Contracts Associate

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established to address global population issues, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a mission to promote reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and sustainable development. The organization is committed to achieving transformative results as outlined in its strategic plan for 2022-2025, which emphasizes ending preventable maternal deaths, unmet needs for family planning, and gender-based violence. UNFPA's Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) was made operational in January 2022 and is self-funded, tasked with ensuring the effective delivery of life-saving reproductive health products and supplies. The organization values principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards, and who are committed to delivering excellence in program results.

Job Overview:
The Contracts Associate position is situated within the Strategic Sourcing Team of the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) at UNFPA. Reporting directly to the Category Analyst, the Contracts Associate plays a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of managing UNFPA’s Health and Non-Health commodities. This role encompasses strategic sourcing, contracting, and procurement for UNFPA’s main Headquarters and Representative Offices. The Contracts Associate is expected to support the Category Analyst in overseeing strategic sourcing and contracting strategies, managing procurement requirements, and ensuring compliance with contractual terms. The position also involves fostering collaboration within and outside the SCMU to ensure timely delivery of supplies, implementing vendor sanction decisions, and supporting governance, risk, compliance, and reporting functions. The Contracts Associate will also contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives, thought leadership, partnerships, and resource mobilization efforts, while leading and supervising a team to create a conducive working environment aligned with UNFPA's 2030 People Strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Contracts Associate will be responsible for a variety of tasks including: overseeing strategic sourcing and contracting strategies for Health and Non-Health commodities; managing procurement requirements for UNFPA Headquarters and Representative Offices; sourcing suppliers and establishing Long Term Agreements (LTAs); developing and maintaining a UNFPA product catalogue; performing contracts and supplier management functions; designing and implementing procurement strategies; ensuring compliance with UNFPA procurement policies; implementing vendor sanction decisions; supporting capacity-strengthening initiatives; advocating for training of supply chain professionals; coaching UNFPA personnel; engaging with industry experts; contributing to research and publications; fostering partnerships with donors; supporting resource mobilization proposals; establishing collaboration with stakeholders; leading relationships with supply chain partners; representing SCMU in meetings; and managing a team.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in procurement and contracting, with a reduction to four years for those with a relevant first-level or advanced university degree. Experience in development and/or complex humanitarian operating environments is essential, particularly in low-resource countries. Candidates should demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, experience in facilitating participation in international public health meetings, and proficiency in using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Professional written and spoken presentation skills are required, along with experience in managing teams and basic project management skills. Knowledge of UNFPA’s strategic plans and operational aspects of sexual and reproductive health commodities is an asset.

Educational Background:
Completion of secondary education is required, with a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Logistics, Marketing, International Relations, Development Studies, International Commerce, or a related field considered an asset. A professional Supply Chain Management certification such as CIPS or CILT-UK at Level 3 is also advantageous.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in procurement and contracting, with a reduction to four years for candidates with a relevant degree. Candidates should have hands-on experience in development and/or complex humanitarian environments, particularly in low-resource countries, and demonstrate a deep understanding of the unique challenges in these contexts. Experience in facilitating preparatory work for international public health meetings and managing teams is also necessary.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, while working knowledge of another official UN language is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This position offers a competitive net salary along with health insurance and other benefits. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization encourages applications from women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process. UNFPA does not charge any fees in connection with the application or recruitment process.