International Procurement Specialist

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 (IPS) may be located in different types of FAO offices, including FAO HQs, and will perform a variety of procurement activities aimed to assist the office where is located which is requiring specialized procurement support.

Reporting Lines

The IPS will work under the general guidance of FAO Chief of Procurement Services and under the direct functional supervision of the relevant Procurement Officer. If based in a field office without a Procurement Officer, the IPS Consultant will report functionally to the Procurement Officer in the relevant Regional Office while will report administratively to the FAO country representative.

Technical Focus

Procurement of goods and services.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will provide support to ensure that procurement activities comply with FAO's established policies and procedures and reflect public procurement best practices. S/he also be requested to carry out functions relating to monitoring and reporting of procurement activities.

The key tasks of the International Procurement Specialist will be as following:

• Review and analyze procurement requests (including requests from decentralized offices to undertake procurement locally) for completeness and conformity with established FAO rules, procedures and practice. • Liaise with the requesters, as necessary, and recommend to supervisor(s) appropriate source strategy/approach to best serve institutional interests. • Assist in preparing evaluation criteria, for more complex procurement actions, tender documents and contracts. • 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 and management of tenders and purchase orders, evaluation of bids, follow-up with suppliers including follow-up on orders to ensure timely delivery, etc. • Assist the supervisor in providing guidance to Organization staff particularly in country offices on procurement matters and on the implementation of procurement strategies and processes in conformity with the relevant rules, procedures and practices. • Make recommendation of awards for procurement activities relating to the purchase of goods or services/works. • Review and finalize submission forms to obtain authorization from the relevant Procurement Committees and support the requester and/or the supervisor in presenting the case to the same committees. • 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 staff in decentralized offices as necessary. • Keep sound Procurement files and activity tracking tools and produce relevant reports to support contract management and performance monitoring. If based in field offices, establish and maintain sound local vendors database. • If based in field offices without a Procurement Officer, ensure leadership, supervision, and mentoring/development of capacities of local staff working in the Local Procurement Team. • If based in field offices with a Procurement Officer, ensure interim day-to-day supervision of local staff working in the Local Procurement Team during the absence of the Procurement Officer leading the team. • Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

For both Consultants or PSAs:

• Education background: a) Possession of advanced degree (master's degree) or b) possession of minimum university degree (bachelor's degree), in: Procurement-Supply Chain, Law, Business, Administration, Economics, Public Administration or Commerce, International relations, or a related field. • Work experience: a) In case of possession of Advanced degree (master's degree) in the areas mentioned above a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in procurement related activities ,OR b) in case of possession of minimum University Degree (bachelor's degree) in the areas mentioned above a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience in procurement related activities. • Experience and skills on the use of working tools such as ERP solutions, Office package, and e-tendering solutions. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and French or Spanish. For PSAs, working knowledge of English is required.

FAO Core Competencies

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