above position by creating your profile, and application at our web site: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/listing/  

Kindly note that all applications should be in English and that applications outside of the online recruiting system will not be accepted. Kindly also note that diversity and gender balance are factors in the selection process.  Queries can be directed to Louise Pedersen at [email protected].

Visit us at www.unicef.org/supply/