About this role
School Feeding Commodity Supply Chain Operations Assessment Consultant
Location(s): Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Grand Gedeh and River Gee Counties
Background:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world affected by crisis, poverty, and fragility, Mercy Corps partners with communities, governments, and the private sector to put bold, evidence‑based solutions into action—helping people meet immediate needs, recover from shocks, and build stronger, more resilient systems from within.
A core area of Mercy Corps' technical expertise is the implementation of food security, education, and humanitarian assistance programs that rely on the efficient movement of commodities through national and sub‑national supply chains. The performance of port infrastructure, customs and regulatory systems, warehousing facilities, and inland transportation networks is critical to the feasibility, cost‑effectiveness, and accountability of such programs. In fragile and capacity‑constrained environments, weaknesses or bottlenecks in these systems can result in delivery delays, increased costs, spoilage or loss of commodities, and elevated operational and compliance risks.
Mercy Corps intends to build a robust, compliant, efficient, and accountable supply chain system capable of managing the receipt, storage, transportation, distribution, tracking, and reporting of international and locally procured commodities. The consultant will assess operational requirements and support the design of systems, structures, and processes necessary for implementing a school feeding program in 4 counties.
Purpose / Project Description:
The purpose of this consultancy is to assess, design, and support the operationalization of the commodity supply chain system required for a school feeding project. The consultant will identify operational requirements, assess infrastructure and service providers, recommend staffing arrangements, and develop essential commodity management tools and frameworks needed to ensure supply chain readiness for a school feeding program.
Consultant Objectives:
The consultant will establish and recommend appropriate supply chain arrangements; assess warehouse and distribution requirements; identify service providers; assess field-office readiness; recommend staffing requirements; develop a commodity pipeline and call-forward planning framework; develop commodity management tools; and provide recommendations that strengthen accountability, traceability, efficiency, transparency, and compliance.
Consultant Activities:
The Consultant will undertake the following areas of assessment:
Activity
Means of gathering information
Engage key government institutions, education authorities, warehouse operators, transporters, security providers, customs actors, and relevant stakeholders. Develop a stakeholder mapping matrix, engagement recommendations, and an operational action plan.
Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination Assessment
Assess central, county, and temporary warehouse options; review capacity, accessibility, security, infrastructure, equipment, and compliance requirements; and recommend an optimal warehouse network and commodity flow structure.
Warehouse Infrastructure and Commodity Storage Assessment
Assess transport routes, seasonal constraints, security risks, transport capacity, and delivery mechanisms. Recommend practical commodity distribution models and monitoring systems.
Commodity Transportation and Distribution Assessment
Identify and assess service providers for transport, warehousing, commodity handling, stacking, customs clearance, security, and related operational services. Provide an assessment matrix and recommendations.
Service Provider Assessment
Methodology
The consultant will use desk reviews, stakeholder interviews, key informant interviews, site visits, warehouse assessments, service-provider assessments, operational readiness reviews, and validation meetings with Mercy Corps and relevant stakeholders.
Consultant Deliverables:
The Consultant will provide:
• Inception Report and Workplan (Day 3)
• Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement Report (Day 7)
• Warehouse Needs Assessment Report (Day 13)
• Service Provider Assessment Report (Day 15)
• Final Consolidated Operational Readiness Report and Presentation (Day 16)
Timeframe / Schedule:
Immediately, Maximum of 20 days
The Consultant will report to:
Supply Chain Director
The Consultant will work closely with:
The Global Distribution Quality Advisor and the wider Liberia Country Team
Required Experience & Skills:
• Minimum 7 years of experience in supply chain management, logistics, commodity management, school feeding, food assistance, or humanitarian operations.
• Experience supporting US Government, United Nations, or similar donor-funded commodity programs.
• Strong understanding of warehousing, transportation, inventory management, and commodity accountability systems.
• Experience conducting logistics and operational readiness assessments in Liberia.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, and report-writing skills.
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.