Principal Supply Chain Advisor, Permanent, Fixed term (3 years)

1.) Role Overview

You will serve as the principal technical authority for HELP Logistics' Kenya office and East & Southern Africa region, setting the standard for supply chain methodology and advisory excellence. Reporting to the Regional Director, you will have line management responsibility for all supply chain advisors and analysts in Kenya. Your primary accountability is establishing technical rigor and building a high-performing advisory team: you will set methodology standards, build frameworks and tools, coach staff at all levels, and ensure deliverables meet HELP's quality threshold before partner submission. You will lead strategically significant advisory engagements personally, contribute to HELP's global methodology, and represent the organization as a technical authority in sector forums. This is a senior technical leadership role that advises the Regional Director to ensure advisory quality is maintained across the portfolio.

What You'll Do

Technical Authority and Standards

• Set and enforce technical standards for supply chain methodology, analysis, and deliverable quality across the East & Southern Africa portfolio
• Approve methodology choices and exceptions on complex engagements
• Review and approve all technical deliverables before partner submission
• Develop and curate reusable frameworks, tools, templates, and case studies that raise the regional technical baseline
• Provide technical quality assurance across all engagements, identifying gaps and driving continuous improvement
• Contribute to HELP's global methodology and technical standards through collaboration with other regions

Thought Leadership and External Representation

• Represent HELP Logistics as a technical authority in sector forums, conferences, and technical working groups
• Publish case studies, develop intellectual property, or contribute to sector knowledge that advances HELP's reputation
• Build relationships with technical counterparts in UN agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and government bodies
• Serve as the go-to expert for complex supply chain challenges in humanitarian and development contexts

You will decide: Methodology choices and exceptions, technical standards, deliverable quality approval, analytical approaches, team workload allocation, and performance assessments for supply chain professionals

You will escalate: Budget approvals, procurement decisions, contracting approvals, and high-risk operational or reputational issues to the Regional Director

What You'll Bring

Required

• Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, or a related field
• Minimum 10 years in supply chain consulting, operations, or technical advisory roles, including at least 3 years in team leadership, with a portfolio of impactful work
• Evidence of thought leadership: publications, methodology development, conference presentations, or recognized technical contributions in supply chain or humanitarian logistics
• Demonstrated experience building technical capability in teams or organizations with significant development needs
• Established methodology frameworks and a track record of raising technical standards in advisory or consulting environments
• Client-facing advisory experience in at least two relevant domains such as health systems, humanitarian logistics, food systems, or digital optimization
• Experience managing and developing technical professionals, including performance management and structured coaching
• Fluency in English & Kiswahili

Preferred

• Doctoral degree or equivalent depth of expertise in a relevant technical field
• APICS/ASCM, Lean Six Sigma, or similar technical certifications
• Existing relationships with UN agencies, major humanitarian organizations, or development partners in East or Southern Africa
• Experience with Salesforce, QuickBooks, Personio, or comparable systems

 Values alignment: Commitment to HELP's values of collaboration, curiosity, integrity, and resilience.

Working Arrangements

This role is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Some remote work is permitted. Travel within East and Southern Africa is expected up to 50% of working time to support project delivery, partner engagements, and field activities. Occasional travel to other HELP regions may be required for cross-regional collaboration or technical support.

About HELP Logistics

Our purpose is to shape supply chains to benefit humanity.

HELP Logistics is a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Kühne Foundation, dedicated to supply chain and logistics. We sit at the intersection of commercial practice, academic research, and humanitarian operations, applying what works in one sector to solve problems in another.

We partner with donors, UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, local organizations, and universities to strengthen supply chain performance in some of the most demanding contexts in the world. We transfer knowledge and build capabilities so that the organizations, systems, and networks we support can sustain improvements long after our engagement ends.

We operate from six offices across Switzerland, Singapore, Jordan, Kenya, Senegal, and Germany.

Our Values

 Collaboration. The challenges we face are interconnected. So are the solutions. We work across boundaries because no single perspective holds the whole answer.

 Curiosity. In a world of ambiguity, certainty is a liability. We stay open, ask better questions, and remain willing to unlearn.

 Integrity. Independence means nothing without honesty. We speak truth to complexity, even when it is uncomfortable.

 Resilience. Systems are fragile. People need not be. We adapt, support each other, and stay grounded when circumstances shift.

How to Apply

Submit your CV and cover letter outlining your experience and vision for this role. Include three professional references here.

Deadline: 10 April 2026

Start date: 1 June 2026

 Applications missing required documents, using incorrect subject lines, or with incomplete references will not be considered. Only candidates with the legal right to work and live in Kenya will be considered for this position.

HELP Logistics is committed to building a diverse workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.