Supply Manager

Mercy Ships is an international charity that brings hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor through state-of-the-art hospital ships. Since 1978, our volunteer crew—made up of medical professionals and skilled workers from over 60 nations—has delivered free surgeries and medical care to over 2.8 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, transforming lives one patient and one port at a time. Join our global team of over 3,000 volunteers and help us change lives daily.

About this role

The Supply Manager will be responsible for managing the staff, procedures, and systems that inventory and re-supply all shipboard general and medical storerooms. Serving onboard a Mercy Ships vessel, the position will ensure continuity of service and maximum efficiency of supply operations. The role will report to the shipboard Operations Director and will collaborate closely with regional supply chain directors located in the United States and the Netherlands. As a proven leader and subject matter expert in supply chain management, the individual will continually manage and align supply activities with the needs of the customer while managing risks and disruptions to service.

What you will contribute

Leadership and Development

• Responsible for developing the operational and spiritual health of the Medical and General Supply teams, fostering morale and cultivating opportunities for team members to grow while working within the community of faith in a diverse working environment.

• Lead, supervise, and coach team members to empower growth, upskilling, and development opportunities in support of delivering objectives and a positive work experience.

• Strengthen knowledge management in each field service by enhancing and updating Medical and General Supply field manuals, best practices, SOPs, and other training materials.

• Manage the staffing plan, be responsible for annual performance reviews, step-in to fill gaps during staffing shortages, and ensure seamless handover and skills training for incoming Medical and General Supply staff.

Supply Chain Management

• Responsible for overseeing Supply systems, procedures, and teams that enable inbound operations, inventory management, and supply distribution of all general food, non-food items, and medical supplies onboard the vessel.

• Accountable for ensuring that Medical and General Supply teams achieve inventory accuracy targets and fulfill customer orders on time and in full while escalating supply shortages, resolving inventory discrepancies, and communicating risks to GSC partners.

• Manage and leverage supply chain reporting to track actual performance versus KPI targets, using data-driven decision making to drive improvements in service levels, cost/waste reduction, and customer satisfaction.

• Own the performance and oversight of local supplier relationships, driving effective cost control while guaranteeing prompt supplier payments and maintaining strong quality standards for all purchased materials.

Risk Management and Continuous Improvement

• Accountable for proactive risk management, including identifying, tracking, and resolving supply chain shortages and disruptions to maintain seamless operational and program continuity.

• Provide feedback to GSC leadership on how to improve supply chain performance by initiating structured communication frameworks, such as After-Action Reviews and Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations.

• Escalate in-country logistics and procurement risks that would inhibit the on-time and in-full delivery of customer supply needs in collaboration with regional Logistics Managers in the United States and Netherlands.

• Ensure a safe working environment by providing safety gear/equipment, familiarizing staff with how to use equipment safely, and providing training to enforce safety procedures, such as the safe storage and handling of hazmat items.

Communication and Collaboration

• Accountable for the resolution of all customer supply challenges, serving as the critical communication link between shipboard customers and GSC functions to ensure issues are addressed efficiently.

• Proactively communicate shipment delays, shortages, and other supply shocks to internal customers while actively solving problems through flexible local procurement, offering alternative supply solutions, and escalating emergency shipments.

• Drives essential collaboration between medical and general departments and GSC partners to enhance the demand and supply planning process, translating customer needs and intelligence into accurate forecasts and effective supply chain execution.

• Personalize supply reporting and interactions to fit the needs of the customer, offering proactive, transparent, and timely communication in the areas of order tracking, shortage resolution, and visibility to inventory health.

For this role, you will need

Required skills

• Excellent people management skills, capable of training and developing a collaborative and multi-cultural workforce.

• Capable of building strong relationships, trust, and confidence with customer departments and supply chain partners.

• Excellent computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook.

• Demonstrated understanding of and familiarity with disciplined supply chain systems, processes, and ways of working.

• Capable of leveraging data, analytics, and applied analysis to drive performance enhancements to supply chain KPIs.

• Strong attention to detail and organization skills, capable of compiling, tracking, and synthesizing large sets of data in Excel.

• Adept at leveraging collaboration and strong communication skills to lead and resolve complex challenges in multicultural settings.

• Efficient in inventory management, waste reduction, risk management, and improving supply chain service levels.

• Familiar with data visualization and business intelligence software such as Power BI, Tableau, or Qlik.

• Proficient with enterprise resource planning software such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, or Oracle Cloud.

• Other Qualifications

• Professional working proficiency (Level B or higher) in French is an advantage.

• Must be able to lift and carry objects up to 20 kg (44 lbs.) and ascend/descend multiple flights of stairs frequently.

• Ability to work in chilled and frozen storerooms, as well as occasional hot temperatures outside or off the vessel.

• Ability to work standard hours (08:00 – 17:00), Monday through Friday.

• Education and Experience

• Required education and experience

• Minimum seven years of progressive, hands-on experience in Supply Chain Management, Operations, or Logistics.

• At least two years of management experience leading cross-functional teams, managing direct reports, and driving performance within an operational environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a closely related Business discipline.

• Required fluency (Level C or equivalent) in written and verbal English to effectively communicate and manage documentation.

• Successful completion of On Boarding (Gateway) program for commitments of 12 months or longer.

• Preferred Experience

• Certified Supply Chain Professional, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, or other recognized professional logistics certification.

• Prior logistics experience in low and middle-income countries with NGOs or international development organizations focused on public health, global surgery, or humanitarian aid and emergency response.

• Experience managing medical commodities such as surgical consumables, implants, medical devices, or similar complex inventory within healthcare or pharmaceutical industries.

• Experience managing food and non-food commodities, including produce, fruits and vegetables and/or office supplies within grocery, retail, or consumer goods industries.

• Previous volunteering or other work experience with Mercy Ships is an asset.

• The experience of a lifetime is calling.

• More than 1,200 volunteers from over 60 nations serve with Mercy Ships each year.

• At Mercy Ships, we are proud to be recognized around the world for the life-changing surgeries and training we deliver. We could not achieve this without our dedicated community of talented volunteers.

• Imagine finishing your shift and stepping onto deck as the sun sets—knowing that today you’ve helped transform the lives of those who need it most. Apply now to start a journey that will reshape the lives of those you serve — and your own.