Individual Consultancy for Contracts Officer - Full Time 11.5 months (01.09.2022 - 15.07.2023) - SCC - Home Based

Contract

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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, health

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Under the general guidance of the Contracts Manager the consultant is responsible for planning, development of procurement strategies/plans and overall procurement and contracting process - including contract implementation and management, monitoring suppliers’ performance, worldwide market research and long- term procurement planning - for a category of services focusing on Programme services, research, evaluation studies and cross-cutting areas such as communication, Social & Behavior Change and Innovation.

Scope of Work: 1. Manage procurement of services, including development of procurement strategies and methods of purchase, and establishment of Long-Term Arrangements (LTAs) as well as collaboration with other UN agencies.

2. Reviews incoming requirements from Head Quarters’ Divisions and Country Offices in coordination with Services Contracting Centre’s (SCC) Contracts Manager for appropriateness of requests and budgets allocated in requisitions in SAP (VISION), completeness of ToRs and other required documentation to ensure quality and adequacy of information before proceeding with contracting process.

3. Drafts and prepares Requests for Proposals in Vision, and coordinates evaluation of proposals with Divisions and Offices, ensuring procurement processes are conducted in a timely manner with transparency and farness, promoting competition to achieve value for money.

4. Draft and issues Contracts, ensuring Contracts are signed in a timely manner and all documentation is properly filed in Vision and SharePoint. Monitors and follows up on progress of Contracts ensuring proper contract management is followed, and contracts are fully implemented. Coordinates required amendments to contracts and the evaluation of suppliers with respective contract managers, and ensures contracts are closed in Vision.

5. Makes recommendations for finalization of contracting processes and award of contracts; signs procurement orders/contracts up to the authorized limit, and, in cases where the amount exceeds authorized signature authority, prepares submissions to the Contracts Review Committee for reviews and subsequent approval by the authorized official.

6. Ensures all procurement activities are in compliance with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, Supply procedures and all other applicable procurement procedures and directives. Monitor KPIs and provide reports.

7. Support negotiation of contract terms and conditions as applicable and seek support from the Legal Advisor’s office as necessary;

8. Undertake market research to develop a pool of healthy vendors and maintain updated vendor list. Participates in procurement workshops and business seminars organized by UNICEF and/or external partners, including presentation of data and representation of SCC.

9. Maintains filing in accordance with UNICEF guidelines.

10. Performs any other duties or assignment as requested by the Supervisor (s).

Work Assignment Overview Tasks/Milestone: Provide guidance to HQ Divisions, Country Offices on appropriate procurement strategies Deliverables/Outputs: Number of strategic meetings held with HQ Divisions / COs

Tasks/Milestone: Review of Terms of references, requests from client Divisions and other required documentation to ensure quality and adequacy of information before proceeding with contracting process. Deliverables/Outputs: ToRs and requests reviewed and managed through solicitation, evaluation and contracting.

Tasks/Milestone: Prepare Requests for Proposal in VISION, advertising through the e-tendering platform, manages the solicitation and coordinates the evaluation with Divisions in a timely manner and as per the procurement principles Deliverables/Outputs: Requests for Proposal issued and managed through solicitation and evaluation process.

Tasks/Milestone: Draft and issue Contracts, ensuring Contracts are signed in a timely manner and all documentation is properly filed in Vision and SharePoint. And providing contract administration support Deliverables/Outputs: Contracts issued in a timely manner and amendments made as needed.

Tasks/Milestone: Make recommendations for finalization of contracting processes and award of contracts and drafting of Contract Review Committee Submissions depending on the value Deliverables/Outputs: CRC submissions prepared in a timely manner

Tasks/Milestone: Support negotiation of contract terms and conditions as applicable and seek support from the Legal Advisor’s office as necessary. Deliverables/Outputs: Legal negotiations successfully finalized

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

• An advanced University degree in Procurement, Contracts/Commercial Law, Business administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management or related field. *A first University degree may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced university degree in conjunction with two additional years of relevant work experience.
• Minimum two years of relevant and professional work experience in procurement/Contracting of services.
• Experience working with SAP system required (Vision logistics module is highly desirable),
• An understanding or working knowledge of the UN or similar organization/NGO is an added advantage.
• Experience with worldwide procurement contract negotiations and administration combined with broader economic knowledge and/or directly related technical fields.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in English; working knowledge of another official UN language, especially French, is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter
2. Financial quote at a daily rate in US Dollars including all taxes
3. Highest Education Degree (scanned copy)
4. UN P11
5. Detailed technical proposal
6. Examples of previous, relevant work
7. At least 3 References from previous direct Supervisors ( email and phone contact if applicable)

Technical Proposal

Applicants should submit a detailed cover letter that outlines their relevant experience and qualifications, and explains their approach to completing the key deliverables outlined above. Any specific experience with similar reviews or assessments should be highlighted (e.g. function positioning or product-programme integration within humanitarian and development organizations).

If needed, UNICEF may request applicants to conduct a brief presentation of their proposals and clarify details before making a final decision on contract award.

Financial Proposal

Applicants should propose an all-inclusive lump-sum amount, expressed through a daily rate, for this assignment. Travel fees, if any, will be budgeted separately based on discussion with the contract manager. Fees with shortlisted candidates are subject to negotiation prior to contract award.

Applications must be submitted through the UNICEF electronic application system by 26 July. Please indicate your availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a technical proposal and daily rate will not be considered.

UNICEF considers best value for money as a criteria for evaluating potential candidates. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

Successful applicants will be evaluated by the following criteria:

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 75 points) Overall Response (25 points) Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal Technical Capacity (50 points) Relevance of consultant’s experience with similar projects and as per required qualifications References FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 25 points) Daily rate Travel costs Total estimated cost of contract (proposed contract fee only) FINANCIAL PROPOSAL - Weight Combined Score TOTAL SCORE (max. 100 points)

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.