Contracts Specialist (ITSS related services) P-3, FT, UNICEF Supply Division, New York, United States

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 140,639 USD and 184,155 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 fulfill 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, an Education

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Strategic office context:

The New York Supply Centre, is part of UNICEF Supply Division (main location Copenhagen, Denmark). The Centre in New York is expanding in the area of service contracting, working closely with the other UNICEF headquarters divisions and other field and regional actors. The Contracts Manager will lead the contracting of a category of complex services/goods and a wide range of other services/goods as may be determined. The roles will be providing effective services to customers, ensuring accurate and timely finalization of contracts/LTAs, with the overall goal of meeting the needs and requirements of the Divisions.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Contracts Manager (ITSS related services), the incumbent will be responsible for the planning, development and execution of procurement strategies for ICT service and goods contracting, including connectivity and communication services, data center, cloud-based services, software solutions (including saas), apps/tools development and enhancements (including web, data and mobile apps), digitization services, hardware and ICT equipment. The incumbent will further have to support contract management, monitoring suppliers’ performance, worldwide market research and long- term procurement planning in conjunction with the HQ divisions, ICTD, T4Ds and other field and regional actors in order to achieve value, the most cost-effective means of procurement. This will be executed through an effective and strategic procurement process in compliance with UNICEFs Financial Rules and Regulations, guided by public procurement principles and pursuing Value for Money for the organization. The incumbent will plan and conduct day to day procurement activities for the NY Headquarters Divisions.

You will be accountable for:

• Manage the development and coordination of procurement plans and implement strategic procurement decisions and effective vendor relations management, keeping abreast developments in the technology and vendor roadmaps. Undertake market research to develop a pool of healthy vendors and maintain updated vendor list.
• Support the Divisions in developing statement of works (SOWs)/ Terms of References (TORs) i.e. review material specifications and service requisitions with the Technical Divisions to ensure completeness and appropriateness. Seek optimal value in service from vendors in consultation with NY Headquarters Division.
• Undertake risk assessments where necessary and advices on appropriate risk mitigation strategies/measures to deal with the risks.
• Undertake procurement activities of ICT goods and services in compliance with the UNICEF Financial rules and regulations, SD Manual, and all other applicable procurement procedures.
• Strategically execute the procurement in a manner appropriate for the particular categories. For ICT this include areas such as Cloud services, subscription solutions, and awareness of how to address cyber security issues, applying best practices.
• Issue tender invitations to acceptable suppliers, evaluates offers, clarifies offers and negotiates with suppliers in accordance with UNICEF procedures. Adjudicates offers in coordination with the requisitioning Divisions and technical/ QA entities as applicable. Prepares and defends submissions to CRC, drafts and negotiate contracts including long term agreements. Ensure performance and financial risk evaluation of vendors before recommendation for awards.
• Manage and monitor contractual agreements (including Long Term Agreements (LTAs) to ensure supplier compliance to LTA’s and purchase order term and conditions as well as financial limits. Assist NY Headquarters Divisions to reviewing and monitoring performance and return-on-investment metric and initiating contract/LTAs modifications.
• In partnership with NY Headquarters Divisions and RO/COs, evaluates suppliers with respect to delivery performance, product acceptability and commercial acceptability.
• Support collaboration/partnership initiatives on procurement activities with UN Agencies and other international organizations in areas that will bring value for money to UNICEF.
• Participates in procurement workshops and business seminars organized by UNICEF and/or external partners, including presentation of data and representation of SD.
• Any other duties that may be assigned by Contracts Manager and/or Senior Contracts Manager.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology or related field is required. *A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and 7 years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

  Work Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience including at least three at the international level is required.

• Experience in commercial activities with the public or private sector in developing and industrialized countries is required.
• Good knowledge and understanding of strategic sourcing of ICT services/products and its implications for the organization is required.
• Experience with worldwide procurement, contract negotiations and administration.
• Understanding of the principles of public procurement.
• Good knowledge of the latest trends in procurement and contracting of information technology services and products for public sector or international organizations is strongly desirable, including subscription-based Cloud Services (Software as a Service (SaaS) and similar.
• Awareness of cyber security risks, compliance with standard terms and conditions addressing information and data security, and related best practices is considered an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respective, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

The core competencies required for this post are;

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and
• ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Works collaboratively with others

The functional competencies required for this post are;

• Deciding and Initiating Action (2)
• Planning and Organizing (2)
• Applying Technical Expertise (2)
• Following Instructions and Procedures (2)

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

This vacancy announcement is open to all internal candidates. The term "internal" refers to all personnel with an ongoing employment relationship with UNICEF, including staff members on a continuing, fixed term and temporary appointment, individual contractors and full-time time-based consultants, and UNV. It does not include interns and employees of external entities performing duties for UNICEF.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.

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

Note: Note: The post is initially based in New York but it is part of a relocation assessment currently undergoing final stages and there is a strong possibility that the post will be relocated to another location in the near future.