Disaster management officer – Warehouse operations and logistics

Overview of program

Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) is an Australian Government, AusAID initiative to send volunteers overseas. The program is delivered by Australian Red Cross and other agencies. Volunteer assignments are designed to enhance capacity within overseas host organisations. They are aligned with the aid priorities of the Australian Government and its partner governments in developing countries, as well as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The AVID program covers volunteers’ airfares, accommodation, living allowances, training, insurance, health and security.

Overview of organisation and assignment

Mongolian Red Cross Society (MRCS) was established in 1939 and is the largest humanitarian organisation in Mongolia. It has an extensive national network covering all areas of the country through 33 mid-level branches and over 900 primary level branches. The society has almost 10,000 volunteers and more than 250 staff, about 20% of which are based in the national headquarters.

Core program areas include:

• Disaster preparedness and management
• Social care (particularly for the elderly, disabled and single parents with multiple children)
• HIV/AIDs and sexual reproductive health (SRH)
• First aid
• Water and sanitation
• Youth programs
• Blood donations

Key strategic directions for 2012 include enhancing disaster preparedness capacity at both community and organisational level, improving organisational capacity and development, strengthening health programs particularly accident/injury prevention, sexual reproductive health and communicable diseases, strengthening civil society through the promotion of humanitarian values and developing partnerships with international donors and other Red Cross networks.

Overview of the department:

The disaster management department of Mongolian Red Cross Society plays a substantial role in the preparedness for and response to major disasters nationally; this includes events such as the ‘dzud’ which is a severe summer drought, followed by a harsh winter and potential earthquakes. Activities of the department include community-based preparedness, education and formal responsibility under the National Emergency Management Plan for volunteer management and training. Recently the team has been developing climate change activities. The MRCS also operates seven regional disaster centres that house supplies and other goods ready for deployment during major disasters. The disaster management team has three staff however in each of the 33 mid-level branches there are also staff who have some responsibility for disaster preparedness and management activities. Many of the primary level branches also have staff trained in disaster preparedness and response.

Overview of the AVID assignment:

Mongolian Red Cross Society has seven regional disaster preparedness centres, which are aimed at supporting emergency response during disasters. Each centre has varying quality of storage facilities that house some goods for use during disasters; the current standard ranges from poor to fair and all locations have very limited space and fragmented stock items on hand.

From late 2011 the department hosted a volunteer in warehousing and logistics and this assignment will build on that role.

The volunteer will assist MRCS to further develop its procurement, stock supply chains, stock control and storage management as well as ensuring that the necessary preparations are in place for a rapid deployment of goods should the need arise.

The volunteer will also support the team to train primary and mid-level branch staff and volunteers in the management of the regional disaster preparedness centres and in logistics during disasters using the ‘warehouse and logistics standards’ of the International Federation Red Cross and Red Crescent. MRCS has established a National Disaster Response Team (NDRT); the role of this team is to carry out field assessments post disaster with the aim of providing detailed situation reports on actions required within affected areas. The volunteer will assist in the further development of the NDRT for deployment during regional and national disasters.

Expected outputs and key relationships

The key expected outputs of this assignment are:

• Improved capacity of staff, community organisations and national societies to rapidly and effectively deploy and respond to disasters
• Strengthened organisational strategies, systems, procedures and policies to address disasters and emergencies using the International Federation Red Cross ‘disaster response, warehouse and logistics’ standards
• Improved capacity and resilience of communities to withstand disasters through improved community level preparedness, response and recovery strategies

Volunteer requirements

Essential:

Personal attributes

• Self awareness and cross-cultural sensitivity
• Commitment to sharing knowledge and skills
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Resilience and ability to manage stress

Skills or experience relevant to assignment

• Experience in warehouse operations, preferably in the management of procurement, stock flow and inventory control
• Experience managing operational logistics, ideally within in a rapid deployment environment such as disasters
• Sound mentoring and/or coaching skills
• Experience developing procedures

Qualifications

• Qualification in warehouse management, logistics, or supply chain management
• Desirable - relevant professional experience is critical
• Workplace training qualifications highly valued

Language skills and level required

Fluent English and a willingness to learn the Mongolian language

Desirable:

Further attributes, experience, skills or qualifications

• Highly desirable – operational experience in disaster response team development and leadership
• First aid certificate
• Experience working with Red Cross Red Crescent or other humanitarian aid organisations