Contracts Specialist P3, Athens, Greece, For Non-Greek Nationals Only

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 74,649 USD and 97,747 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, a champion

UNICEF Greece Country Office was established in 2020. This confers the full mandate of UNICEF to Greece, which is to provide assistance to member states to fulfil their obligations to children under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which Greece ratified in 1993. As such, the UNICEF Greece Country Office is expanding its support to all state institutions that have a role in ensuring all two million children in the country can fully enjoy their rights. To date, UNICEF is engaging with counterparts including the ministries of Health, of Labor and Social Affairs, Education, Migration, Justice, Interior, Development and Investments, on issues including foster care and deinstitutionalization, inclusive education, youth skills and employability, as well as exploring options to ensure the availability of increased financing for children in the years ahead.

The Operations section acts as a strategic partner in the areas of HR, Finance, Supply, ICT and Administration and aims for a successful transition of the Greece Country Office by adopting lean and agile business practices and achieving financial sustainability while contributing to the effective delivery of programmes and development of partnerships to maximize results for children.

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Operations Manager, the Contracts Specialist will contribute to the implementation of GCO procurement plan in the context of the Greece Country Programme 2022-2026, in partnership with all relevant stakeholders and partners. The incumbent will be responsible for planning all Service Contracting and Supply needs with Greece Country Office as well as developing and executing procurement strategies for a portfolio of Service and Supply Categories, to secure an uninterrupted, sustainable supply of affordable, quality services. The post holder must be someone who can work independently. The Contracts Specialist will support contract and supply management, monitoring suppliers’ performance, market research and long- term procurement planning 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 directly supervise support staff (GS6 level) and contribute to the expansion and capacity building of the team.

Key Accountabilities

1. Ensure all procurement activities are in compliance with the UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, SD procedures and guidance notes, and all other applicable procurement procedures while ensuring integrity with solicitation process.
2. Provide advice/guidance to GCO management and requisitioning section concerning service/supply contracting, contractual conditions and contracting processes in general.
3. Manage the development and coordination of procurement workplans and implement strategic procurement decisions and effective vendor relations management, keeping abreast of the developments in supply and procurement area. Undertake market research to develop a pool of healthy vendors and maintain updated vendor list. Works closely with programmes and partners on project design, work plan and procurement coordination, issues of long term forecasting of quantities and planning of funding. Ensures adequate and coordinated planning of procurement and demand of the required services, including coordination on LPA if it is required.
4. Support the GCO sections in developing statement of works (SOWs)/ Terms of References (TORs) i.e. review material specifications, service/purchase requisitions, evaluation criteria, pricing structure, taxation and appropriateness of supply requests (PR and SO) to ensure completeness and appropriateness. Seek optimal value in service/goods from vendors in consultation with Supply Division /Regional Offices/GCO sections.
5. Issue tender invitations to be published through the UNMG, GCO portal and distributed to vendor lists, evaluate offers and negotiate with suppliers in accordance with UNICEF procedures. Adjudicates offers in coordination with the requisitioning section as applicable. Ensure terms and conditions are well understood by bidders / proposers. Take preventative measure to secure value for money, efficiency and timely completion of the project.
6. Prepares and defends submissions to Contracts Review Committee, drafts and negotiate contracts including long term agreements. Ensure performance and financial risk evaluation of vendors before recommendation for awards.
7. Evaluating supplier’s performance with respect to agreed contractual deliverables and implement required corrective action. Undertake risk assessments where necessary and advice on appropriate risk mitigation strategies/measures to deal with the risks.
8. Monitor and identify issues related to ongoing contracts. It includes to ensure monitoring the execution of contracts as per terms and conditions stated in contract, appropriate timing (e.g. not opening after contract duration is overdue) and cost effectiveness. Work for complex cases of contract management. If it is necessary, it requires coordination with local authorities, legal department, field visit etc.
9. Maintain system for supplier/contractor performance evaluations. Establish KPIs for the effectiveness and efficiency of Local Procurement. Design procedures, simplified SOPs to effect the timely execution of contracts and POs in accordance with organizational policies. Define, establish and implement quality control procedures on contract documentation, storage and follow up; approve all functional group standard operating procedures.
10. Provide updated data related to procurement from established data source. The data will be used for programme meeting, CMT etc.
11. Compile and analyse historical data and forecasts of programme requirements. It includes supply planning and monitoring. Conduct market survey on local contractors / suppliers including innovative approach, analyse the result to improve procurement strategy.
12. Support collaboration/partnership initiatives on procurement activities with UN Agencies and other international organizations in areas that will bring value for money to UNICEF.
13. Provide advisory support to Governments/national systems in defining and determining supply solutions for children, such as use of procurement services; supply financing solutions; local market development; private sector engagement. Contribute to pilots and support the actual roll-out of new products and services, in close collaboration with Supply Division.
14. 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. In collaboration with supervisor run initiatives to ensure local market development where relevant
15. Supervise and identify training needs of staff under supervision. Contribute to Supply section expansion and build capacity of staff in identified areas.
16. Any other duties that may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Detailed Job Description can be viewed here: JD Contracts Specialist P3 - Final.pdf

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

• Advanced University degree in Business Administration, Management, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development is required
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional working experience. Having at least two years international working experience is required. Experience in commercial activities with the public or private sector in developing and industrialized countries. Experience in legal field is an asset.
• Fluency in English and proficiency in other UN language would be beneficial.

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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 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:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates with a disability 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.