Procurement Officer, NO-A (Fixed Term Appointment), New Delhi, India, South Asia Region (SAR), Post Number 122796

Contract

This is a NO-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-1 contracts.

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.

Click here to learn more about what makes us proud working for UNICEF!

For every child, AN ADVOCATE

As enabler to the universal mandate, UNICEF wishes to strengthen its procurement and delivery leadership in product categories where it has the strongest comparative advantage and leverages the strengths of other UN agencies in non-niche product areas.​​​​​​​

India remains a priority country for Resource Mobilization and Partnership (RMP) and is expected to achieve set targets through its Fundraising Strategy. The targets will be achieved through development and implementation of procurement strategies to expand this market segment in India through targeted market shaping initiatives. UNICEF in India has experienced significant spend increase in terms of value for the Resource Mobilization (RMP) category and this spend is expected to further increase significantly based on projected targets, among other initiatives to expand Resource Mobilization in India. In addition, India Country office will be focusing on public and strategic advocacy plans, media agility, digital transformation strategy, growth of a credible brand, especially on Immunization, India being a champion country.

In order to meet these requirements, the Procurement Officer will support, expand and strengthen the procurement for the area of Resource Mobilization (RMP) and for its Communication and Advocacy (CAP).

How can you make a difference?

The Procurement officer provides technical and operational support as per the Country Office (CO) set-up and is responsible for managing the supply chains of a larger supply operation. The supply chain operations include planning, procurement, contracting, as well as monitoring of supplies and services. The incumbent supports management collaboration with programmes in defining supply interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children and provides technical and advisory support to national systems and partners on supply chain management.

Under the close supervision of the Supply and Procurement Manager, the Procurement Officer NOA, supports significant coordination requirement including maintaining effective working relations and liaising with Supply Division in Copenhagen, to confer on procurement policies and procedures related to Resource Mobilization. This is in addition to coordination support with PFP Procurement unit in Geneva as well as coordinating collaborative procurement initiatives with other regional offices.

The position will provide procurement support to CAP, focusing on public and strategic advocacy plans, media agility, digital transformation strategy, growth of a credible brand, especially on Immunization. For these goals, the position will develop procurement strategies and will support CAP contracting requirements including establishment of LTAs, ensuring best value for money is achieved in the contracting for goods and services whilst also managing negotiations on contractual Terms & Conditions. The position will also manage end-end processes for other complex and specialized contracts.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Procurement/Contracting

2. Supply Chain service delivery and emergency response

3. Collaboration with programme and implementing partners

4. Technical and advisory support to government/national systems

5. Innovation, products and markets

1. Procurement/contracting:

• Provide input to and advice on the annual supply plan. Conduct data review and analysis for category management and development of procurement strategies. Conduct market research in relevant areas for UNICEF and advice on best approaches to obtain best value for money and sustainable procurement. Support product innovation and market shaping initiatives for specific categories of supplies and services.
• Liaise with clients in planning procurement and contracting initiatives, supporting development of appropriate specifications, terms of reference, and logistics arrangements and timelines. Take into account opportunities to strengthen sustainability of supply chains.
• Ensure establishment of Long-Term Arrangements (LTAs) and act on specific procurement requisitions as might be required. Prepare and process Request for Quotations (RFQs), Invitations to Bid (ITBs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs), as might be requested by the Supervisor. Organize bid openings and conduct technical and financial analysis of offers as might be required. Conduct clarifications and negotiations with suppliers. Maintain highest level of integrity, ethical standards and accountability in the procurement of goods, contracting of services and construction work.
• Prepare requests for award including submissions to Contract Review Committee. Prepare purchase orders and contracts in SAP (ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning system), and submit for relevant approvals, ensuring completeness of documentation in UNICEF systems.
• Keep stakeholders/partners informed on the progress. Liaise with suppliers, ensuring timely follow-up on delivery schedules Implement appropriate vendor management practices e.g. supply performance reviews.
• Ensure appropriate filing of procurement cases and maintain up to date records for future reference including for audit.

2. Supply chain service delivery and emergency response

• In consultation with supervisor, provide input to the Country Programme Action Planning and advice on Supply requirements for the Plan of Operations and Annual Work Plans. Participate in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the supply chain operations, including establishment of performance indicators, and assessment of fit for purpose of products and services.
• Monitor and review supply spend, and draft procurement strategies based on category management in order to focus on strategic, essential supplies and services that contribute to results for children and support the establishment of long term agreements (LTAs) where relevant. Maintain highest level of integrity, ethical standards and accountability in the procurement of goods, contracting of services and construction work.
• Keep stakeholders/partners informed on the progress. Implement appropriate vendor management practices e.g., supply performance reviews.
• Analyze supply dashboards, implementation rates of key performance indicators and supply information/data from various systems and conduct root cause analysis of supply chain bottlenecks and challenges, with a view to drive improvements and ensure efficient and effective supply chains for children.
• Participate in the development of an emergency supply & logistics strategy based on risk assessment analysis and Programme assumptions. Ensure an emergency supply and logistics preparedness action plan for the CO is established in line with Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCC) and implemented (establishment of relevant LTAs and frame agreements for emergency response, prepositioning of stock, and training of staff in the country office).
• Build strong working relations with Regional Chiefs of Supply/Regional Chief of Operations, as well as Supply Division, to align with global and regional approaches and initiatives in supply chain management.

3. Collaboration with programme and implementing partners

• In collaboration with supervisor, develop close collaboration with programme sections through involvement in programme design, planning, and preparation for implementation of supply components as well as monitoring and evaluation. Establish accountability framework with programmes, for delivery of results for children.
• Prepare supply documentation to facilitate input to donor dialogue, and support development of supply components of proposals to donors including budgeting and use of innovative financing mechanisms for supplies, services and construction works.
• Support assessment of and collaboration with implementing partners including civil society, establishment of Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs), and monitoring of supply components under Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT).
• Participate in events/meetings that build partnerships and collaborative relations with Government, UN organizations and bilateral counterparts in supply and logistics activities including harmonized and collaborative procurement.

4. Technical and advisory support to government/national systems

• Provide input to promoting of supply chain strengthening and change management initiatives with governments and partners, to ensure efficient and effective supply chains for children.
• Provide input to capacity development initiatives in the area of supply chains for children, in close collaboration with supervisor and programme colleagues. Support supply components of health systems strengthening as might be relevant in the country context.
• Prepare relevant supply reports to facilitate 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.

5. Innovation, products and markets

• Contribute to pilots and support the actual roll-out of new products and services, in close collaboration with supervisor and Supply Division.
• Support initiatives for 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.
• Further to analysis of supply spend and related procurement strategies, support initiatives to ensure local market development where relevant.

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

Education:

• A University Degree is required in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field.

Experience:

• A minimum of one year of relevant experience, at the national / international levels, in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly related technical fields is required.
• Understanding of development and humanitarian work.
• Supply chain management experience an advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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...

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

Remarks:

• The position is based in New Delhi, India.
• This post is open for Indian Nationals only.
• This VA is open to internal UNICEF staff only i.e. UNICEF staff holding permanent, continuing, and fixed term appointments.
• The selected applicant will have an initial two (2) year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited / recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

For more information about UNICEF India, please refer to the link below:- http://unicef.in/Wherewework