Intersectional Field Procurement Advisor

Job Posting Organization:
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency aid to individuals affected by armed conflict, epidemics, healthcare exclusion, and natural disasters. Established in 1971, MSF operates in over 70 countries and is known for its commitment to delivering assistance based solely on need, without regard to race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. MSF International serves as the legal entity that unites MSF's 24 sections, 28 associations, and 19 branch offices, providing coordination, information, and support to the MSF Movement. Registered in Switzerland, MSF International also implements international projects and initiatives as required, ensuring that the organization can effectively respond to crises around the world.

Job Overview:
The Intersectional Field Procurement Advisor plays a crucial role within the Global Procurement Unit (GPU) of MSF International, which is responsible for overseeing procurement strategies and ensuring compliance and efficiency in procurement activities across the organization. This position is designed to support procurement activities in the field, fostering the adoption of best practices that align with MSF's global needs. The advisor will work closely with various stakeholders, including Field Procurement teams, Heads of Missions, and other coordinators, to enhance procurement processes and ensure that they are effective and responsive to the operational demands of MSF. The role involves a significant amount of travel to field locations, approximately 50% of the time, to provide hands-on support and guidance to country programs, ensuring that procurement activities are aligned with MSF's humanitarian mission.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide front office support for both mutualized and non-mutualized procurement in country programs, offering strategic and technical assistance to country programs through Integrated Procurement Managers (IPMs) or Operational Coordinators (OCs) at regional and mission levels.
• Actively participate in discussions regarding the mutualization of field procurement, ensuring proper governance is established at the country program level.
• Offer on-demand operational procurement support, including needs assessments, market assessments, sourcing, negotiation, supplier performance monitoring, and training.
• Serve as a functional manager for field Intersectional Procurement Managers, providing technical expertise during recruitment and onboarding processes, and supporting IPMs in their activities and integration within the team.
• Identify gaps in current procurement processes and tools, collaborating with the global procurement team to address specific field needs.
• Promote the use of global procurement tools and processes in the field, ensuring that IPMs and Supply Teams are equipped to utilize these resources effectively.
• Foster a strong field procurement community by facilitating communication and collaboration among IPMs, Supply Teams, and GPU resources, while promoting capacity-building initiatives through tailored training and professional development opportunities.
• Enhance market intelligence within the region by developing documentation and guidelines that support procurement initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of procurement processes and best practices, with a proven ability to manage complex procurement activities in a humanitarian context. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as the role requires collaboration with diverse stakeholders across various levels of the organization. Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on efficiency and compliance in procurement operations. Additionally, candidates should be adaptable and able to work effectively in challenging environments, often under pressure.

Educational Background:
A bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, or a related field is required. A master's degree or additional certifications in procurement or logistics management is highly desirable and may enhance a candidate's qualifications for this role.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in procurement or supply chain management, preferably within the humanitarian sector. Experience working in international settings and familiarity with MSF's operational context will be considered an asset. Proven experience in managing procurement teams and projects, as well as a track record of successful negotiations and supplier management, is essential for this position.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, both written and spoken. Proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable, given the location of the position and the need to communicate effectively with local stakeholders. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to the regions where MSF operates would be considered a significant advantage.

Additional Notes:
The position is a full-time role with a contract duration of 12 months, which is renewable based on performance and organizational needs. The advisor will be expected to travel frequently to field locations, approximately 50% of their time, to provide direct support to country programs. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with MSF's practices and will reflect the current package offered in the MSF entity establishing the contract.