Procurement Officer at United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON)

Responsibilities

• Serves as a senior procurement and contracting expert with responsibility for the worldwide procurement of a wide variety of supplies and services associated with highly complex (technically and legally) contracts and procurement activities; may lead procurement work for a segment of a central or large peace-keeping program.  
• Provides technical advice on procurement activities to officials of substantive units during all phases of the procurement cycle.  
• Analyzes and evaluates procurement requests and ensures appropriateness of technical specifications.
• Develops and prepares highly complex contracts for procurement of non-routine and technologically advanced commodities or long-range services; issues international tender invitations; evaluates responses to tender, and makes recommendations for finalization of purchases and award of contracts; signs procurement orders up to the authorized limit, and, in cases where the amount exceeds authorized signature authority, prepares submissions to the Contracts Committee for review and subsequent approval by the authorized official.  
• Develops new tactical approaches to contracts, as well as new methods for their application, based on market research.  Contributes to the development of institutional procurement policies and procedures; develops standards and criteria for the evaluation of goods, services, supplier capacity among others.  
• Maintains constant examination of production patterns in exporting countries; evaluates the productive capacities and performance of manufacturers to identify supply sources.  
• 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 in the field.  Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.  
• Provides direction and guidance to more junior staff.  Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of internationally recognized procurement standards and all phases of international procurement techniques and operations used in contracting for highly complex and technologically advanced goods and services. Knowledge of contract law and expertise in handling complex procurement and contract issues. Knowledge of quantitative methods to measure supplier capacity systems and 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 complex and/or sensitive issues/problems. Ability to develop procurement policies, procedures and new programmes. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and 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 and remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
•  PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with the 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.  
• CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services. Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs. Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas. Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas. Thinks "outside the box" and takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things. Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, commerce, engineering, law or a related field is required. A first-level degree in the specified fields of studies with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.  Supplementary courses or additional training in procurement functions is desirable.  Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Job - Specific Qualification

• Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supplies (CIPS) Level 4 or equivalent certification is required.    

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contract management, administration or related area is required.    
• Five (5) years direct first hand procurement experience on acquisition of strategic, high value and of complex scope of goods and services from worldwide sources and for diversified clients in multiple countries is required.    
• Demonstrated experience in participating in procurement working group or similar networks which involves multiple organizations such as UN entities or similar international organizations is required.    
• Three (3) years direct experience in supervising a procurement team that manages the acquisition of diversified categories of goods and services to support multiple clients is required.  
•  Experience in managing procurement of high value and complex requirements in support of development programme with multiple thematic areas is desirable.    
• Experience working with a Systems, Application and Products (SAP) system or another Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is desirable.    
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.