Procurement Senior Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, established to oversee the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, focuses on fragile and conflict-affected settings. With more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices in North, West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa, the office aims to advance national priorities through strategic initiatives in various sectors including Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The office promotes excellence in project delivery, fosters knowledge sharing, and drives continuous improvement to contribute to sustainable infrastructure and better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Job Overview:
The Procurement Senior Assistant plays a crucial role in supporting the procurement and contracting processes for the East and Southern Africa Multi-Country Office (ESAMCO). This position is designed to ensure efficient procurement services by providing administrative support, managing supplier rosters, and utilizing e-procurement tools. The Senior Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the Procurement Manager and will be responsible for maintaining optimal information flow and consistency in procurement transactions. The role is essential for ensuring that procurement processes are executed smoothly and effectively, contributing to the overall success of the organization's projects and initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Procurement Senior Assistant will be responsible for a variety of tasks including: assisting in drafting bidding documents, evaluation reports, and contract award submissions; processing procurement transactions in UNOPS’ corporate system, OneUNOPS; preparing Purchase Orders (POs), Contracts, Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), or their amendments; processing invoices for goods and services delivered; monitoring expenditure against allocation; receiving, reviewing, logging, and routing incoming communication and procurement requests/invoices; preparing reports, tables, charts, and statistics on procurement volume; undertaking routine follow-up actions on procurement; publishing procurement advertisements and awards; maintaining status reports on procurement activities; and providing standardized service and guidance to clients on procurement processes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess either a secondary school education with 5 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with at least 1 year of relevant experience. A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate or membership (e.g., CIPS) is desired but not mandatory. The role requires a strong understanding of procurement processes and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.

Educational Background:
The educational requirements for this position include a secondary school diploma or equivalent with significant relevant experience, or a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Candidates with additional qualifications such as a professional certificate in procurement or related fields will be viewed favorably, as these credentials demonstrate a commitment to professional development and expertise in the field.

Experience:
Relevant experience in procurement or related areas is essential for this position. Candidates should have experience using collaboration and productivity tools such as MS Office and G-Suite, as well as familiarity with web-based management systems. Experience working in multicultural environments or within UN system organizations in developing countries is highly desirable, as is experience in development or humanitarian contexts.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Candidates should be able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing. Additional language skills may be considered an asset, particularly if they relate to the regions in which UNOPS operates, but English remains the primary language of communication.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as entry-level and falls under the ICS Level 0

• The contract type is ICA - LICA - Support - Regular, with a duration of one year, renewable based on organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. The application deadline is set for midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from qualified women and candidates from underrepresented groups. Background checks will be conducted for all final candidates to ensure compliance with UNOPS standards.