Procurement Intern

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - Pristina

UNOPS has been active in Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99) since 1999, helping partners achieve their goals in areas such as economic development, education, health, environment, justice, mine action and post-conflict rebuilding of infrastructure and livelihoods. The UNOPS office in Pristina provides services including project management, administrative support, procurement and fund management.

The UNOPS Office in Pristina provides project management support to partners in the environment and rule of law sectors, and supports partner personnel management, including for UN Environment, UNICEF and UNHCR across the region.

Background Information - Job-specific

As part of UNOPS sustainability agenda, several initiatives have been carried out to better incorporate gender issues and social inclusion and other cross cutting issues into UNOPS project management and monitoring and reporting methodologies. Sustainability aspects, especially gender equality is a key focus area in UNOPS 2018-2021 strategic plan and UNOPS has launched in 2018 a Gender Mainstreaming strategy and Action plan, which positions gender equality as a key component of the projects UNOPS implements on behalf of partners around the world.

Functional Responsibilities

Administrative Procurement Support Services

Under the direct supervision of Procurement and Contract Associate, the procurement intern provides a variety of specialized and non-specialized transactional support services, ensuring consistency and quality of work steps completed, as well as optimal information flow:

• Assist in drafting bidding documents, evaluation reports and contract award submissions, ensuring consistency in format and content.
• Process procurement transactions in UNOPS’ corporate system OneUNOPS;
• Assist in the preparation of Purchase Orders, Contracts, LTAs or their Amendments.
• Process invoices for goods and services delivered ensuring accuracy and completeness of documentation and timely payment. Follow up to completion and inform clients.
• Monitor expenditures against allocations.
• Receive, review, log and route incoming communication and procurement requests/invoices.
• Prepare reports, tables, charts etc. applying technical skills and knowledge in formatting and presentations.
• Prepare Statistics and reports, including on Procurement volume.
• Undertake routine follow up action on procurement on behalf of the supervisor;
• Publish procurement advertisements and awards.
• Maintain status reports on procurement activities and work in progress.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Client Services Client Relationships/ Stakeholder Management

• Actively work with clients to provide and exchange information on a variety of issues in procurement processes and transactions, to deliver correct and timely services.
• Provide standardized procurement services, guidance and information to staff of the Business Unit on routine processes and procedures.

Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Undertake routine follow up action on procurement Quality Assurance or Knowledge Management issues on behalf of the supervisor and inform supervisor of status.
• Administratively supports the organization and delivery of training and learning initiatives for personnel on procurement.

2. Training components and learning elements

The intern will be given an on the job learning opportunity by being assigned to work on low value low risk procurement cases for which along each step of the way s/he will be guided on the UNOPS procurement process including best practices e.g on preparing tender request; preparing evaluations documents and how to carry out evaluations and issuing Purchase Orders- what to include in a Purchase Order etc.

3. Participation in missions or training courses

The intern will be given an opportunity to participate in the relevant procurement courses in the Learning & Development site. E.g procurement operations training which will give an overview of the procurement process. Sustainable procurement and gender in procurement. The intern will not be engaged in missions out of Duty Station.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

1. Academic qualifications

Either currently enrolled for University Degree in Procurement, Business Administration, Public Administration, or any relevant subject or have graduated from such studies within the past 3 years prior to the application date of the internship is required.

2. Language Skills

• Fluency in written and oral English required.
• Fluency in written and oral of one of the local languages (Albanian or Serbian) is required.
• Knowledge of the second UN working language is desirable.

3. Internship-related experiences

• Applicants are not required to have professional work experience but experience working in sustainability or corporate social responsibility (through work, education or other) and procurement support services is an asset;
• Knowledge of business operations, procurement, supply chain, and logistics is an asset;
• Knowledge of business principles and applications in public procurement is an asset;
• Proficiency in the use of GSuite applications and experience in handling of web-based management systems is desired.

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Contract type, level and duration - Internship

Contract type: Internship Contract level: N/A Contract duration: 12 months

This internship is not designed to lead to a staff position with UNOPS. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.

Interns may be eligible for a monthly stipend from UNOPS provided that they do not receive funds from other institutions. Further, UNOPS may provide a one time travel lumpsum of 500 USD. However, they must make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and necessary visa arrangements.

For more details about UNOPS internships please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Internships-and-volunteering.aspx