Senior Contracts Associate

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Position Title: Senior Contracts Associate
Location: New York
Country: United States
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for personal and professional development. UNICEF prides itself on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The Senior Contracts Associate plays a crucial role in UNICEF's mission by managing individual consultancy contracts and institutional pre-contracting transactions. This position requires advanced knowledge and skills to handle complex cases and client requests, ensuring compliance with UNICEF's policies and procedures. The role involves planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of contracts, as well as providing technical advice and operational guidance to ensure seamless transactional workflows. The Senior Contracts Associate is also responsible for training and capacity development within the Central Services Center (CSC), contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of UNICEF's operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Planning: Collaborate with the supervisor to forecast, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate the consultancy contracts portfolio, ensuring adherence to established service level agreements (SLAs). Regularly draft and revise standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the unit.
• Contract Management: Provide technical expertise in the application and execution of consultancy and procurement policies. Ensure fair and transparent solutions throughout the contracting process. Liaise with clients and Supply Division to support procurement initiatives and develop specifications.
• Quality Assurance: Conduct reviews of submissions for compliance with UNICEF regulations, prepare and amend purchase orders, and maintain up-to-date transaction files for audit purposes.
• Stakeholder Communication: Keep stakeholders informed about the progress of requests and address potential issues proactively.
• Learning and Capacity Development: Identify training needs and conduct training sessions for staff to enhance efficiency in contracting processes.
• Performance Management: Ensure effective performance management of staff, providing guidance to meet individual and team objectives.
• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to recommendations for improving internal control systems and facilitate knowledge exchange within the team.

Required Qualifications:
Completion of secondary education (High School) is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to HR, supply chain, logistics, business administration, contract/commercial law, or another relevant technical field. A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in individual consultancy contracting, supply chain management, procurement, or a commercial context is required. Hands-on experience with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other UNICEF software is essential. Understanding of development and humanitarian work is an advantage, and prior supervisory experience is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have completed secondary education, with additional technical or university courses in relevant fields such as HR, supply chain, logistics, business administration, or contract law being highly desirable. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of contracting and procurement processes within UNICEF.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in areas such as individual consultancy contracting, supply chain management, or procurement. Experience in a commercial context is also relevant. Candidates with experience in another UN system agency or organization will be viewed favorably. Past supervisory roles are considered an asset, as they demonstrate the ability to manage teams and guide staff effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both verbal and written, is mandatory. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in New York and is subject to UNICEF's medical clearance and inoculation requirements, including vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion, and appointments are subject to visa issuance by the host country. The organization offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave and flexible working arrangements.