Senior Technical Advisor, Supply Chain

Advanced subject matter expert accountable for the technical design, direction, and quality of supply chain and commodity security work across project(s) within the FHI 360 Health Programs portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Sets FHI 360’s technical direction for procurement and supply chain management for project(s) within the portfolio, covering product selection, quantification and forecasting, procurement, warehousing, distribution, inventory management, and end-use verification.
• Leads national supply chain strengthening with ministries of health, national supply chain agencies, and central medical stores — forecasting accuracy, stockout and expiry reduction, and the shift toward government-financed and government-managed procurement.
• Directs technical support for commodity security across different technical sectors as needed, including coordination where a single facility handles all of them.
• Sets the approach to logistics management information systems, including electronic LMIS deployment, interoperability with DHIS2 and national health information systems, logistics data quality, and the use of consumption data for supply decisions.
• Provides technical direction on cold chain and vaccine logistics, including effective vaccine management assessment and improvement planning, cold chain equipment optimization, temperature monitoring, and the specific requirements of the expanding polio portfolio.
• Advises on quality assurance for health commodities: quality-assured sourcing, product registration and regulatory pathways, importation and customs clearance, storage conditions, the interface with pharmacovigilance, and disposal of expired and damaged stock.
• Establishes FHI 360’s technical position on private sector engagement and total market approaches, including where private distribution, retail pharmacy, and social marketing channels are the appropriate route to product availability.
• Leads the supply chain component of transition and sustainability planning, defining what must be demonstrably in place before FHI 360 withdraws from a supply chain function.
• Coordinates technically with global procurement and financing partners — including the Global Fund, Gavi, UNICEF Supply Division, PFSCM, WHO prequalification, and USG procurement mechanisms — ensuring FHI 360 support complements rather than duplicates existing provision.
• Sets minimum technical standards, tools, and job aids for supply chain work across the portfolio and holds quality assurance sign-off on supply chain technical deliverables.
• Builds supply chain technical capacity within FHI 360 and in country teams, including supply chain workforce development components of country programs.
• Oversees the creation of the technical portion of project plans for complex or multiple projects within resource and financial constraints, communicating planned budgets to project financial roles.
• Provides technical leadership in design, development, planning, implementation, and capacity-building of specific technical components of projects.
• Ensures technical implementation aligns with best practices and meets client/funder contractual obligations for large, complex technical units.
• Develops strategies and tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components, maintaining dialogue and technical exchange with field counterparts and implementing partners.
• Designs the supply chain technical component of country workplans and buy-ins within the agreed resource envelope, ensuring alignment with national supply chain strategies and other donors.
• Supports proposal research and design, develops and maintains relationships with potential clients/funders/partners, and contributes to new technical business strategy.
• Prepares sponsor reports and presentations, serving as the point of contact for client/funder activities and maintaining collaborative relationships with donor organizations, government agencies, and NGOs.
• Leads supply chain technical design for country buy-ins, follow-on funding, and new business, including submissions to the U.S. Department of State, the Global Fund, Gavi, and other funders.
• May supervise team members, monitor performance, and lead professional development efforts, establishing competency and continuing education systems.
• Prepares technical reports, leads the presentation of deliverables to donors, and develops peer-reviewed publications and external communications.
• Ensures the accuracy and correctness of all reports/outputs, reviews and evaluates technical components, and makes recommendations for enhancements.
• Creates local, national, and/or regional guidelines and normative policies for areas of expertise.
• Proactively identifies risks or challenges to technical deliverables and creates mitigation plans, ensuring quality at all levels and compliance with quality-assured sourcing, storage, and traceability requirements.
• Assists senior management in determining organizational objectives, interprets and recommends modifications to organization-wide policies, and demonstrates realistic budgeting and fiscal accountability.
• Represents the organizational unit as an internal and external contact, conducting briefings and technical meetings for top management and customer representatives.
• Oversees and leads projects, sets realistic priorities, and plans for successful implementation, with familiarity with donor/client-funded projects and regulations.
• Publishes written materials related to the technical area, such as journal articles, job aids, training curricula, and other tools.
• Interacts with equivalent-level managers on matters of significance to the company, with an in-depth understanding of the external environment and its impact on the industry and organization.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree or its international equivalent in Knowledge/Information Services, Communications, Education, Health, Behavioral/Life/Social Sciences, International Development, Human Development, or a related field. Doctorate Degree preferred.
• Project Management (PM) Certification preferred.
• Minimum of 15+ years of relevant experience in a specialized technical/medical field of study, with a focus on individual contribution.
• Documented experience as an invited speaker/presenter at relevant conferences/meetings, authorship of technical/service delivery guidelines, and significant contribution to peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience developing strategy and/or performance standards for projects/services in the technical area.
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private organization.
• International or domestic (US) program development or program management experience preferred.
• Preferred fields of study: Pharmacy, Supply Chain Management or Logistics, Public Health, Industrial Engineering, or Business Administration.
• Professional certification in supply chain management (e.g., CSCP, CPIM, CIPS or equivalent) preferred.
• At least ten years of experience in health supply chain management in low- and middle-income countries, including direct responsibility for quantification and forecasting, procurement, or distribution — not oversight alone.
• Demonstrated experience leading supply chain strengthening with ministries of health, national supply chain agencies, or central medical stores, including work on transition to government financing and management.
• Experience with U.S. Government-funded health programs and their procurement, reporting, and compliance requirements.