Procurement Officer at United Nations Support Office in Somalia

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Procurement Section of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). The Procurement Officer will be based in Nairobi and reports to the Chief Procurement Officer.
 

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and under the overall supervision of Chief, Supply Chain Management and direct supervision of Chief, Procurement Officer, the Procurement Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as a senior procurement and contracting expert with responsibility for the world-wide procurement of a wide variety of supplies and service associated with highly complex (technical and legally) contracts and procurement activities; may lead procurement work for a segment of a central large peace-keeping program;
• Provide technical advice on procurement activities to officials of substantive units during all phases of the procurement cycle;
• Analyzes and evaluates procurement requests and ensure 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 limits, 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 method for their applications, based on market research;
• Contributes to development of institutional procurement policies and procedures; develops standards and criteria for the evaluation of goods, services, supplier capacity, etc.;
• Maintains under constant examination production patterns in exporting countries; evaluate the productive capacities and performance of manufacturer to identify supply sources;
• Establishes approaches for negotiations and conducts or coordinates all phase of negotiations with all concerned parties, including the negotiation of dispute arising from contracts;
• May carry out consultancy missions to the field;
• Provides direction and guidance to more junior staff.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of administrative, budgetary, financial and human resources policies and procedures. Ability to apply various United Nations administrative rules and regulations in work situations. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts 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.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Education
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, commerce, engineering, law or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Recognized qualification in procurement and contracting is desirable and an advantage.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contract management, administration or related area is required.
• Experience in large and complex procurement in Peacekeeping Operations is desirable.
• Experience in working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in the area of purchasing and/or supply chain is an asset.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
 

Special Notice

This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.