Supply Associate

octubre 11, 2025

A (least hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-09-26

Supply Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Supply Associate manages and supports all activities pertaining to the supply chain function including planning, sourcing & procurement, transport, shipping, customs clearance, warehousing, assets & fleet management and monitoring within the area of responsibility.

The incumbent is supervised by a higher level supply position and receives regular guidance and instructions from the supervisor on successive steps. The incumbent may supervise some staff in the office. The incumbent maintains regular contact on a working level on routine issues with other UNHCR offices, UN agencies, NGOs, government partners and commercial contractors in the area to facilitate performing the supply function. The duty of the incumbent is to support and monitor the supply activities assigned to him/her within the geographical area covered while exercising efficiency in the use of the available resources.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- In compliance with supply chain rules and procedures, support the related supply activities to facilitate UNHCR end to end processes resulting in a timely and quality delivery of goods and services to persons of concern.
- Prepare plans for delivery of relief and other non-food items according to the operational needs and regularly update the information in UNHCR IT systems
- Apply UNHCR's sourcing & procurement strategy when planning for purchase of important commodities and services. Update the information in UNHCR IT systems. Ensure timely customs clearance of consignments.
- Maintain accurate and comprehensive records on supply activities and provide timely reports and updates both periodically and on request.
- Evaluate purchase requisitions to ensure that specifications, delivery dates and all other requirements are in order.
- Draft and dispatch quotation requests and/or tenders, and assist in the evaluation of offers and draft bid-tabulations, prepare proposals for award of contracts to the Committee on Contracts.
- Prepare Purchase Orders and send confirmations, requests for inspection and other correspondence, and monitor the manufacture/transport of ordered goods to ensure timely delivery.
- Provide guidance and advice on UNHCR procurement policies and procedures to support and assist requesting operations, HQ entities and others, as applicable.
- Provide asset management reports, customised reports, and gathers information on all assets and provides in-depth reports periodically and when requested.
- Monitor the quality and accuracy of supply chain related data in relevant business systems. Compile and analyse statistical information, identify trends and developments in supply chain related matters that will assist in decision making.
- Disseminate and promote UNHCR's global policies, standards and guidance on supply chain management.

In the Regional Bureaux:
- Track the progress of specific operations and provide guidance that ensures timely implementation.
- Assist in coaching and advising individuals as requested.
- Track global Supply KPIs for the region and assist in devising regional ones, as required.
- Monitor all periodic Supply exercises such as monthly reconciliations, quarterly physical inventory exercises, and year-end accounts closure procedures and ensure that they are implemented throughout the region and provide relevant reports to senior managers.
- Assist country operations in MSRP management.
- Support the analysis of country financial reports and work with the Country Operations Supply Team leaders to address red areas relating to Supply aspects of operations.
- Support the country needs assessment plans and assist in combining them into regional procurement plans and monitor their timely implementation and changes based on operational needs.
- Support the work of the Regional Contracts Committee (RCC) through e.g. compiling and checking documents for RCC meetings, taking minutes, communicating decisions.

In the Country Operations:
- Ensure local liaison with partners to effectively support the supply activities.
- Manage storage of goods according to "best practices" and UNHCR rules and regulations.
- Coordinate supply activities of UNHCR Partners and/or contractors performing supply related activities, and ensure that they understand and adhere to relevant UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Implement effective asset and fleet management that regularly monitors the asset/fleet pool, saves cost and safeguards the investment of the organisation including receipt, inspection, registration & marking of new Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE), organisation of the physical verification of PPE, ensure that PPE agreements are properly issued and signed, and preparation of disposal forms and cases for the Asset Management Board, and organise the disposal of PPE according to Asset Management Board decisions.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
n/a

Certificates and/or Licenses
Trade, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing
or a related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Not specified.
Desirable:
Other UN procurement and logistics training - such as IAPSO and UNPD.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
SC-PeopleSoft Supply Chain Management
SC-Supply Planning
SC-Customs clearance
SC-Logistics
SC-Warehouse Management
SC-Asset Management
SC-Fleet Management
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

This is recruitment for the replacement capacity for one year.

Current incumbent of the position is taking a SLWOP. To ensure operational continuity, the hiring process for this position has been initiated. The operation has the necessary funds to cover this position for one year.


Desired Candidate Profile:

Candidates must be legally present in Costa Rica at the time of application, recruitment and hire.
Only candidates holding a legally job permit in Costa Rica will be considered eligible.
UNHCR is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment, so its staff come from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and world perspectives. We are committed to maintaining diversity in terms of age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, nationality, racial identity, religious beliefs, among others. People belonging to minority groups, people with special abilities, people who are qualified and meet the requirements of each vacancy are especially encouraged. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
Include in your application all your work experience
Eligible candidates may be required to take a technical test and/or an interview.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
If you have special needs or require assistance to apply, please contact cossarrhh@unhcr.org

This position requires a candidate who can work independently in his/her tasks, who has capacities to initiate, coordinate and finalize Supply tasks in due time. The incumbent must demonstrate effective communication skills to nurture a cooperative, client oriented and productive work environment. The candidate must be fluent in Spanish and in English.

The incumbent will lead the supply tasks and will be responsible for supporting various units in supply tasks and procurement processes.

Nature of Position:
Since 2018, Costa Rica has been a key host country for forcibly displaced persons, particularly from Nicaragua, as well as a major transit hub for mixed migration movements. As of December 2024, Costa Rica hosted over 206,700 asylum-seekers and 27,600 refugees, primarily from Nicaragua (87%), as well as Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, and Haiti. With forcibly displaced persons now representing 5% of Costa Rica’s total population, the country has one of the highest per capita refugee populations in the region.
Additionally, Costa Rica has become an integral part of the regional migration corridor. Between January 2023 and October 2024, over 750,000 people transited through Costa Rica on their way to North America. While few of these individuals sought asylum in Costa Rica, they faced serious protection risks, including human trafficking, gender-based violence, and lack of access to basic services. Changes in U.S. migration policies are now starting to generate reverse movements from North to South, with potential new waves of migrants crossing through Costa Rica trying to reach their country of origin or a third country.
In this evolving humanitarian and development landscape, UNHCR works in close partnership with the Government of Costa Rica, UN agencies, development institutions, and civil society. Enhance Costa Rica’s asylum system, ensuring fair, efficient, and timely refugee status determination.
Given the increased demand on national institutions, UNHCR plays a strategic advisory role, supporting government-led policies that balance humanitarian protection, integration, migration management, and national development priorities.
The Supply Associate is a key position within UNHCR’s operations in Costa Rica and is the only Supply position covering the procurement processes in Costa Rica. Supply Associate will report to Ass.Administrative Officer and will be responsible for the effective coordination and implementation of Supply tasks in compliance with UNHCR’s regulatory framework.

Supply Associate should have experience in procurement processes, Supply chain, contracts, inventory, fleet, asset and vendor management. The incumbent is expected to have strong skills in logistics and supply chain planning, strong computer literacy in MS Office applications, excel, knowledge of ERP Oracle is an asset. The candidate is expected to have strong analytical, planning and organizational skills and ability to work under pressure to deliver results within deadlines.

Personal Qualities:
• High integrity and professionalism.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural environments and with the short deadlines.
• Strong sense of accountability and teamwork.

Spanish

,

English

,

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, SC-Asset Management, SC-Customs clearance, SC-Fleet Management, SC-Logistics, SC-PeopleSoft Supply Chain Management, SC-Supply Planning, SC-Warehouse Management

Certifications

Business Administration - Other, Economics - Other, HCR Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Supply Chain Learning Program - UNHCR, IAPSO/UNDP Procurement - Other, Logistics - Other, Marketing - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

NA

The English version is considered original and authoritative, translation to other language(s) serve the purpose of advertisement of local positions where applicable but are not considered as official translations

Not required

This position doesn't require a functional clearance