Chief, Purchase and Transportation Section

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 204,886 USD and 256,769 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Purchase and Transportation Section (PTS), Central Support Services (CSS), Division of Administration (DOA), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). The Chief of Section of Purchase and Transportation Section reports to the Chief, Central Support Services.

Responsibilities Under the authority and overall direction of the Chief, Central Support Services, the Chief of Section of Purchase and Transportation Section (PTS) will be responsible for the following duties :

Plans, organizes, co-ordinates and supervises the activities of the Section by:

a) Providing leadership to Unit Chiefs and ensuring effectiveness and efficiency of operations; monitoring workload and performance indicators; reviewing workflows and practices to optimize use of resources; b) Promoting and ensuring adherence to rules and regulations as well as to highest qualitative and ethical standards; c) Defining, updating and disseminating PTS' mission statement; ensuring client and target orientation in the Section; d) Resolving staffing and personnel issues; identifying training and staff development opportunities; e) Reviewing resources available and proposing adjustments where needed; reviewing potential for technical innovations in the Section, including electronic purchasing and processing tools and application software (such as UMOJA); arranging for security of information, files and data.

Undertakes operational responsibilities by:

a) Developing strategies for logistic matters, contracting of services, contracts, systems and procedures; controlling and innovating on contract terms and conditions; and guiding the work of junior officers in this respect; b) Negotiating the most complex or sensitive contracts; addressing vendor performance problems and resolving major disputes with vendors, if necessary, in consultation with the UNOG Senior Legal Officer; c) Presenting and justifying major contract awards before the UNOG and Headquarters Committee on Contracts; d) Approving and signing Purchase Orders and Contracts for amounts up to $250,000; e) Ensuring continuity of UNOG Logistics activities; f) Preparing replies to audit observations and other inquiries; g) Consulting with the UNOG Senior Legal Officer concerning customs and tax privileges and immunities, as well as on complex contractual provisions.

Establishes and maintains logistics operations and contacts; obtains and disseminates information by:

a) Organizing regular meetings with user offices to agree on and ensure observation of service levels, to organize procurement planning, to coordinate the provision of logistic services and to obtain user feedback and to resolve problems in in service delivery: b) Providing briefings to vendors or other members of the public or organizations concerning United Nations purchasing procedures and practices and the particular situation of UNOG; c) Maintaining the UNOG/PTS website; d) Attending meetings at the Inter-Agency level with Chief of Purchasing, Contracting and/or Travel and Transportation of other organizations to exchange experiences and information on best practices, and to co-ordinate common projects and initiatives. e) Maintaining contacts with the Procurement Division and the Transportation and Logistics Services at New York headquarters for policy guidance, consistency in the interpretation of Rules, common procurement activities, staff training and development and other matters; f) Maintaining contacts with major vendors and air carriers; keeping abreast with latest developments in products and services and in the commercial sector, and in the travel and freight industry.

Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of enterprise resource management applications such as UMOJA ; knowledge of procurement software such as Intend, etc. Ability to advanced technical qualifications and broad knowledge of administrative and management principles. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Managing performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Commerce or Law, or equivalent is required. A first level university degree in one of the above-mentioned fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in commercial or government procurement is required.

Experience in managing large multi-disciplinary teams is desirable.

Experience in the area of procurement, travel, complex negotiations or logistics coordination is desirable.

Experience working at the international level in multicultural teams is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in either English or French with knowledge of the other is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice This temporary job opening is advertised for an initial period up to 31 May 2023 with the possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.