Contracts Specialist, FT, P3, East Jerusalem, State of Palestine

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 123,096 USD and 161,185 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.

UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a voice

UNICEF in the State of Palestine works to uphold the rights of children to access services and protection, from early childhood through to adolescence. Our objective is to ensure that every child in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, irrespective of background or circumstance, has an equal chance to fulfill their potential. We are working for every child and young person in the State of Palestine.

How can you make a difference?

The Contracts Specialist (P3) will provide technical leadership in the implementation of the procurement and/or contracts strategy for services based on informed risk assessment analysis and assumptions; they will ensure that a contract plan of action is established and implemented (establishment of relevant LTAs and frame agreements).

There are a variety of risks faced during the procurement process (cross-cutting risks and risks in every phase and stage of the process) which need involvement in risk assessment and planning practical management and operational measures. To manage and ensure the best value for money and mitigate risks, creation of a Contracts Specialist is needed as there is a clear trend and strategic shift from donor funding for delivery of goods to demand for more complex and high-value infrastructural projects, and/or highly technical institutional services in the new ADP document.

As the works for procuring services are more complex than supplies such as sourcing service providers, defining clear TOR including clear technical evaluation criteria, appropriate pricing, setting pre-bid meeting, evaluation, awarding contract, monitoring the progress of contract and timely response to individual case for dispute.

As an advocate for children, you will have the following duties/tasks:

1. Provide rapid and relevant procurement support and guidance, with a priority on achieving value for money, to internal customers from Country Office

• Establish close collaboration with programme sections through involvement in programme planning, and preparation for implementation of supply components as well as monitoring and evaluation. Establish accountability framework with programmes, for delivery of results for children.
• Analyze supply spend and establish procurement strategies based on category management to focus on strategic, essential supplies and services that contribute to results for children, including establishment of long-term agreements (LTAs) where relevant
• Provide continuous and updated guidance on procurement for services activities to all internal customers as required and advise on the most appropriate procurement strategy.
• Support procurement planning through coordination with internal customers. Provide technical support in preparation of appropriate documents, and input on specifications, on procurement of fundraising services, facilitating cost-effective and efficient procurement.
• Provide proactive procurement support, review ongoing and future procurement requirements. Analyze supply dashboards, implementation rates of key performance indicators and supply information/data from various systems and conduct root cause analysis of supply chain bottlenecks and challenges, with a view to drive improvements and ensure efficient and effective supply chains for children.
• Collaborate efficiently and effectively with all members of the procurement team to maximize the outputs of the team and achieve the unit’s objectives.
• Ensure appropriate vendor management practices e.g., supply performance reviews are established and applied.
• Participate in high-level emergency coordination, implementation and monitoring meetings with internal and external partners and establish close collaboration with Procurement Working Group.

2. Develop tender strategies, with a goal to achieve best value for money in contracting for goods and services for the organization.

• Compile lists of possible sources of procurement.
• Prepare and issue international tenders, manage 2-stage RFP evaluation process and tabulate results in a comparison matrix. Manage bidding processes using UNICEF web tendering tool, and orienting service providers/suppliers on the use of the tool.
• Prepare Contracts Review Committee (CRC) submissions for orders above the CRC threshold and present the cases to the CRC committee for review and approval.
• Develop and prepare complex contracts for procurement of both once-off and long-term requirements for routine and non-routine services.
• Effectively manage ongoing long-term contracts for provision of goods and services to ensure that service provider/supplier’s performance is within stated service levels.
• Proactively initiate renewal of contracts before their expiry.
• Assist in the identification of new service providers/suppliers.
• Carry out other procurement related tasks as requested by the Supply Manager.

3. Secure compliance with established UNICEF Financial rules & regulations to maintain the highest level of integrity, standards, and accountability.

• Ensure a procurement plan is prepared and updated for each Section.
• Ensure that contracts are in place because of competitive bidding exercises, in a timely manner and in accordance with UNICEF Financial rules & regulations and procurement guidelines and processes.
• Maintain effective working relations and contact with the Supply Division, Copenhagen, to confer on procurement policies, procedures, and guidance. Advise the internal customers on policies and procedures.

4. Ensure that effective support to UNICEF and Government capacity-building efforts are provided to enhance efficient, effective and timely supply delivery,

• Plan, design and conduct training for UNICEF's staff/consultants and counterparts in supply management, customs clearance, distribution and inventory management of supplies and equipment in order to maximize supply delivery.
• Provide effective coaching to the staff/consultants as required.
• Promote/drive supply chain strengthening and change management initiatives with governments and partners, to ensure efficient and effective supply chains for children.
• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches, and good practices on supply chain management within the organization as well as with externals to ensure effective and efficient supply chains for children

5. Collaboration and Partnership

• Provide advice to the Country Office, Government and implementing partners on offshore and/or local procurement policies and procedures, delivery and utilization of UNICEF supplies and equipment; coordinate with the Supply Division, Copenhagen, on supply policy and/or activities.
• Provide supply input to donor dialogue, and support development of supply of cash services components of proposals to donors including budgeting and use of innovative financing mechanisms for supplies and services.
• Support assessment of and collaboration with implementing partners including civil society, establishment of Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs), and monitoring of supply components under Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT).
• Develop and maintain partnership and collaborative relations with Government, UN organizations and bilateral counterparts in contracting for services activities including harmonized and collaborative procurement.

To qualify as a Champion for every child you will have:

• Advanced university Degree in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field, or relevant first-level university degree (Bachelor’s) in conjunction with a valid relevant professional certification is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly related technical fields is required. Understanding of development and humanitarian work. Emergency experience an advantage. Health supply chain management experience an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

For more information on the specific technical expertise needed, kindly visit the below JD.

JD Contracts Specialist.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The functional competencies required for this post are:

• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (II)
• Applying technical expertise (II)
• Learning and researching (II)
• Planning and Organizing (II)

Core Competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable females are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.