Chief, Procurement Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Arusha branch of the Mechanism. The incumbent reports to the Chief Administrative Officer.

Responsibilities

• Within delegated authority the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
  
• Serves as a senior procurement and contracting expert with responsibility for the supervision of a geographically separated team (located in Arusha, Tanzania and The Hague, Netherlands) carrying out international procurement of a wide variety of supplies and services associated with complex (technically and legally) contracts and procurement activities, in accordance with the UN established procurement procedures and the UN Financial Rules and Regulations.
  
• Plans, develops and manages the procurement activities for the Mechanism (Arusha and Hague Branches, Kigali and Sarajevo Field Offices).
  
• Provides policy procurement guidance and technical advice on procurement strategic activities to all levels of officials during all phases of the procurement cycle.
  
• Analyzes, evaluates and assigns procurement requests and ensures that technical specifications are thorough in terms of completeness; also ensures the use of appropriate evaluation criteria in accordance with best value for money policies.
  
• Develops and prepares complex contracts for procurement of non-routine and complex commodities services; issues international tender invitations; makes recommendations for finalization of purchases and award of contracts; signs procurement orders up to the delegated threshold, and, in cases where the amount exceeds the threshold, prepares submissions to the Contracts Committee for review and subsequent approval by the authorized official.
  
• Where required, develops new strategic and tactical approaches to contracts, as well as new methods for their application, based on market research.
  
• Works in tandem with requisitioning entities for procurement planning, to develop effective procurement strategies and prioritises/coordinates contending procurement projects.
  
• Contributes to development of institutional procurement policies and procedures; develops standards and criteria for the evaluation of goods, services, supplier capacity, etc.
  
• Supervises the identification of potential suppliers. Approves Source Selection Plan for formal procurement cases.
  
• Establishes approaches for negotiations and conducts or coordinates all phases of negotiations with all concerned parties, including the negotiation of disputes arising from contracts.
  
• May carry out consultancy missions to the field.
  
• Contributes to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate.
  
• Carries out administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Unit, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring the performance parameters and critical indicators, evaluation of staff performance, interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates; recruits staff taking due account of geographical and gender balance and other institutional directives.
  
• Participates in international, regional or national meetings on procurement and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on issues; holds organizationalCyh discussions with representatives of other institutions.
  
• Perform other related work, as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of internationally recognized procurement standards and of all phases of international procurement techniques and operations used in contracting for a diverse range of goods and services. Knowledge of contract law and expertise in handling complex contract issues. Knowledge of quantitative methods to measure supplier capacity systems and the ability to identify sources of supply, market trends, and pricing. Ability to shape and influence agreements with requisitioning units and vendors. Ability to apply technical expertise to resolve a range of issues/problems. Ability to develop procurement policies, procedures, and new programmes. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations.
  ajira
• Planning and Organising – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments adjust priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.
  
• Client Orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
  
• Managing Performance – delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability, and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly
  
• Judgement/Decision-making – Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organisation. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, public administration, commerce, audit, procurement, law, or related field. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Procurement certification, such as UK CIPS (at least level 3), US ISM CPM, CPSM or equivalent is mandatory.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contract management, or related area is required, with a proven record of handling complex procurement evaluation and tendering processes is required.
Previous experience with procurement within the United Nations and experience with SAP enterprise resource management systems (such as Umoja) are highly desirable. Experience in team management, especially across multiple locations, and demonstrated experience in working with senior management, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the Mechanism. Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of French, Dutch and/or Swahili may be an advantage.