HQ Procurement Advisor at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

• The overall objective of this position is to foster the professionalization of procurement activities in HQs to increase efficiency, quality and accountability on procured goods and services, while reducing risks.

Specific Objectives:

• Give HQs advice and provide them with technical and strategic support.
• Adapt and monitor processes and tools to support procurement activities at HQ level.
• Participate in the development and the strengthening of the indirect procurement community
• Punctually perform procurement activities in line with the needs of the HQs and the global indirect procurement strategy.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Give HQs advice and provide them with technical and strategic support.

• Develop awareness on procurement in HQs.
• Assess the procurement maturity of HQs, advise them on the structuration of their procurement and propose other adapted solutions.
• Provide technical and strategic support to the procurement focal points and HQ buyers.

Adapt and monitor processes and tools to support procurement activities at HQ level.

• Analyze procurement practices, procedures and tools in the different entities.
• Liaise with the global procurement process and tools team about the specific needs for HQs.
• Based on the material produced by the global procurement process and tools team, propose the adaptations and make the required improvements specific to HQs.

Participate in the development and the strengthening of the indirect procurement community.

• Create a network between the HQs and the indirect category buyers.
• Liaise between the procurement focal points or HQ buyers and the resources available in the GPU (tools, process, learning and development, legal advisor, etc.)
• Exchange best practices and experiences with other buyers across MSF.

Punctually perform procurement activities in line with the needs of the HQs and the global indirect procurement strategy.

• Analyze spend and identify strategic suppliers and categories.
• Define with the management team of the entity the priority categories, plan procurement activity and ensure availability of the concerned teams in the entity.
• Lead tenders according to the priorities of the entity.
• Define, in collaboration with the requesting departments and the other indirect buyers, the best procurement strategy.
• Guide the requesting departments in the needs analysis: volumes and technical specifications.
• Guide the requesting departments in the sourcing of potential suppliers.
• Launch tenders, lead the analysis of the offers and the negotiations with suppliers.
• Participate in selecting the most relevant supplier based on pre-established selection criteria.
• Support the different departments in their relationship with their suppliers if needed (negotiation, dispute etc.).

Job requirements

Education:

• Bachelor level in Business Management or Supply Chain with Procurement specialization or a combination of relevant education and professional experience.

Experience:

• 5 years minimum procurement experience, preferred experience with indirect services.
• Proven experience in negotiating, contract review, supplier management principles.
• Experience in project management is an added value.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent communication skills, assertiveness and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work in a team in a cross-cultural and cross-functional environment. 
• Strong organizational skills, ability to handle multiple priorities at one time. 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and synthesis skills.
• Proven diplomacy, ability to develop a professional network.
• Demonstrate independent initiative, drive for change, improvement and innovation. 
• Proficiency in standard office tools including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Languages:

• Fluent spoken and written English.
• French is a strong asset.
• Knowledge of another language is a plus.