Procurement Senior Associate

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 a workforce of more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices in Africa, it aims to advance national priorities through strategic initiatives in various sectors including Climate Action, Health, and Infrastructure. The office promotes excellence in project delivery and contributes to sustainable infrastructure and better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Job Overview:
The Procurement Senior Associate is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of procurement activities by providing reliable support, advice, and services related to contracts and processes. This role emphasizes a quality, client-focused approach to ensure compliance with UNOPS procurement rules, regulations, policies, and strategies. The associate will work with minimal supervision and will liaise with various stakeholders, including program support officers and technical advisors, to facilitate procurement processes effectively. The position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to continuous improvement in procurement practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support procurement transactions by implementing approved measures to integrate sustainability into procurement processes, ensuring completeness of documentation for purchase orders, contracts, and long-term agreements. Conduct regular market research to identify procurement sources and maintain an updated database of local suppliers. Generate status reports and ensure availability of all documentation for audit purposes.
• Collaborate with project staff to prepare procurement plans and maintain tracking processes for procurement requests. Provide proposals on the modalities for supplying goods and services, ensuring completeness of requests and preparing appropriate specifications for equipment and materials. Liaise with suppliers throughout the procurement cycle and resolve issues post-order.
• Establish appropriate lists of contractors/suppliers for higher-value purchases and prepare necessary procurement documents, ensuring compliance with UNOPS standards. Collaborate with program clients to evaluate received offers and prepare analyses for contract awards.
• Administer contracts by tracking signatures, engaging funds in the ERP system, and maintaining contract databases.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing by organizing training on procurement for staff and contributing to knowledge networks by synthesizing lessons learned and best practices in procurement.

Required Qualifications:
A secondary school diploma (or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience, or a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 3 years of relevant experience is required. A globally or nationally recognized professional certification (e.g., CIPS) is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate strong skills in contract management, electronic procurement, logistics management, and market analysis.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a secondary school diploma or equivalent with extensive experience in procurement, or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with relevant experience. A professional certification in procurement is preferred but not mandatory.

Experience:
Relevant experience in procurement or related fields is required. Candidates should have experience using collaboration and productivity tools (e.g., MS Office, G-Suite) and web management systems. Experience in multicultural environments or within UN organizations in developing countries is desirable, as is experience in development or humanitarian assistance.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required, and intermediate proficiency in English is also required. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified at the Associate seniority level (ICS 07) and is a regular ICA - LICA support contract. The posting starts on October 16, 2026, and ends on November 1, 202

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not request candidates to make payments during the recruitment process. Applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time on the closing date. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessments. UNOPS is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities.