International Procurement Specialist

Perform procurement activities for FAO in compliance with established rules and regulations.

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FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 4 Dec 2023 at 22:59 UTC

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Overview

Perform procurement activities for FAO in compliance with established rules and regulations.

You have:

  • University Degree in Law, Business, Administration, Economics, Public Administration or Commerce or a related field.
  • A minimum of three years of relevant experience in procurement related activities.
  • Working knowledge (Proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate –level B) of another FAO official language (for PSA only English may be required).

Organizational Setting

Procurement Service provides policy and operational support to ensure that the Organization procures good, works and services based on 'Best Value for Money' principles. The International Procurement Specialist will be working in Mogadishu, FAO Somalia and will perform a variety of procurement activities aimed at assisting field offices requiring specialized procurement support.

Reporting Lines

The International Procurement Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the International Procurement Officer (IPO), as appropriate for functional and policy guidance and administratively to the highest-ranking officer in the duty station.

Technical Focus

Timely, efficient, and effective Procurement of goods and services and Quality Assurance for Letters of Agreement in compliance with relevant FAO Rules and Regulations.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Review and analyze procurement requests for completeness and conformity with established FAO rules, procedures, and practice; liaise with the requesters, as necessary, and recommend to supervisor appropriate strategy/approach to best serve institutional interests including requests from Headquarters divisions or decentralized offices to undertake procurement locally. • Assist in preparing evaluation criteria, for more complex procurement actions, tender documents and contracts. Assist in preparing office procurement plans, developing and implementing directly or indirectly procurement strategies for requested goods/services/works taking into consideration the associated risks and the related mitigation measures. • Perform operational functions relating to the procurement process including, but not limited to, preparation of documents in FAO’s ERP system and other office applications related to assigned procurement actions, issuance of tenders and purchase orders/contracts, evaluation of bids/proposals, follow-up with suppliers/contractors including follow-up on orders/contracts to ensure timely delivery/contract execution, etc. • If based in HQ, assist the supervisor in providing guidance to Organization staff particularly in country offices on procurement/contracting matters and on the implementation of procurement strategies and processes in conformity with the relevant rules, procedures, and practices. • If based in field offices, lead the local procurement team directly or acting as secondary supervisor assisting the International Procurement Officer (where present), for: review/preparation of field office procurement function assessment and improvement plans, local procurement staff TORs revision and preparation, procurement staff performance evaluation, local procurement staff capacities development, • Make recommendation of awards for procurement activities relating to the purchase of goods or contracting of services/works; • If based in HQ, review and analyze requests for ad-hoc re-delegation of authority received from country offices; if based in field office, prepare and introduce requests for ad-hoc re-delegation of authority to CSLP HQ relevant unit • Provide advice and guidance to colleagues on the use of IT applications, including e-tendering tools, utilized in the Procurement Service. • Participate in procurement missions worldwide, providing support and training to decentralized offices as necessary. • Produce relevant reports to support contract monitoring. • Quality assurance management and monitoring of contractual instruments with Non-Profit Organizations/Entities. • Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University Degree in Law, Business, Administration, Economics, Public Administration or Commerce or a related field. • A minimum of three years of relevant experience in procurement related activities. • Working knowledge (Proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate –level B) of another FAO official language (for PSA only English may be required)

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of internationally recognized procurement standards and international procurement techniques and operations used in contracting for goods and services. • Extent and relevance of experience in public sector procurement dealing with contractual issues. • Extent and relevance of experience in identifying clients' procurement-related needs and in providing support and guidance from clients' point of view. • Experience in logistics operations is an asset desirable. • Knowledge of procurement-related IT tools and systems (i.e. enterprise resource planning, inventory management, procurement, database management applications, etc.) is desirable.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe a time when you had to manage a complex procurement process? This question assesses your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills in procurement. Provide a brief overview of the situation, your role, and the outcome, highlighting any specific challenges and how you overcame them.
How do you ensure compliance with procurement rules and regulations? The interviewer wants to understand your knowledge and application of procurement standards. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you use to assess client needs in procurement? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org