Senior Procurement Assistant

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Senior Procurement Assistant
Location: Santiago
Country: Chile
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, established in 194

• Its mission is to contribute to the economic and social development of the region by designing, monitoring, and evaluating public policies, providing advisory services, expertise, and training to governments, and supporting regional and international cooperation and coordination activities. ECLAC operates in various countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on sustainable development and social inclusion. For more information, visit www.eclac.org.

Job Overview:
The Senior Procurement Assistant position is located in the Procurement Unit at ECLAC Headquarters in Santiago, Chile. The role involves working under the general supervision of the Director of Administration and the direct supervision of the Procurement Unit Chief. The incumbent is responsible for overseeing procurement procedures, advising requisitioning offices on procurement types, administering purchase orders and contracts, evaluating proposals, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies. The position requires a strong understanding of procurement processes, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively. The Senior Procurement Assistant will also assist in data analysis and reporting, contributing to informed decision-making within the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervisory tasks: Monitor and recommend procurement procedures to ECLAC Santiago’s Procurement Unit and other offices; assign work to General Service staff and establish priorities; draft correspondence in English and Spanish.
• Advise requisitioning offices on procurement types, including Low Value acquisitions and bidding processes.
• Administer purchase orders and contracts, ensuring vendor compliance and reporting on contract status.
• Evaluate administrative conditions in proposals, negotiate terms with vendors, and prepare recommendations for contract awards.
• Draft contracts for approval by the Chief of Unit or Division.
• Explore local and foreign markets to identify potential vendors for significant purchases.
• Perform signatory tasks in the absence of the Chief of the Unit.
• Provide documentation and discuss procedures with auditors on procurement matters.
• Assist with data collection, analysis, and preparation of reports for knowledge management and decision-making.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. For positions in the General Service category, it is essential to clearly indicate relevant information confirming completion of high school in the Applicant Profile. Additionally, candidates should have a strong understanding of procurement policies and processes, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to communicate effectively in both English and Spanish.

Educational Background:
A high school diploma or equivalent is required for this position. Candidates must clearly indicate their educational qualifications in their Applicant Profile to confirm completion of high school. There are no specific job-specific qualifications listed for this role.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in administration. This requirement is reduced to eight (8) years for candidates with a first-level university degree or higher. Additionally, candidates must have five (5) years of experience in procurement activities and two (2) years of experience in personnel supervision functions. Experience in data analytics or a related area is desirable but not mandatory.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Spanish is required for this position, as these are the working languages of ECLAC. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available until August 31, 202

• If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. The appointment for positions in the General Service category is done on a local basis, meaning applicants must be authorized to work in Chile. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and candidates are encouraged to follow all instructions provided in the online recruitment platform. The organization is committed to achieving gender balance and diversity in its staff, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.