National Procurement Specialist

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Position Title: National Procurement Specialist
Location: Apia
Country: Samoa
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 12,000 employees working in more than 130 countries. 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 Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) is part of FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and focuses on developing and implementing strategies and projects that transform food, agriculture, and rural development in the Pacific Islands region.

Job Overview:
The National Procurement Specialist plays a crucial role in managing and coordinating procurement activities within the FAO, ensuring compliance with organizational policies and procedures. This position requires a strong focus on maintaining effective supplier relationships and overseeing the entire procurement process, from identifying suppliers to contract management. The specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including the Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific, the International Procurement Specialist, and other technical advisers. The role is essential for ensuring timely delivery of goods and services, which is vital for the success of the Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems (STODAS) Project in Fiji, Samoa, and Solomon Islands. The specialist will be responsible for executing procurement processes, analyzing requests, conducting market research, and providing support throughout the procurement cycle, ensuring that all actions align with FAO's rules and donor requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Procurement Specialist will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including but not limited to: executing specialized procurement processes, reviewing and analyzing procurement requests for compliance with FAO rules, managing the Global Resource Management System (GRMS) for purchase requisitions and orders, identifying and recommending sources of procurement, conducting market research, preparing tender documents, issuing tenders, monitoring the status of requisitions, organizing bid openings, implementing internal control systems for purchase orders, preparing documents for competitive selection of service providers, developing knowledge of FAO procurement procedures, reporting on procurement activities, maintaining proper filing systems for procurement documents, and performing any other duties as required. The specialist will also be responsible for ensuring that procurement actions are completed in a timely manner and that all commitments are made against valid contracts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of five years of relevant work experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or financial management of projects is required. Full proficiency in English and Samoan is mandatory, and candidates must be nationals of Samoa. The role demands efficiency, competence, integrity, and strong negotiating skills, along with the ability to work with multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural project partners.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a university degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration or Supply Chain Management. Candidates must have obtained their qualifications from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant work experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or financial management of projects. Experience in managing or coordinating international, regional, or national projects related to agriculture and the environment is highly desirable.

Languages:
Full proficiency in English and Samoan is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must be medically fit for appointment and meet any residency or visa requirements. The position may involve working with international partners and stakeholders, and the appointment will be subject to security clearances. For additional employment opportunities, candidates can visit the FAO employment website.