Supply Chain & Operations Director, Food for Education (FFE) Program, Liberia

Country: Liberia Organization: Mercy Corps Closing date: 10 Nov 2026 Location: Monrovia, Liberia Position Status: Full-time, Exempt, Regular - Expat Risk Level: ☐ Level 3 XLevel 2 ☐Level 1 (Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data, and/or high level of accountability. Level 2: Some contact with participants; unplanned non-direct contact with children. Level 1: Likely to have no contact with participants or sensitive data) About Mercy Corps Mercy Corps is transitioning to Prosper Global. Learn morehere. As the transition is being implemented by location, you may see the Mercy Corps and Prosper Global names used concurrently during this period. This is an administrative transition, and our teams, programs and commitments continue without interruption. Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. The Program / Department Summary Mercy Corps has worked in Liberia since 2002, initially responding to the humanitarian impacts of the country’s civil conflicts and subsequently evolving its programming to address the changing needs and priorities of Liberian communities. Over the past two decades, Mercy Corps has implemented a diverse portfolio of programs focused on food security, agricultural livelihoods, nutrition, financial inclusion, youth economic empowerment, renewable energy, water and sanitation, and community resilience, supporting sustainable development and improved opportunities across the country. Mercy Corps Liberia works across multiple counties and sectors to address evolving development needs and humanitarian challenges. In collaboration with government, communities, donors, and other partners, Mercy Corps implements programs that support food security, livelihoods, economic opportunity, and resilience. The country's program is supported by operational and technical teams that help ensure effective, accountable, and compliant program delivery. Mercy Corps will implement a five-year, $35 million USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program in Liberia. The project will improve literacy, school attendance, nutrition, and food security among primary school children in four counties: Grand Bassa, Rivercess, River Gee, and Grand Gedeh. The program will reach approximately 50,000 students annually across 234 public primary schools through the provision of nutritious daily school meals, strengthened early grade reading instruction, and integrated school health and nutrition interventions. In addition to reducing short-term hunger and improving educational outcomes, the program seeks to increase the Government of Liberia’s capacity to manage and sustain school feeding and literacy systems beyond the life of the award. The Position The Supply Chain & Operations Director provides overall executive leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for all operations functions, supply chain, procurement, logistics, warehousing, and inventory management operations. This senior leadership role drives end-to-end strategy across USDA-donated commodities and Local and Regional Procurement (LRP) food items, ensuring on-time customs clearance and facilitating import permits for imported commodities. This position ensures full compliance with USG donor regulations (including 7 CFR1599), donor requirements, and organizational, while safeguarding commodity integrity from source to final distribution. The Director operates at a strategic level, setting up policy, building systems, managing risk, and representing the program to external stakeholders while ensuring operational teams have the frameworks, tools, and capacity to deliver. This includes stakeholder engagement, warehousing, transportation and storage, loss of mitigation, commodity handling and reporting, regulatory compliance, SOP development, Call Forward management, staff management, and capacity building. The position is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective supply-chain systems, controls, procedures, and standards in accordance with donor requirements, applicable government regulations, and organizational policies and standards. Essential Responsibilities STRATEGY AND PLANNING • Work with the regional senior leadership team to develop and support the regional strategy. • Mobilize support services and risk management resources to enable country and regional leadership teams to execute their respective strategic priorities. • Lead the development and administration of regional and country level reports on key finance, operations and human resources indicators. • Manage and administer regional core budgets in coordination with regional and global leadership. • Lead the overall strategic design, optimization, and scaling of the program’s supply chain model for both imported US commodities and LRP food products. • Establish risk management, continuity, and crisis response strategies to safeguard food supply lines against port delays, market volatility, political instability, and transport disruptions. • Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and operational benchmarks for supply chain performance, cost efficiency, product safety, and timely delivery across all field sites. • Establish governance structures, decision-making frameworks, and accountability mechanisms for supply chain operations. • Advise senior management and the donor on supply chain risk, performance, and strategic opportunities. • Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and cost efficiency across the supply chain. • Develop and implement an integrated supply chain strategy aligned with program objectives, US requirements, organizational standards, and operational realities. OPERATIONAL • Ensure integration of program support systems and process in all Mercy Corps Liberia offices. • Ensure all offices have capacity (human and technical) to support smooth program operations. • Ensure internal and donor procedures, policies and guidelines are followed. • Ensure unified and cost-effective fleet management, including tracking maintenance, fuel usage and vehicle scheduling. • Oversee set-up and development of Mercy Corps offices, including drafting and reviewing contracts for office and housing space and leasehold improvements. • Develop and periodically review country of field office-specific policies and communicate them to teams. • Oversee database and file management for administration, procurement and logistics documents. • Oversee facility management, including housing and office leases; ensure that security standards are maintained at all premises. • Ensure that Mercy Corps contracts and business transactions/relationship are transparent and in compliance with Liberia law and Mercy Corps/donor policies. WARHOUSE, TRANSPORT AND CALL FORWARD & COMMODITY PIPELINE MANAGEMENT • Lead and coordinate the formulation and submission of the official US Call Forward schedule in close alignment with program delivery targets, school calendars, and pipeline estimates. • Lead and coordinate the development, review, and implementation of commodity Call Forward plans in collaboration with the Chief of Party, MEL Manager, Technical Director, Nutrition Advisor, Global Distribution Quality Advisor, and Program staff alignment with US requirements, program timelines, and distribution plans. • Coordinate with US, freight forwarders, and receiving warehouses to ensure smooth commodity, call forward and receipt. • Oversee the end-to-end management of food commodities, from receipt and port clearance through warehousing, transport, delivery, school-level storage, utilization, and final reconciliation. • Direct multi-year commodity pipeline planning, demand forecasting, and inventory balancing to prevent pipeline breaks, overstocking, or demurrage costs. • Oversee ocean and land freight logistics, import permits, customs clearance strategies, port discharge operations, and shipping lines of coordination at the executive level. • Ensure adequate warehouse capacity, appropriate storage conditions, stock rotation, inventory controls, and commodity security. • Set standards and provide oversight for central and County warehouses, ensuring compliance with international warehousing standards (stacking, ventilation, sanitation, pest control, security). • Set strategy for transportation and distribution, including contracting and oversight of 3PL providers and primary/secondary transporters. STRATEGIC LRP & HIGH-LEVEL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT • Direct the strategic framework for Local and Regional Procurement (LRP), ensuring local market dynamics, price stability, supplier capacities, and US LRP compliance is balanced. • Serve as the primary supply chain representative and technical expert with US officials, government ministries, port authorities, carrier executives, and international donor working groups. • Build and manage relationships with suppliers, farmer organizations, cooperatives, transporters, 3PL providers, freight forwarders, and warehouse operators. • Represent the program in donor reviews, technical working groups, coordination forums, and audit engagements. • Negotiate and manage strategic agreements, contracts, and MoUs with key supply chain partners. • Coordinate closely with Program, Finance, Procurement, Compliance, and field teams to align supply chain operations with program delivery. • Establish effective coordination mechanisms between Supply Chain, Program, Finance, Procurement, MEL, Compliance, and senior management teams. • Represent the organization in relevant supply chain and commodity management forums and technical discussions. • Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders to facilitate timely resolution of operational and compliance issues. LOCAL AND REGIONAL PROCUREMENT (LRP) OVERSIGHT • Provide strategic oversight of LRP operations and organizational procurement standards. • Provide strategic oversight of locally procured food commodities, ensuring procurement plans are aligned with program requirements, approved specifications, budgets, and ensuring compliance with US LRP guidelines and procurement standards. • Approve procurement strategies, supplier selection, and contracting frameworks for local and regional food commodities. • Ensure market impact assessments and price monitoring are conducted to avoid distorting local agricultural markets. • Oversee vendor evaluation, contracting, and performance management for farmer organizations, cooperatives, and agribusiness suppliers. • Ensure quality assurance protocols (food safety, moisture testing, pest management, grading) are applied prior to warehouse intake. • Support market and supply analysis to inform local procurement decisions and mitigate potential supply disruptions. • Ensure appropriate controls are established for the receipt, inspection, acceptance, storage, and reconciliation of locally procured commodities. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) & Systems Development • Lead the development, review, and institutionalization of SOPs across all supply chain functions — procurement, warehousing, inventory, transport, loss management, documentation, and reporting. • Lead the development, review, updating, and implementation of supply-chain policies, procedures, SOPs, tools, and guidance for commodity management. • Ensure appropriate controls are established for the receipt, inspection, acceptance, storage, and reconciliation of the US and locally procured commodities. • Establish monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks for supply chain performance. • Develop and maintain internal control systems that ensure traceability and audit readiness. • Drive digitalization and adoption of appropriate commodity tracking and inventory management systems. • Promote process improvement, digitalization, data quality, and efficient information management throughout the supply chain. • Establish standardized quality assurance, pest control, food safety, and cold/dry storage protocols across all tiers of the supply chain network. • Ensure SOPs clearly define roles, responsibilities, controls, documentation requirements, approval processes, and escalation mechanisms. • Standardize supply chain and warehouse processes across program locations while allowing appropriate adaptation to operational contexts. • Ensure supply-chain systems remain aligned with changes in US requirements, organizational policies, program design, and operational risks. LOSS MITIGATION AND QUALITY CONTROL • Oversee strict organizational and partner compliance with US regulations 7 CFR 1599, 2 CFR 200, FDA/HACCP food safety regulations, and local labor and transport laws. • Architect robust commodity loss mitigation and risk prevention frameworks across transportation, storage, and handling stages. • Establish executive oversight for loss of investigations, damage claims, insurance settlements, reconditioning, and authorized commodity disposal processes per US standards. • Ensure perpetual audit-readiness and maintain complete, traceable documentation for internal, external, donor, and government audits. • Ensure accurate, timely, and donor-compliant reporting on commodity movements, losses, and reconciliation. • Lead investigations into significant losses or discrepancies and implement corrective actions. US COMMODITY MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE • Ensure supply-chain systems and practices comply with applicable US regulations, agreements, guidelines, and commodity management requirements. • Ensure full compliance with US regulations (including 1599), donor requirements, and organizational policies across all supply chain activities. • Oversee the receipt, inspection, handling, documentation, and movement of US-donated commodities. • Lead preparation for and response to internal, external, and US audits; ensure zero major non-conformities. • Monitor regulatory changes and ensure the program adapts accordingly. LEADERSHIP, CAPACITY BUILDING & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT • Provide leadership, direct supervision, mentorship, and professional evaluation to senior supply chain, logistics, and warehouse management staff. • Design and champion organization-wide capacity development programs for staff, local government partners, and local vendors on US commodity management, compliance, and logistics SOPs. • Direct financial planning and budget administration for supply chain operations, logistics contracting, warehouse leases, and transport budgets in coordination with the Director of Finance. STAFF MANAGEMENT, TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING • Lead, manage, and mentor the supply chain team, including Supply Chain and Warehouse Manager, Warehouse Coordinator, Warehouse officers, program staff, and other support staff. • Define roles, set performance objectives, conduct appraisals, and ensure accountability. • Identify training needs and develop and implement a capacity-building strategy covering commodity management, warehouse procedures, documentation, compliance, and loss mitigation. • Strengthen staff knowledge of US commodity requirements, warehouse management, inventory controls, transportation, food safety, documentation, loss prevention, and compliance. REPORTING • Ensure accurate and timely reporting on commodity receipts, inventory movements, distributions, losses, pipeline status, and other supply-chain performance indicators. • Review and validate commodity and supply-chain reports such as consumption and distribution reports, loss reports, and stock reports before submission to management, US, donors, or other relevant stakeholders. REGIONAL SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT FUNCTIONS • Ensure that effective systems are in place in all country offices for the adequate management of human resources, financial and operational field support functions. • Review and support country team adherence to Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures. • Capture and disseminate best practices on operations, finance and HR systems across country teams to ensure highest quality and standards. • Provide dedicated support to country teams in the event of an emergency or startup of a complex program that requires additional resources. • Collaborate with country finance leads in producing bi-annual master budgets. RISK MANAGEMENT • Engage and support countries across the region to ensure that adequate risk management systems are in place. • Collaborate with country leadership to support preparedness and response to major disruptive events. • Engage with country teams on the internal audit process to track findings and ensure country team compliance with IA findings and recommendations. • Engage with country level Ethics and Assurance managers as well as the global Ethics and Assurance department to track and analyze trends and needs across countries. SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES • Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work. • Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members. • Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options. SAFETY & SECURITY • Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership. Supervisory Responsibility Directly: Operations Manager & Security Focal Point, Supply Chain & Warehouse Manager Accountability Reports Directly To: Chief of Party Works Directly With: HQ Regional Finance, HQ Global Supply Chain (GSC), HQ Global Procurement, Internal Auditors, Finance Directors, Human Resources and Program Managers/Directors Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills • Bachelors degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, or any other relevant field • A minimum of 7 years’ experience setting up and managing administration, procurement, logistics, supply chain, commodity management (with preference for food commodities), and human resources systems with INGOs. Demonstrated understanding of supporting complex operations in challenging environments. • Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines, and working problem solving independently and cooperatively. • Knowledge of Mercy Corps system and procedures (especially procurement systems) desirable; knowledge of Food for Education / USDA and other donor regulations desired. • Excellent negotiation and representation skills. • Effective verbal and written communication organizational, prioritization, and Microsoft Office applications. • Excellent oral and written English skills required. • Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment. Success Factors The successful Supply Chain & Operations Director will be good at problem-solving and working out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. The Supply Chain & Operations Director will maintain strong cooperative relationship with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel, ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a solid commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions The position is based in Monrovia, and it requires up to 40% travel to support country programs at county levels. The location is unaccompanied and secure. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. Team members have a good degree of access to services – medical, electricity and water, among others, with limited disruption in Monrovia. Field offices have more basic accommodations with limited access to services and are in moderate security environments Mercy Corps team members represent the agency during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps policies, procedures and values always and in all in-country venues. Ongoing Learning In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development. Team Engagement and Effectiveness Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together. Equal Employment Opportunity Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law. Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org). How to apply Click here to apply: http://app.jobvite.com/m?3Y6pynwT