Procurement Advisor

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Position Title: Procurement Advisor
Location: Dakar
Country: Senegal
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The West Africa Multi-Country Office (WAMCO) aims to provide effective and efficient support to partners under its jurisdiction, in line with the UNOPS strategy. The operations of the multi-country office are guided by the mission of UNOPS, which is to enhance the capacity of the United Nations system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations that matter to people in need. WAMCO's main partners include the World Bank, the EU, the Islamic Development Bank, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Global Fund, and other UN agencies such as UNHCR and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). Potential partnerships in areas such as sustainable energy, youth employment, health, and education include the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Korean International Cooperation Agency, and UNICEF.

Job Overview:
The Procurement Advisor will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Support Services, providing advisory and efficient management services in procurement while ensuring value for money and a competitive, fair, and transparent process in accordance with UNOPS regulations, rules, and procedures. The role involves developing and implementing operational strategies, managing procurement processes, and promoting knowledge sharing and development in procurement. The Procurement Advisor will also supervise the procurement team at the West Africa Multi-Country Office, ensuring that procurement strategies align with the needs of the organization and its stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Development and implementation of operational strategies: Advise on the integration and strategic implementation of procurement processes within WAMCO, ensuring compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations. Establish a harmonized procurement approach across all programs and projects under WAMCO's responsibility. Define and promote standardized procurement practices and procedures within the office. Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), tools, and guidelines that meet the evolving needs of the office. Manage stakeholder relationships to stay informed of their needs and use feedback to plan and prioritize procurement initiatives. Provide strategic advice on tender design and the implementation of the office's contracting strategy. Develop and implement an effective monitoring and risk management framework for procurement activities in collaboration with headquarters partners. Enhance procurement function performance and continuously improve best practices in collaboration with PCG and PG.
• Management of procurement processes: Plan, develop, and manage public procurement activities of the office's portfolio to ensure quality services that guarantee effective and efficient implementation of programs and projects. Analyze complex and/or critical public procurement requests, determine appropriate strategies and approaches to best serve the institution's interests, and ensure their implementation. Supervise, mentor, and guide the management of public procurement processes in accordance with established guidelines. Establish a quality assurance mechanism for procurement files, enhancing submission quality for approval and support during committee reviews. Lead or guide negotiation and/or contract termination processes. Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) in collaboration with management and in alignment with internal and external client expectations. Design models, tools (e.g., checklists), and process maps to facilitate compliance with institutional rules and regulations. Monitor developments in procurement policies and ensure understanding and application by country teams.
• Development/Management of procurement strategy and monitoring tools: Develop strategies to strengthen category management according to the office's consolidated portfolio. Identify and guide on required expertise for effective implementation of procurement strategies. Supervise the development and management of supplier directories, as well as selection, evaluation, and performance measurement mechanisms. Lead efforts to expand the office's directory of prequalified organizations in emerging fields of interest. Establish a consolidated monitoring mechanism for procurement activities of the office. Ensure management, monitoring, and compliance with the use of global tracking tools to generate key dashboards on the office's procurement activities.
• Promotion of knowledge sharing and development in procurement: Organize training for operations and project staff on public procurement and grants. Identify, codify, and promote best practices and lessons learned. Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Analyze gaps in proposals/requests for proposals and organize training for suppliers to enhance their competence and competitiveness.
• Leadership of the procurement team: Organize knowledge-sharing activities and participate in relevant communities of practice. Supervise and coordinate the work of the entire procurement team, ensuring adherence to timelines and quality of all transactions. Supervise and motivate the procurement unit team. Monitor the quality and effectiveness of results, providing regular feedback. Encourage autonomy and accountability among team members. Ensure that performance evaluations are conducted fairly, accurately, and timely. Promote teamwork, collaboration, and diversity by providing team members with clear guidance, objectives, and advice to enable them to perform their tasks responsibly, effectively, and efficiently. Foster a positive, respectful work environment for all, ensuring the highest standards of conduct are upheld. Create, encourage, and exemplify a culture of respect and zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse of authority, harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation and abuse. Ensure accountability for actions and execute tasks in accordance with protection mechanisms and action plans as required by UNOPS policies, standards, and commitments. Share and facilitate professional development opportunities through training (e.g., CIPS, Prince2 Practitioner, P3O Foundation) and field missions.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include a Master's degree in procurement and/or supply chain management and/or business administration, public administration, finance, economics, or a related field. A Bachelor's degree in procurement and/or supply chain management and/or business administration, public administration, finance, economics, or a related field combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a Master's degree.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in procurement and/or supply chain management and/or business administration, public administration, finance, economics, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a Bachelor's degree in the same fields combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master's degree.

Experience:
A minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement operations/management at the national or international level is required. This experience should preferably be within governmental financial institutions, international agencies, UN agencies, or other international development organizations. At least 3 years of experience in team supervision is required, along with a minimum of 2 years of experience in providing strategic advice to management. Experience in grant management is desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in both spoken and written English and French is required.

Additional Notes:
The type of engagement is either an International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA) or a Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA), with a level of ICS-11 / IICA-

• The duration of the engagement is indefinite, subject to satisfactory performance, availability of resources, and organizational priorities. UNOPS does not accept unsolicited applications, and applications received after the closing date will not be considered. UNOPS will only communicate with those selected to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process, which involves various assessments. UNOPS is committed to promoting diversity and ensuring equal access to employment. The staff of UNOPS comprises individuals from diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS aims to maintain and enhance this diversity to ensure equal opportunities and an inclusive work environment for all its staff. UNOPS encourages women and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply, particularly those from ethnic minorities, indigenous groups, and minority gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as individuals with disabilities. UNOPS aims to ensure that all individuals can perform at their best during the evaluation process. Pre-selected individuals who require additional assistance for assessment, including reasonable accommodations, are encouraged to inform HR personnel after receiving an invitation to participate in the assessment. For staff positions, UNOPS reserves the right to assign a person to a lower-level position than that advertised. Retainer contract holders are required to dedicate approximately four hours of their own time to complete mandatory training before they can begin providing services to UNOPS. They may also be required to take refresher courses or new mandatory training during their contract. No compensation will be provided for the time spent on these trainings. All UNOPS staff must adhere to the UN Charter, UNOPS policies and instructions, and any other relevant accountability framework in the performance of their duties. Additionally, staff must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals consistent with the values of the United Nations and the vision of 'Our Common Agenda'. UNOPS policy requires reference checks for all individuals selected for a position, and these checks are critical for hiring.