Distribution Officer

Location: Wag Himra, Ethiopia

Organization: Samaritan’s Purse

Deadline: October 14, 2025

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Distribution Officer will be responsible for directly overseeing the implementation of food distributions. This will include supervising registration, crowd control and line monitor staff, taking full accountability for receiving and distributing commodity, ensuring each family receives entitlement (giving priority to vulnerable people groups), households are registered according to SPs beneficiary targeting requirements, and ensuring that the distribution is implemented according to the standards and under the budget constraints of SP. Additionally, the Distribution Officer will be responsible for overseeing the reception of food commodity from the trucks, accounting and recording any differences between the number of units received per commodity against the dispatch waybill, and ensuring that the commodities are stored in neat stacks. The Distribution Officer will also be responsible for monthly reporting of SPs beneficiary feedback mechanisms: post-distribution discussions and complaints received on-site.

In serving Samaritans Purse with a generous and serving spirit, always maintaining Samaritan Purses witness to the communities the Distribution Officer will additionally be responsible for the following duties:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform a monthly inventory of distribution materials to ensure all materials are available and ready to use before the monthly cycle
Coordinate with community leaders to hire manual labor for off-loading trucks and/or preparing rations at distribution site
Assist Commodity Line Assistant in training hired laborers on proper unloading of commodity at the distribution
Organize and assist in conducting post-distribution discussions with beneficiaries and community leaders after each distribution cycle
Support the Data Quality Assurance in overseeing the beneficiary’s registration database, ensuring that each registration record is comprehensive through the development of cross-checking mechanisms
Oversee the reception of food commodity, accounting for the number of units received against the dispatch waybill
Ensure the commodities are neatly stored in the warehouse
Ensure the commodity tracking paperwork is being completed by the General Food Distribution Assistants, including stack cards, warehouse ledgers
Support program manager in post-distribution physical inventories
Complete other activities as directed by the Program Manager

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE NEEDED

BA degree from university preferred.
One or two years of work experience in food assistance, Business Administration or Finance.

LANGUAGE

Proficiency in English and Amharic.

SKILLS REQUIRED

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be willing to abide by Samaritans Purses code of conduct and understand the principals of Samaritans Purses Statement of Faith, as well as be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Attention to detail, anticipation and follow up are core values of the job function as well as maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality regarding contracts and salaries.
Possesses strong organizational and problem-solving skills within a fast-paced environment.
Must be a self-starter and internally driven to success and hard work.
Possesses strong cross-cultural communication skills, both written and verbal.
Must be a humble team player.
Ability to be flexible and adaptable, taking on additional responsibilities as needed.
Knowledge of computer systems and its applications such as Outlook, Word, and Excel including formulas/formatting.
He/she must have analytical and report writing skills.
High level of integrity and stewardship.
Committed to the SP values and ethics.
Above average mathematic skills
Willingness to travel in and out of field.
Practical, quick, reasoning skills; must be able to keep communication lines open with all parties in program of scheduling changes.
Clear understanding of the workings of major donors and their perspectives, requirements and standards.
Organizational and time management skills.
Good interpersonal and written oral communication skills.
Ability to coordinate activities with other agencies, build and maintain positive working relationships.
Ability to understand complex security situation and advise program design accordingly.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk and run; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be exposed to loud noises around the maintenance and construction workshops.
May travel in country with exposure to communicable diseases, hot and humid weather conditions.
Work in a security context that is fluid

SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT

The employee is required to carry out his/her duties in accordance with Samaritans Purse Safeguarding policy and Code of conduct.

Employee should remain alert and responsive to any child and adult safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills, which will enable him/her to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct his/herself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.