Procurement Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve those in need, CRS operates in around 100 countries, focusing on saving, protecting, and transforming lives regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Since its inception, CRS has been dedicated to delivering relief and development programs in various sectors including emergency response, disaster risk reduction, health, agriculture, education, community savings, livelihoods, and peacebuilding. In the Philippines, CRS has been active since 1945, making it the longest-running continuous CRS country program globally. The organization employs over 60 staff members across multiple cities including Manila, Cotabato City, Tagbilaran City, Iloilo City, Virac, and Malaybalay City, collaborating closely with church and civil society partners, government agencies, and other organizations to support vulnerable communities throughout the country. Additionally, CRS operates a program office in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), focusing on community-based disaster risk reduction and emergency response initiatives. The Philippines and FSM now function as one Business Management Unit (BMU) under CRS’ Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) regional structure, providing shared services and management oversight across key functions such as MEAL, Finance, Human Resources, and Supply Chain Management.

Job Overview:
The Procurement Officer position at CRS is designed for a proactive and values-driven individual who possesses strong execution, teamwork, and integrity. This role is crucial in ensuring that procurement processes are conducted in a timely, cost-effective, and compliant manner to support various programs across the Philippines and FSM. The Procurement Officer will coordinate procurement activities, collaborating closely with program and operations teams to ensure that goods and services are sourced transparently and accountably, while adhering to CRS policies, donor requirements, and local regulations. The position requires a commitment to delivering best value for money and maintaining high standards of compliance throughout the procurement process. The officer will be responsible for developing and maintaining procurement plans, facilitating sourcing processes, and ensuring that all procurement activities align with organizational standards and donor regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Procurement Officer will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities including: coordinating procurement systems and procedures to ensure compliance with CRS policies and donor regulations; assessing the effectiveness of procurement processes and recommending improvements; developing and maintaining up-to-date procurement plans in collaboration with program and operations teams; providing pricing information to support budget preparation; facilitating sourcing processes to ensure best value for money through market assessments, supplier evaluations, and transparent bidding; tracking the delivery and receipt of goods and services, providing timely updates on procurement status; verifying that received goods and services meet procurement specifications; maintaining communication with suppliers to ensure compliance with contractual terms; monitoring supplier performance and addressing any issues; ensuring transparency and accountability by maintaining accurate procurement records; and preparing procurement reports for audits and reviews.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in management, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field. A minimum of three years of professional experience in procurement, purchasing, logistics, or administration is required, preferably within an international NGO or development organization. Candidates should have a good understanding of donor procurement regulations, knowledge of international and national procurement regulations, and familiarity with supply chain management processes. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate the ability to manage procurement transactions effectively and have knowledge of contract administration.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as management, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or Logistics. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate has the foundational knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of procurement processes and regulations effectively.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least three years of professional experience in procurement, purchasing, logistics, or administration. This experience should preferably be within an international NGO or development organization, providing the candidate with a solid understanding of the unique challenges and requirements of procurement in such contexts. Experience in managing procurement transactions and familiarity with donor regulations will be highly beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Filipino is required for this position. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with internal teams, suppliers, and stakeholders, ensuring that procurement processes are conducted smoothly and efficiently.

Additional Notes:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities. The successful candidate must be willing to travel up to 30% of the time as required by the role. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from all forms of exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS' Code of Conduct. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates, and all offers are contingent on the selected candidate's ability to legally work in the Philippines.