COMPASS PROGRAM BANGLADESH
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

'Operations and Logistics Manager'

A. BACKGROUND:

USAID Bangladesh and United States Forest Service International Program (USFS/IP) recently entered into an inter-agency partnership, with funding from USAID Bangladesh, in which USFS/IP will implement the 'Community Partnerships to Strengthen Sustainable Development' (Compass) program. Compass will address natural resource management challenges in Bangladesh through establishing a youth conservation corps, strengthening community capacity and promoting public participation, providing direct technical support to Bangladesh Forest Department, and strengthening the capacity of academic and research institutions in natural resource management and resilience. USAID intends to fund Compass for five years, subject to the availability of funding. The Compass Program is seeking a qualified and experienced professional to be the full-time 'Operations and Logistics Manager' based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Operations and Logistics Manager (OLM) will be a core member of the Compass team and will be responsible for the logistical and operational tasks and provide expert leadership in the effective and efficient operational management of the Compass program office.  

The US Forest Service mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Through the combination of direct land management, working collaboratively with states, tribes, and private landowners, and providing technical capacity building and education efforts the Agency is involved in the management of 80% of the forested land in the United States.

As a division of the Office of the Chief of U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Forest Service Office of International Programs (USFS/IP) works in over 90 countries, to promote sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation internationally. By linking the skills of the field-based staff of the U.S. Forest Service with partners overseas, the agency can address the world’s most critical forestry issues and concerns. USFS/IP collaborates with local and international non-governmental organizations, universities, and host country governments. We also collaborate with other U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of State. Internationally, programs focus on building institutional relationships between our agency and our in-country partners, enabling continuous collaboration over the long-term.

In collaboration with USAID Bangladesh, USFS/IP has been working in Bangladesh since 2009 and has developed longstanding partnerships in Bangladesh by providing need-based capacity building technical assistance in support of national-level capacity for forest management and monitoring. The Compass program will build on this work and expand to new thematic areas and geographic regions.

B. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITION

Position Description

The 'Operations and Logistics Manager' will be required to provide operational and logistical management for USFS/IP to ensure effective implementation of the Compass program and oversee smooth execution of all processes including, but not limited to, to the office management, inventory management, supply chain management, property management and relevant logistical operations. The OLM will be responsible for developing an office inventory management system and operationalizing the inventory mechanism to track the flow of office goods and resources. The OLM will ensure all operational and logistical procedures are in accordance with the relevant office policies and complaint to the associated guidelines of USAID and USFS/IP as appropriate. The OLM would work closely with USFS/IP team members to provide trainings on standard operational and logistical mechanisms.

The 'Operations and Logistics Manager' will support the program with duties and responsibilities including, but not be limited to, the following:

• Develop standard office operations and logistical mechanisms to manage the effective implementation of all standard procedures compliant with USAID and USFS/IP guidelines;
• Contribute to the development of a standard procurement process in accordance with administrative and financial policies. Facilitate coordination within the project team to ensure procurement procedures are timely and compliant with procurement thresholds, approval procedures, and related regulations;
• Establish and maintain a database and network of prequalified vendors, suppliers, and service providers and carry out enlistment surveys and analysis, and appraisals, as well as providing for commonly used goods and services (such as stationeries, transport, venues, appliances);
• Coordinate closely with Compass team members in relevant procurement and acquisition planning. Facilitate procurement process ensuring timely delivery of goods and services in compliance with relevant policies;
• Manage the inventory and corresponding log book to track inventory and delivery of procurement requests. Conduct inventory reconciliation cycle and track joint responsibilities and sharing of assets, as appropriate;
• Act as the office manager and provide leadership of overall property and resource management operations including dealing all aspects of the day-to-day office management activities, facility security and safety arrangement, relevant leasing mechanisms, vehicle management, relevant utility maintenance and repair operations as appropriate with fulfillment to the local laws and regulations;
• Coordinate closely with team members to plan and forecast the logistics requirements ensuring constant and adequate availability of office supplies and equipment. Manage a functioning system ensuring timely delivery of goods and services for meetings, trainings, workshops, relevant events and other activities;
• Responsible for all logistical support for USFS/IP team members, consultants, and USG detailers in organizing travel, accommodation, event venues, supplies and equipment, visa processing, etc;
• Prepare and maintain office forms as needed in processing all the logistical and operational procedures. Develop and maintain a standard documentation system for tracking all the requests and requisitions to meet the relevant compliance requirements, and prepare periodic reports, as needed;
• Supervise the office support service providers, support staff, and drivers; 
• Provide capacity development support to USFS/IP team members and associated members on standard practices for complaint office operations and logistics management procedures;
• Carry out any other administrative responsibilities as assigned by the office.

C. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

To be considered for the position, a candidate must meet the minimum qualifications listed below:

Education

A Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, with higher degree desired, in Management, Business Operations, Supply Chain Management or related discipline.

Experience

At least 5 years of work experience, with increasing responsibilities, in office administration, operations and logistics management related positions. Experience in providing leadership in organizational procurement processes, vendor coordination, property management and day-to-day office management with full stakeholder involvement. Experience of managing the inventory of office resources, maintain a dynamic database system and establish identifying, proposing and implementing innovative ways of achieving operational efficiencies in order to improve efficiency of programming. A demonstrated understanding of mechanisms, standard procedures, and administrative tasks involved in USAID-funded and USG programs, highly preferred.

Skills/Competencies

• Proven skills and ability to smoothly navigate the operational and logistical portfolio of a complex multi-layer development program/project;
• Demonstrated leadership traits and be able to work independently with minimum supervision or guidance;
• Excellent managerial skills and people manage skills for tracking and analyzing the performances of the program/project operations using appropriate checkpoints and internal controls are required;
• Able to develop effective working relationships with the project/program team members as well as with the external suppliers, vendors and service providers;
• Proven ability to show strong teamwork skills and work with a diverse group of stakeholders, with excellent customer service skills;
• Interest in learning new tools, ability to make evidence-based operational decisions;
• Proven ability to provide on-job capacity building trainings to other team members;
• High proficiency in relevant computer applications e.g. MS-Word, MS-Excel, MS- PowerPoint, and basic internet skills are required.

Language Ability

The incumbent must be proficient in spoken and written English at Level IV (fluent) and must likewise be fully fluent in spoken and written Bangla. English language skill will be tested.

D. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES:

The benefits and allowances for this position would be in line with Compass provisions and guidelines, commensurate with the experience, qualification and previous track-record of the successful applicant. 

E. INSTRUCTION FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

Interested applicants are requested to properly fill in the application form available at this link: https://forms.gle/zDEvuaELe2xWMrcd6. Applicant must have an active Gmail account to complete the application. In the application form, the interested applicants must provide accurate information to all required fields and attach the following documents listed below:

• A Cover Letter illustrating applicant's qualifications to meet the requirements for this position. Please use the following naming convention for your file: FirstName_LastName_CoverLetter. The cover letter must be attached either in MS word or in PDF file format.

• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) with full contact details, specific description of educational background, career experiences, and achievements. Please use the following naming convention for your file: FirstName_LastName_CV. The CV must be attached either in MS word or in PDF file format.

Please note that the interested applicants must submit the applications on or before 11.59 PM 20 October, 2019.

The successful applicant will be hired through a local hiring mechanism or through an international contracting mechanism to be employed on the Compass program, as per organizational policy. Applicant will not be hired by, nor an employee of, the US Forest Service. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for further assessment. The applicants who are not shortlisted will not be notified. All qualified candidates will be considered regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed, national origin, lawful political affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, affiliation with an employee organization, or other non-merit factor.