National Post: Procurement Associate

*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VACANCY IS OPEN ONLY TO NATIONALS OF SOUTH AFRICA AND NON-NATIONALS WHO HOLD WORK PERMITS FOR SOUTH AFRICA*

Job Setting:

Under the overall guidance of the International Operations Manager and direct supervision of the Procurement Specialist, the Procurement Associate serves the procurement and contracting needs of the Regional Office and Country Offices in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region. 

Job Purpose:

The Procurement Associate ensures proper and effective use of UNFPA’s and external partners’ resources in terms of the following:

Assisting all relevant Country Offices in defining and costing their procurement and logistics needs in accordance with the approved Annual Work Plans on a yearly basis;

Managing and safeguarding the integrity of the UNFPA procurement policies, procedures and practices;

Building capacity by advising programme staff in the country offices and external parties on all aspects of procurement and logistics management implementation and organization;

Representing the UNFPA in One UN working groups on procurement and Long Term Agreements, and on Government and NGO Committees that deal with procurement using UNFPA core or co-financing funds.

The Procurement Associate delivers quality services in procurement to internal and external clients; mastering all relevant rules, guidelines, processes, and procedures.  He/She takes a client-oriented, results-focussed approach to interpreting the rules, procedures and guidelines in service of the country programme; providing support and guidance to the Country Office and UNFPA supported programmes. 

Education:

• Completion of secondary education, preferably with a focus on business administration, economics, procurement and logistics or related fields.
• A university degree at bachelor level in related field* is desirable.

* Business administration, international development studies, economics, auditing, engineering or logistics. 

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum 7 years’ related work experience.
• Experience in international, public procurement or contracts and supplier management is highly desirable.
• Experience with UN procurement, finance and contracting regulations and procedures will be a decided advantage.
• Certification in CIPS, procurement, forecasting, or similar preferred.
• Proven experience and track record in successfully managing complex bid processes for complex products and services; proven experience and track record in complex item and category management.
• Experience in working in team and leading team projects is highly desirable.
• 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), Atlas (PeopleSoft or alternatively Oracle), E-filing system and other software applications is required. 

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Portuguese
• Knowledge of other UN languages an asset

Other Desirable Skills:

• Developing people/fostering innovation and empowerment;
• Analytical and strategic thinking
• Communication, information and ideas/knowledge sharing
• Appropriate and transparent decision making
• Supervisory skills
• Commitment to excellence