NATIONAL POST: Procurement Associate, Freetown, Sierra Leone

  • Level: G-7
  • Contract type: Temporary Appointment
  • Closing date: 22 Oct 2024 05:00 PM (America/New_York)
  • Duty station: Freetown

The Position:

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the International Operations Manager, the Procurement Associate ensures the execution of transparent and efficient procurement services and processes.

The Procurement Associate promotes a client-focused, quality, and results-oriented approach to ensure effective assistance.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025, reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPA and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's and girls' access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, and exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

 

Job Purpose:

The Procurement Associate delivers quality services in procurement to internal and external clients, mastering all relevant rules, guidelines, processes, and procedures; providing support and guidance to the country Office and UNFPA-supported programmes and projects.

You would be responsible for:

  • Ensuring full compliance of procurement activities with UNFPA rules, regulations, policies, and strategies
  • Supporting the implementation of the effective internal control, proper design, and functioning of a client-oriented procurement management system
  • Supporting the establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in procurement
  • Preparing procurement plans for projects and for monitoring their implementation
  • Organizing procurement processes, including the preparation and conduct of requests for quotations, invitations to bid, or requests for proposals, and their respective receipts, their evaluation, and negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNFPA rules and regulations.
  • Preparing purchase orders and contracts
  • Preparing submissions to the Contracts Review Committee
  • Supporting the implementation of the internal control system to ensure that purchase orders are duly prepared and dispatched, and undertaking corrective actions as needed
  • Preparing reports on procurement for programme and project meetings
  • Maintaining and updating the rosters of suppliers and experts 
  • Implementing selection and evaluation, as well as quality and performance measurement mechanisms of the rosters 
  • Organizing training for programme and project staff on procurement
  • Synthesizing lessons learned and best practices in procurement
  • Perform any other duties in line with operational responsibilities


Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

Completed secondary level education is required;  First level university degree in business, procurement, logistics or any other relevant field is preferable. Certification in Procurement is essential

 

Knowledge and Experience: 

  • Seven years of relevant professional experience in procurement, logistics, and administration with humanitarian/development agencies
  • Experience with UN Procurement, Finance, and contracting regulations and procedures will be a decided advantage
  • Knowledge of global health and pharmaceutical market and stakeholders is an asset, especially in regard to sexual, reproductive, and maternal health
  • Knowledge of legal aspects of contract management is an asset
  • Excellent working knowledge of MS Office (in particular, applications related to database and data analysis, Peoplesoft or alternatively Oracle, E-filing system, and other software applications is required.
  • CIPS certification is highly desirable.

 

Languages: 

Fluency in English is required

 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

  • Exemplifying integrity, 
  • Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
  • Embracing cultural diversity, 
  • Embracing change

Functional Competencies:

  • Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
  • Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
  • Delivering results-based programme
  • Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization

Core Competencies: 

  • Achieving results,
  • Being accountable,
  • Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, 
  • Thinking analytically and strategically,
  • Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
  • Communicating for impact

 

Managerial Competencies:

  • Providing strategic focus,
  • Engaging with internal/external partners and stakeholders,
  • Leading, developing, and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
  • Making decisions and exercising judgment

 

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

 

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

 

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

 

To view the complete job description and apply to this position, click "Apply Now" below.

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