Head of Global Direct Procurement Médecins Sans Frontières Experience: Above 10 Years New York, United States of America Apply By: 15-01-2025

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion and natural disasters. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

MSF International is the legal entity that binds MSF’s 24 sections, 27 associations and other offices together. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International provides coordination, information, and support to the MSF Movement, as well as implements international projects and initiatives as requested.

Place In The Organization:

Procurement of products and services is a critical activity for MSF operations and represents approximately half of MSF’s expenses. Therefore, MSF has undertaken significant efforts in recent years to strengthen and re-organize its procurement function, which have led to the creation of the Global Procurement Unit (GPU). The primary aim of the GPU is to streamline procurement activities and increase compliance, efficiency, and risk management.

Situated within MSF International Office, the role of the Global Procurement Unit is to lead global procurement strategies, to coordinate procurement efforts in the organization and to support the development of the procurement function across all MSF entities to efficiently contribute to MSF’s social mission.

As part of the Global Procurement Unit, the Global Direct Procurement Manager will:

• Report hierarchically to the Head of the Global Procurement Unit.
• Work closely with the Heads of procurement, Quality Assurance (QA) and replenishment of the ESCs, International medical quality and logistic Coordinators, International working groups (nursing care, vaccines, etc.) and regional sourcing specialists
• Interact with other stakeholders within the MSF movement: Medical, Operational, Supply and Technical Directors of the OCs and the European Supply Centers (ESCs).

Objectives Of The Position:

The overall objective of this position is to develop the strategic orientations and coordinate the smooth running of direct procurement activities across MSF entities to ensure that they are pertinent, efficient and respond to the global needs of MSF.

The direct procurement refers to the procurement of medical (medicines, vaccines, medical devices, therapeutic food etc) and non-medical (tents, cars, electrical equipment, mosquito nets etc) products directly used in the MSF operations. This includes the direct management of certain categories that are centralized (category management – 30M€), and the coordination of the procurement activities managed at entity level (120M€) to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication.

Main Responsibilities:

• Ensure that global direct procurement activities respond to the needs of MSF entities and are in line with the strategic objectives of the Global Procurement Unit.
• Together with your team, establish the right channels of communication and processes to capture the needs from the different entities (priority products, expected value etc).
• Based on these needs and on the strategic objectives of the GPU, formulate with your team strategic priorities to enhance the value delivered by the direct procurement activity to MSF (risk management, cost optimisation, quality etc).
• Operationalize these strategic priorities into an action plan. Anticipate risks, resources and stakeholders to be engaged.
• Define, monitor and analyse the key indicators to follow your activity. Identify improvement areas and capitalize on them.
• Lead the team working on global direct procurement (4 to 6 global category buyers) and APAC team (2 sourcing specialists and supply unit manager in Asia), coordinate and ensure coherence between the different activities managed by them.
• Set the working framework for your team. Bring them together around a common vision and objectives of the activities under your responsibility.
• Accompany each member of your team in order to improve their contribution to the common objectives and promote their professional development.
• Promote a working environment that takes into account diversity of approaches and encourages trust and collaborative work. Regulate individual and collective tensions.
• Put forward the work stakes of the direct team to the other teams in the GPU and the different MSF entities.
• Foster collaboration between your team, the other teams working in the GPU (indirect, field, processes and systems, etc.) and the procurement stakeholders working in the different entities.
• Identify the main actors and key stakeholders for your activity. Develop and mobilise a network required to smoothly carry out the activities under your responsibility.
• Develop and maintain a smooth flow of communication and feedback on the global direct procurement activities to keep your stakeholders up to date and capture their feedback and areas of improvement.
• Coordinate the ESC Procurement Platform in order to engage direct procurement stakeholders and ensure alignment between their activities.
• Plan and manage the resources allocated to the activities under your responsibility.
• Participate to the construction of the budget necessary for the running of the activities under your responsibility.
• As a team, discuss the HR needed in terms of number and profile (profession, experience, complementarity with other team members) in order to achieve a team composition adapted to the needs of your activities.
• Conduct recruitment interviews and select your team members according to previously established criteria and MSF recruitment policy.
• Ensure the proper use and monitoring of the resources made available for the activities under your responsibility.

Scope: 

• Manage a team of 4 to 6 Global Category Buyers in charge of leading global strategies for medical and non-medical products, and regional team of 2 sourcing specialists and manager located in Asia (SEEAP/APAC).

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, with ideally a further specialization in purchasing or project management, or a combination of relevant education and professional experience.
• 10+ years of experience in Procurement or Supply-related function, of which 7+ years in strategic procurement including supplier management.
• Proven experience with people management.
• Direct work experience in a complex multi-entity’ organization.
• Experience in global contracting and negotiations.
• Experience in MSF is an asset.
• Experience in project management is an added value.
• Excellent strategic planning and analytical skills.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to handle multiple priorities at one time.
• Demonstrate independent initiative, drive for change, improvement and innovation.
• Excellent communication skills, assertiveness negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment.
• Team player with strong customer orientation.
• Proficiency in standard office tools including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Power BI and data management.
• Fluent spoken and written English. Good command of French is a strong asset.

Source: https://msf.recruitee.com/o/head-of-global-direct-procurement-2