Contracts Associate

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on reproductive health and rights, aiming to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries, employing thousands of staff dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls globally. The organization is committed to achieving three transformative results by 2030: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet needs for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes the importance of addressing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's health and rights, and it calls for collaboration among member states, organizations, and individuals to build a better future.

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 Specialist, the role involves close collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders, including other divisions within UNFPA, regional and country offices, and external partners. The Contracts Associate will play a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of managing UNFPA's Health and Non-Health commodities, focusing on strategic sourcing, contracting, and procurement. This position is vital for ensuring that UNFPA can effectively deliver life-saving reproductive health products and other essential supplies to those in need, particularly in humanitarian settings. The role requires a commitment to sustainability and ethical practices in procurement, as well as a strong focus on capacity building and knowledge sharing within the organization and with partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Contracts Associate will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Providing guidance on sustainability in sourcing and contracting strategies for Health and Non-Health commodities, ensuring procurement requirements are met for UNFPA Headquarters and Representative Offices.
• Sourcing suppliers and establishing Long Term Agreements (LTAs) for commodities, along with developing operational guidance notes.
• Maintaining a comprehensive UNFPA product catalogue that ensures quality and availability of generic products.
• Managing contracts and supplier compliance with LTAs and contractual terms.
• Designing and implementing a sustainable procurement strategy to support corporate procurement needs.
• Ensuring the robustness of the procure-to-pay process, including reviewing and approving procurement orders and preparing submissions for the Contracts Review Committee when necessary.
• Implementing vendor sanction decisions and supporting governance, risk, compliance, and reporting functions.
• Developing and implementing capacity-strengthening initiatives for supply chain professionals within UNFPA.
• Engaging with industry experts and contributing to knowledge sharing and best practices in supply chain management. 1
• Building partnerships and mobilizing resources to enhance UNFPA's supply chain function. 1
• Leading and supervising a team to create a conducive working environment aligned with UNFPA's People Strategy.

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 holding a relevant first-level or advanced university degree. Experience in development and/or complex humanitarian environments is essential, particularly in low-resource countries. Candidates should demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, the ability to develop partnerships, and experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Professional written and spoken communication skills are required, along with experience in team management and project management. Knowledge of UNFPA's strategic plans and operational aspects of sexual and reproductive health commodities is advantageous.

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, or a related field considered an asset. Professional certifications in Supply Chain Management, such as those from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) or the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT-UK), are also beneficial.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least seven years of relevant experience in procurement and contracting, with a minimum of four years required for those with a relevant degree. Experience in development and humanitarian contexts is crucial, particularly in low-resource settings. Candidates must also have experience in facilitating participation in international public health meetings and managing diverse partnerships.

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 values gender equality, diversity, and integrity, and encourages applications from women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, and persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process. UNFPA does not charge any fees for application or recruitment processes.