Logistics Officer
Organizational Context
The World Health Organization (WHO) office in the occupied Palestinian territory serves as the primary technical advisor to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, focusing on strengthening health services, addressing public health issues, and promoting health research. As the lead health agency and coordinator of the Health and Nutrition Cluster, WHO collaborates with numerous partners to support national health development goals and ensure coordinated efforts in a complex, high-risk environment. This role is embedded within the Health Emergencies and Recovery Programme, contributing to the critical mission of ensuring access to life-saving medical supplies and maintaining essential health services.
Job Purpose
This UNV assignment supports WHO's global mandate to assist countries and coordinate international efforts in preventing, preparing for, detecting, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies. The Logistics Officer will play a central and strategic role in enabling programme delivery across Gaza and the West Bank by overseeing end-to-end supply chain operations for medical commodities. The position requires strong operational leadership and strategic coordination to ensure the timely, efficient, and accountable delivery of essential supplies, while navigating severe access and movement constraints. The role contributes to risk mitigation, operational continuity, and optimizing logistics performance in a highly constrained and dynamic context, ensuring sustained and equitable access to life-saving medical supplies and safeguarding essential health services.
Responsibilities
The Logistics Officer will ensure compliance with WHO rules and global supply chain standards by leading demand forecasting and supply planning. This includes designing and overseeing end-to-end supply chain strategies in coordination with UN partners to ensure timely and accountable delivery of medical supplies for health emergency operations. The role involves providing expert advice on importation and logistics processes, engaging with authorities for customs clearance, and managing the reception, transportation, storage, and last-mile distribution of critical supplies. Responsibilities also include designing and implementing systems for warehouse and inventory management, establishing robust stock control, and leading the planning of operational stockpiles for emergency response. Furthermore, the officer will oversee the strategic management of the WHO fleet, provide technical analysis for WHO-assisted health facilities, ensure adherence to water, sanitation, and infection prevention standards, and conduct field assessments to evaluate supply chain performance. Reporting on operational gaps and proposing recommendations to enhance response effectiveness is also a key duty.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in logistics and supply chain management within complex humanitarian or emergency settings is required, with proven ability to resolve operational challenges. Advanced expertise in end-to-end supply chain and warehouse management, including planning, procurement, storage, distribution, and inventory control, is essential. Experience with UN systems or international organizations is highly desirable. Strong knowledge of import/export procedures, customs clearance, and regulatory compliance is necessary, along with demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills.
Skills
Key competencies include teamwork, respect for diversity, communication, accountability, adaptability, flexibility, planning, organization, professionalism, and self-management. Technical skills encompass administration, emergency preparedness, crisis response, logistics, procurement, and commodities management. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and data analysis systems is also required.