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

1.) Role Overview

The Principal Supply Chain Advisor is HELP Logistics’ senior technical supply chain expert in Kenya office and East and Southern Africa region. The role leads complex advisory engagements, that provide strategic guidance  to humanitarian, donor academic, private-sector, and government, partners, and translates evidence into practical solutions that strengthen supply chain performance, resilience and accountability. The position also supports partnership development, portfolio growth, technical quality, innovation, knowledge development and capability building, while contributing to HELP Logistics’ organisational methods and strategic priorities.

What You'll Do

• Lead the design and delivery of complex supply chain advisory, systems-strengthening and transformation engagements.
• Provide expert guidance on supply chain strategy, operational excellence, performance improvement, resilience, and digital enablement.
• Design and steward methodologies, diagnostics, tools and technical standards that support evidence-based decision-making and sustainable change.
• Ensure technical quality, consistency and practical applicability across advisory assignments and high-impact deliverables.
• Identify emerging sector trends, risks and opportunities and advise senior stakeholders on options, trade-offs and implications.

Partnership Development & External Engagement:

• Build trusted relationships with government institutions, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, universities and private sector partners.
• Represent HELP Logistics in technical forums, conferences, working groups, and strategic stakeholder discussions.
• Position HELP Logistics as a credible technical partner in supply chain and logistics strengthening.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, research, innovation, and strategic growth.

Portfolio Oversight & Delivery:

• Provide technical oversight and strategic guidance across Kenya-based and multi-country advisory engagements as assigned.
• Guide project teams to deliver agreed outcomes, high-quality outputs and strong partner experience.
• Monitor technical risks, delivery quality and adoption of recommendations, and direct corrective action where required.
• Facilitate coordination between technical specialists, project teams and partner organisations.

Business Development & Resource Mobilisation

• Identify and shape funding, partnership and advisory opportunities aligned with HELP Logistics’ purpose and strategy.
• Lead or contribute to technical proposal design, concept development and senior partner engagement.
• Bring technical insight to pipeline development, positioning and strategic account discussions.

Knowledge Leadership & Capability Building

• Coach advisors, analysts, project teams and partner staff through technical guidance, feedback and structured learning.
• Lead senior workshops, masterclasses and capability-building initiatives that enable adoption and sustained improvement.
• Establish ownership of designated technical standards, methods and knowledge assets.
• Develop and share methodologies, case studies, research, publications and learning products.
• Contribute to HELP Logistics’ global technical playbooks, communities of practice and innovation agenda.

Governance, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure advisory work complies with organisational policies, donor requirements, safeguarding commitments, data protection and ethical standards.
• Lead technical quality assurance, peer review and documentation of methods, evidence and assumptions.
• Maintain technical audit readiness and escalate material delivery, reputational, ethical or compliance risks through the appropriate channels.

Decision Rights

• 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

Required

• Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Public Health, International Development, Business Administration or a related field, or equivalent advanced professional expertise.
•  Typically, 10-15+ years of relevant consulting, field operations or supply chain experience, including leadership of complex, multi-stakeholder engagements.
• Demonstrated expertise in supply chain systems strengthening, transformation, operational performance and resilience.
• Proven ability to advise and influence senior stakeholders across government, donor, humanitarian and private-sector environments.

Evidence of recognised contributions to research, publications, methodologies, tools, or sustained leadership in technical forums.

• Experience designing methodologies, facilitating senior workshops and translating analysis into practical recommendations adopted by partners.
• Strong written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evidence of coaching advisors, managers, specialists or partner teams and strengthening organisational capability.

Preferred

• Recognised supply chain, project management or process-improvement certification, such as CILT, CSCP, PMP, PRINCE2 or Lean Six Sigma.
• Experience working in Kenya or East Africa and familiarity with, humanitarian or development supply chain systems.
• Values alignment: commitment to HELP’s values of collaboration, curiosity, integrity and resilience.

Working Arrangements

• This role is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Full-time, fixed-term position for three years.
• Travel within Kenya, regionally and internationally may be required according to engagement and organisational needs.
• Working arrangements will be agreed with the line manager.

• Strong alignment with HELP Logistics' core values, demonstrating a commitment to diversity, integrity, professionalism and accountability.
• A collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment, building and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues and partners.
• An innovative approach to problem-solving, constantly seeking new ways to strengthen regional advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
• Integrity and transparency in all actions, fostering an environment of trust and open communication.

About HELP Logistics

HELP Logistics AG was registered in 2014 as a non-profit organisation in Schindellegi, Switzerland. It is a subsidiary company of the Kühne Foundation. Since 2016, HELP Logistics has established four regional offices; Singapore (Asia), Amman (Middle East), Nairobi (East Africa) and Dakar (West Africa). From the Singapore centre, our dedicated supply chain and logistics experts partner with a range of government, academic, and professional institutions to provide pro bono technical assistance, training/education, and researchy.

• Collaboration: Promote a culture of open communication and teamwork, ensuring efficient sharing of knowledge and resources while supporting individual well-being.
• Curiosity: Encourage continuous learning and questioning the status quo to drive transformative solutions that address real-world challenges.
• Integrity: Commit to the highest ethical standards in our operations and interactions, ensuring data-driven, transparent and accountable decisions.
• Resilience: Adapt to change, learn from challenges, and provide support to pursue our goals persistently.

 How to Apply

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter addressing your relevant experience and motivation for the role