General Food Distribution Officer

Location: Shire, Ethiopia

Organization: Samaritan’s Purse

Deadline: May 12, 2026

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The General Food Distribution (GFD) Officer oversees all food distribution activities and the receipt and distribution of food commodities. Responsibilities include supervising registration, crowd control, and distribution teams; ensuring accurate receipt and delivery of commodities; prioritizing vulnerable households; and meeting donor reporting and compliance standards. The officer also manages offloading and storage of commodities, records discrepancies against dispatch documents, and submits monthly reports on beneficiary feedback, including post distribution discussions and onsite complaints.

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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Conduct monthly inventories of distribution materials to ensure all items are available and prepared for each cycle.
Coordinate with community leaders to recruit manual labor for truck offloading and ration preparation at distribution sites.
Train camp staff on beneficiary registration procedures and required documentation.
Support training of laborers on proper commodity offloading practices at distribution points.
Organize and participate in post distribution discussions with beneficiaries and community leaders after each cycle.
Help maintain and verify the beneficiary registration database, ensuring complete and accurate records through crosschecking mechanisms.
Assist in receiving commodities and conducting monthly physical inventories.
Oversee the reception of food commodities, verifying quantities against dispatch waybills.
Ensure commodities are properly stacked and stored in the warehouse.
Ensure all commodity tracking documents such as stack cards and warehouse ledgers are accurately completed.
Support post distribution physical inventory checks.
Ensure damaged or unfit commodities are segregated at Final Distribution Points and arrange authorized disposal of items unsuitable for consumption.
Ensure food assistance activities align with project design and effectively address community needs.
Coordinate and communicate with local authorities, NGOs, and other stakeholders regarding registration, distribution processes, distribution plans, and project progress within the target area.
Complete other activities as directed

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE NEEDED

BA degree in Nutrition, Development Studies, Economics, or related field.
3 4 years related work experience
Must have accounting background with cash handling.

LANGUAGE

Proficiency in English and Amharic
Knowledge of the regional language required
Knowledge of any other national language is a plus

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.

Strong attention to detail, proactive follow up, and strict confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
Excellent organizational, time management, and problem solving skills in fast paced environments.
Self motivated, dependable, and committed to high quality work.
Effective cross cultural communicator with strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Humble, collaborative team player with the ability to build positive working relationships.
Flexible and adaptable, willing to take on additional responsibilities as needed.
Proficient in Outlook, Word, and Excel (including formulas and formatting).
Strong analytical abilities and report writing skills, with above average mathematical competence.
High integrity, professionalism, and alignment with SP values and ethics.
Willingness to travel to field locations as required.
Practical reasoning skills and ability to maintain clear communication during scheduling or operational changes.
Ability to coordinate with other agencies and stakeholders effectively.
Capacity to understand complex security contexts and provide informed input for program planning.

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.