Procurement Assistant - (Logistics)

Job Summary:

The Logistics Assistant coordinates day-to-day Procurement and Logistics services to ensure programs receive necessary goods and services efficiently and cost-effectively. This role provides support for procurement, in-kind goods management, customs clearance, transportation, and warehouse operations while collaborating with clearing agents, government authorities, and partners. Additionally, the officer assists partners in warehouse management and inventory control, helping to rehabilitate critical infrastructure in line with CRS policies. By upholding principles of stewardship, integrity, transparency, and accountability, the role delivers essential operational support for effective programming in underserved communities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Senior Operations Officer in coordinating day-to-day procurements and logistics activities to ensure the procurement planning, timely availability and efficient movement of goods, materials, and services required for program implementation.
• Support the procurement process by consolidating requests, monitoring pipelines, and coordinating with the Program and Supply Chain teams to ensure the timely acquisition of goods and services.
• Prepare and maintain procurement documentation, including purchase requisitions, requests for quotations (RFQs), bid evaluation reports, purchase orders, supplier contracts, and procurement tracking tools, support the implementation of end-to-end logistics operations, including receipt of imported and locally procured goods, customs clearance, transportation, storage, and delivery to CRS internal warehouses, partner warehouses, and final distribution points in compliance with CRS policies, donor regulations, and national requirements.
• Liaise with clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents, customs authorities, transport service providers, and relevant government agencies to facilitate timely customs clearance, tax exemption processing, and transportation of imported goods to designated warehouses.
• Provide technical support and on-the-job coaching to implementing partners on warehouse management, inventory control, commodity handling, documentation, and reporting to strengthen compliance with CRS supply chain standards and best practices.
• Coordinate and monitor commodity receipt, inspection, transportation, dispatch, distribution, and disposal activities, working closely with transport providers, warehouse staff, surveyors, partners, and other stakeholders to ensure timely and accountable movement of commodities.
• Maintain complete and accurate logistics documentation, including warehouse records, stock cards, goods received notes, waybills, transport documentation, customs clearance files, inventory reports, and asset movement records to support compliance, audits, and reporting requirements.

Required Languages: Fluency in English and Somali required

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% of the time within Somalia, including to field offices, warehouses, and partner sites.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

• Knowledge of Somali customs procedures, import/export regulations, market dynamics, transport infrastructure, and related national laws. 
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio); familiarity with logistics or inventory management software is a plus. 
• Strong planning, coordination, prioritization, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with sound independent judgment and decision-making ability. 
• High ethical standards, integrity, and commitment to accountability in line with CRS and donor codes of conduct. 
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions- and results-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership over assigned tasks. 
• Ability to work collaboratively and build effective working relationships across teams, partners, and external stakeholders. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced, security-conscious humanitarian operating environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional certification(s) in supply chain, logistics, or procurement (e.g., CIPS, CILT, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• Prior work experience with an international or local NGO, particularly in a humanitarian or emergency response context. 
• Experience with commodity tracking and inventory management systems (e.g., LMMS or similar platforms) is a plus. 
• Familiarity with major donor compliance requirements (e.g., USAID, ECHO) is an advantage.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: Senior Operations Officer, Procurement and Supply Chain teams, Program teams, Warehouse staff, and Finance.

External: C&F agents, customs and government authorities, transport providers, suppliers, implementing partners, and donors

Basic Qualifications:

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Pharmacy, or a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant work experience for a Diploma or 1 year for a BA degree, respectively in supply chain, logistics, procurement, warehouse management, or pharmacy, ideally within a humanitarian, development, or commercial supply chain environment. 
• Working knowledge of Somali customs, import/export, and supply chain regulatory requirements is an advantage.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results. 

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest. Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

What do we offer:

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS Somalia strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.

CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote people solely with their qualifications and abilities.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

The protection of your personal data is important to Catholic Relief Services. By submitting your application, you consent to CRS using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. CRS will not use your personal data in any other way other than for purposes of recruitment.

Note: CRS does not charge any fees from applicants for any recruitment. Further, CRS has a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and are committed to acting professionally, fairly, and with integrity in all our Recruitment Process. Kindly note that any attempts to engage in bribery or canvassing during the recruitment process will result in automatic disqualification

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.