Procurement Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Department of Operational Support (DOS) was established to provide operational advisory services to various entities across the United Nations Secretariat. This includes support to other departments, Offices Away from Headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. The Office of Supply Chain Management, which is part of DOS, encompasses several divisions including the Procurement Division, which is tasked with delivering expert procurement services and business advice to UN Headquarters and other UN organizations. The Procurement Division aims to ensure best value for money while adhering to competitive, fair, and transparent processes in accordance with established regulations and rules. The organization operates globally, supporting various UN missions and initiatives.

Job Overview:
The Procurement Officer position is situated within the Facilities, Construction and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security Section of the Procurement Division, under the Office of Supply Chain Management. The incumbent will serve as a senior procurement and contracting expert, responsible for managing the procurement of a diverse range of supplies and services related to complex contracts and procurement activities. This role requires providing technical advice on procurement activities throughout all phases of the procurement cycle, analyzing procurement requests, and ensuring the appropriateness of technical specifications. The officer will also be responsible for developing and preparing complex contracts, issuing international tender invitations, evaluating responses, and making recommendations for contract awards. Additionally, the role involves developing new tactical approaches to contracts based on market research, contributing to the development of institutional procurement policies, and maintaining oversight of production patterns in exporting countries. The Procurement Officer will also establish negotiation strategies and conduct negotiations with various stakeholders, while providing guidance to junior staff members.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Procurement Officer will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to: serving as a senior expert in procurement and contracting; providing technical advice on procurement activities; analyzing and evaluating procurement requests; developing and preparing complex contracts; issuing international tender invitations; evaluating tender responses; making recommendations for contract awards; signing procurement orders; preparing submissions for the Contracts Committee; developing new tactical approaches to contracts; contributing to the development of procurement policies and procedures; maintaining oversight of production patterns in exporting countries; establishing negotiation strategies; conducting negotiations; and providing guidance to junior staff members. The role may also involve carrying out consultancy missions to the field as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, commerce, commercial law, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Professional certification in supply chain management, such as Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply certification (CIPS Level 4) or an equivalent certification, is also required. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of internationally recognized procurement standards and contract law, as well as expertise in handling complex procurement issues.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, commerce, commercial law, or a related field is required for this position. In cases where candidates possess a first-level university degree, they must also have two additional years of qualifying experience to be considered equivalent to the advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates must have a minimum of two years of experience in conducting international tender exercises to award contracts within the last five years. Additionally, they should have at least two consecutive years of experience in conducting international tender exercises specifically in the areas of facilities management, property leasing, and engineering design and construction. Experience in sourcing, cleaning, and preparing data, as well as developing visualization metrics in procurement or supply chain management, is desirable. A minimum of seven years of experience in procurement, contract management, logistics, or supply chain management is required, with preference given to candidates who have experience managing complex international procurement teams within the UN system or a comparable international organization.

Languages:
English is the required working language for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is also recognized as a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, and proficiency in French is considered an asset for this role.

Additional Notes:
This position is funded for an initial period of one year by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. The appointment is subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval, or extension of the mandate. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. The position is subject to various considerations regarding eligibility, including the ineligibility of individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and candidates are advised to follow all instructions provided in the online recruitment platform.