Procurement Officer (Emergency Responses)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable, reduce rural poverty, and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The Procurement Services (CSLP) within FAO provides advice, guidance, and oversight for procurement operations, ensuring that the organization procures goods, works, and services based on the principles of Best Value for Money.

Job Overview:
The Procurement Officer (Emergency Responses) is a critical role within the Procurement Service (CSLP) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This position is part of CSLP's surge procurement capacity, which is designed to provide flexible and hands-on support to FAO Decentralized Offices that are facing emergency response requirements, increased operational demands, capacity gaps, or other priority needs. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring timely, efficient, and effective procurement of goods and services, as well as providing quality assurance for Letters of Agreement in support of FAO operations. The role requires maintaining readiness for deployment and temporary assignments worldwide, in accordance with organizational priorities and operational requirements. The Procurement Officer will report to the Senior Procurement Officer (CSLP) and will play a key role in the planning and delivery of procurement services in compliance with internal policies, UN procurement guidelines, and international standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Procurement Officer (Emergency Responses) will lead and participate in teams, providing expertise on organization-wide committees or working groups, and supervising staff as necessary. Key responsibilities include supervising and overseeing procurement and contractual reporting and activities in accordance with FAO policies and regulatory frameworks. The officer will develop and update operational, policy, control, and risk management frameworks, implementing the latest approaches and methodologies, streamlined business processes, and new or revised procurement policies. The role involves analyzing procurement and LoA information for inclusion in various reports, responding to requests for assistance, and providing procurement and regulatory advice to managers at headquarters and Decentralized Offices. The officer will coordinate initiatives under the Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy, develop effective working relationships, and participate in training and capacity development activities. Specific functions include providing surge procurement support to Decentralized Offices, undertaking missions and temporary assignments, recommending strategic sourcing solutions, reviewing urgent requests for emergency procurement activities, negotiating with donors, and ensuring compliance with FAO procurement requirements.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, business/public administration, finance, economics, commerce, marketing, or a related field, along with seven years of relevant experience in procurement activities, including at least three years of supervisory experience. Alternatively, a first-level degree in the same fields with nine years of work experience in procurement activities, including three years of supervisory experience, is acceptable, along with completion of a professional qualification from an internationally recognized body such as CIPS, MCIPS, or FCIPS. Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of procurement standards and practices, particularly in emergency and crisis contexts, and possess the ability to adapt and operate effectively in diverse environments.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as law, business/public administration, finance, economics, commerce, or marketing. A first-level degree in these areas is also acceptable, provided the candidate has extensive work experience in procurement-related activities. Professional qualifications from recognized bodies are highly valued and can enhance a candidate's profile.

Experience:
Candidates are expected to have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in procurement-related activities, with at least three years in a supervisory role. Experience in emergency procurement and crisis contexts is particularly desirable, as is experience in public sector procurement dealing with complex contractual issues. The ability to identify clients' procurement-related needs and provide support from the clients' perspective is essential, along with experience in logistics-operations" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">logistics operations.

Languages:
A working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English is mandatory, along with intermediate knowledge (level B) of another FAO official language, which may include Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. Depending on the duty station, proficiency in a second FAO official language, particularly French or Spanish, is considered a strong asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Rome, Italy, and is primarily focused on supporting FAO operations in the field through missions and temporary assignments. The role requires readiness for deployment and temporary assignments worldwide, in accordance with organizational priorities. The position may involve full-time commitments and is subject to the organization's operational needs. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with FAO's policies and regulations.