Emergency Supply Chain Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

BACKGROUND

The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak on 15 May 2026, following the laboratory confirmation of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) in Ituri Province, Eastern DRC. Concurrently, Uganda also confirmed imported cases linked to the outbreak in DRC. On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Unlike the Zaire strain involved in previous outbreaks in eastern DRC, the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment.

The outbreak is unfolding in a highly complex humanitarian and security context marked by chronic insecurity, armed group activity, repeated population displacement, and high levels of cross-border movement between DRC and neighboring countries, particularly Uganda and South Sudan. The provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu continue to face severe humanitarian needs, with large populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs), weakened health systems, and limited access to healthcare in several affected areas. Mining activities, informal trade routes, and population mobility further increase the risk of transmission.

As of August 2026, the outbreak has expanded rapidly across multiple health zones in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. According to WHO and DRC authorities, more than 4,500 cases have been reported, and over 2,100 deaths confirmed. Several healthcare workers have also died following exposure during patient care, highlighting major IPC challenges. Contact tracing and surveillance efforts remain constrained by insecurity, population movements, and community resistance in some locations.

The IRC has a dedicated Ebola response team in place, with a focus on maintaining safe continuity of essential health services and strengthening preparedness and infection prevention and control capacities in health facilities. IRC interventions include reinforcing IPC measures, establishing screening and isolation capacities, improving water supply and healthcare waste management systems, supporting safe referral pathways, ensuring continued access to lifesaving health services for women and children, and strengthening community engagement and risk communication activities. The IRC is also supporting frontline healthcare workers through training, supervision, and provision of essential supplies in affected and high-risk areas across eastern DRC.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Supply Chain Coordinator is a key position for the success and delivery of quality programs.  IRC defines Supply Chain (SC) as those systems and support function as necessary to implement programs effectively, inclusive of procurement, logistics, inventory management, property and asset management as well as vehicle and fleet management. The Supply Chain Coordinator is accountable for the design, planning, execution and monitoring of supply chain activities, delivery of an effective supply chain function within the Ebola response in compliance with IRC, donor regulations and in line with program objectives. He/her is also responsible for continuous improvement of performance quality throughout the SC team and ensuring stakeholders’ satisfaction by exercising service-oriented practices. The role is a member of the Ebola Response Senior Management Team.

The position is based in Bunia and travel to different locations may be required depending on program activities and operational expansion.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.      Supply Chain Planning

The Supply Chain Coordinator is responsible for supply chain activities planning, developing supply chain plans to support program implementation and close coordination with internal and external stakeholders. Supply chain planning includes: procurement plans, warehousing plans, transport plans, staffing plans, distribution plans and training plans.

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Ensure procurement plans are developed for all active grants in collaboration with program Coordinators/Managers.

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Ensure that program teams develop distribution plans for supplies and assets to eliminate inventory remaining in the warehouses after grants closure.

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Coordinate with supply chain field staff ensuring that there is sufficient space in the warehouses before sending program supplies to field sites.

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Ensure supply chain staff training and capacity building plans are developed as the Performance management Evaluation and incorporated into the budgets.

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Ensure that supply chain department is well staffed, roles and responsibilities are clear and detailed in up-to-date job descriptions.

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Provide oversight for quantification for medical commodities

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Support the Senior Operations Coordinator and DDP in setting up as per programmatic needs.

2.      Procurement Management

The Supply Chain Coordinator owns, manages and drives IRC in-country procurement strategies, policies and procedures. He/she ensures all Ebola response procurement needs are met on time and in accordance with IRC Global Supply Chain (GSC) standards.

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Ensure compliance to IRC and donor policies in the procurement of program supplies and assets.

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Ensure review and execution of procurement contracts in timely fashion.

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Ensure Implementation of GSC SOPs in all DRC Ebola response offices.

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Ensure supply chain monthly and quarterly reports are accurate and submitted on time.

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Organize procurement trainings sessions for procurement / tender committees in the field offices and non-supply chain staff if deemed necessary.

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Review procurement documents before payments.

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Ensure all suppliers/service providers Information, history and performance are filed and kept confidentially in all offices.

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Ensure supply chain officers conduct Market Survey and analysis quarterly and share with program team and Field Coordinators/ Managers.

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Identify fraud and corruption red flags and address in timely manner.

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Establish reasonable and appropriate lead times for procurement of program supplies and delivery of goods to the program sites.

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Work with Field Office Supply Chain staff and Field Coordinators/ Managers to ensure effectiveness, response-wide uniformity of supply chain structure and implementation of the IRC’s standard operating policies and procedures.

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Ensure medical commodity procurement practices meet IRC standards in quality assurance.

3.      Inventory Management

The Supply Chain Coordinator is responsible for managing and controlling all inventory and warehouses operation in the Ebola response and ensuring excellent record keeping, implementation of inventory standard operating procedures and controls as provided by GSC.

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Ensure implementation of IRC inventory policies in all IRC Ebola response offices.

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Produce grants ending and year ending inventory reports in a timely manner.

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Visit response offices frequently and check warehouses/stores records and safety as per IRC standard Supply Chain Assessment Tool (SCAT).

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Ensure a spot check is done on a regular basis by different departments.

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Conduct spot che