Contracts Management Officer
Manage contracts and ensure compliance within UNAMA operations
Overview
Manage contracts and ensure compliance within UNAMA operations
You have:
- High School diploma or equivalent is required.
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in contract/quality administration is required.
- Technical training or vocational certificate in Procurement or Contracts Management is desirable.
- Experience with regards to supply and management is required.
- Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French is desirable.
Contract
This is a FS-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as Field Service. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education. More about FS-6 contracts and their salaries.
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Operations and Resource Management Pillar of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), duty station Kabul. The incumbent will report directly to the Chief, Operations and Resource Management (CORM).
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Contracts Management Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Establish and maintain work programme and schedules for on-going contracts and newly planned ones. • Maintain effective relations with contractors and service providers. • Draft responses to both internal and external audit observations on engineering tasks and activities in the mission. • Support the development and implementation of operational plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), initiatives and projects relating to contract compliance and performance management. • Support the procurement process including providing input to statement of works/requirements, assist in the development of technical evaluation criteria and guidance during contract drafting. Help to develop a quality assurance plan to provide a systematic method to evaluate services and products. • Oversee the adherence to contractual agreements for material, equipment and production costs, performance requirements and delivery schedules by periodic and ad hoc checks. Recommend amendments and extensions of the contracts and advise affected parties on contractual rights and obligations. • Initiate contract close outs including identifying, documenting and disseminating best practices and lessons learned and securing the final contractor performance assessment. ensure the enforcement of UN contracts in consultation with the Supply Section, Contract Administration Unit at UNHQs, as appropriate, and liaising with other Departments on handling of claims and disputes, demanding specific performance, claiming against warranties, and other contractual remedies. •Support the Mission Contract Management Section which assist the Procurement Section in resolving within the terms and conditions of the contract of conflicts/performance issues arising in cases of poor performance or non-compliance with contractual obligation by either party to the contract. • Draft relevant audit responses relevant to contract management in the mission or review any other audit responses that may have aspects purporting to the mission contract management; Maintain electronic and hardcopy files and records to ensure proper accountability; Implement work program. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Ensures that requirements and background information used for data analysis are documented. • Perform other related duties as assigned.
Competencies
Professionalism: Demonstrated knowledge in the field of contract and/or project management, including knowledge of quality assurance, service and commodity contracts; Practical knowledge of management of service and commodity contracts in a field/decentralized operation; demonstrated fiscal awareness and responsibility and very good knowledge of UN financial regulations and rules; ability to develop, maintain and supervise management control systems. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. 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.
Education
High School diploma or equivalent is required.
Job - Specific Qualification
Technical training or vocational certificate in Procurement or Contracts Management is desirable. Relevant professional training in contract law, quality management and logistics management is desirable.
Work Experience
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in contract/quality administration is required. Experience with regards to supply and management is required. Experience in international trade practices is desirable. Experience providing services to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2025. 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. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a time when you had to manage multiple contracts simultaneously? | The interviewer wants to see how you prioritize and handle multiple responsibilities. | Demonstrate your organizational skills and prioritization strategies. |
| How do you ensure compliance with contractual obligations in your projects? | This question assesses your understanding of contract management. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Tell me about a conflict you had with a contractor and how you resolved it. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use for quality assurance in contracts? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you stay updated on best practices in contract and procurement management? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |