Senior Procurement Associate, GS-7, New Delhi, India, South Asia Region, Post Number 46971

Contract

This is a G-7 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-7 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.

For every child, sustenance

How can you make a difference?

The Senior Procurement Associate performs highly skilled work on UNICEF supply chains, including procurement, and manages the more complex cases and client requests, which frequently requires the evaluation of difficult situations and adaptation of procedures and processes to resolve such cases. This is the senior GS level for specialized supply chain and procurement work and requires advanced specialized knowledge acquired through formal training and experience.

The function is characterized as highly independent and provides opportunities for Associates to lead and carry out responsibility for end-to-end supply chain management from the beginning to the end of the process and provide input into the design and development of improved supply chain services and delivery mechanisms.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Supply Chain Service Delivery and Response

Planning:

• In consultation with supervisor, provide input to the Country Programme Action Planning and advise on Supply requirements for the Plan of Operations and Annual Work Plans. Participate in the forecasting, 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.
• Support supply emergency preparedness and response activities including establishment of Long- Term Arrangements (LTAs), Logistics Capacity Assessment and Contingency Plan update, and pre- positioning of stock.

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.
• Undertake market research in relevant areas for UNICEF to identify potential suppliers/contractors and advice on best approaches to obtain best value for money and sustainable procurement. Support potential suppliers to register through UNGM, the public electronic registration platform. Keep updated on market trends and developments and in cooperation with supervisor, prepare category reports on outlooks and expenditure. Together with supervisor prepare and propose procurement strategies for assigned categories. 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 by incorporating sustainable procurement aspects throughout the supply chain.
• 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. Provide inputs on Terms of References, 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.
• Undertake implementation of sustainable, gender responsive and inclusive procurement across the services and goods procured and different stages of the supply chain.
• Undertake the contracting of Consultants and Individual Contractors while ensuring adherence with Division of Human Resources Procedures, as revised from time to time.
• 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.

Alternative delivery mechanisms:

• Support assessment of and collaboration with implementing partners including civil society, for 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 UN organizations to support harmonized and collaborative procurement and logistics arrangements.

Partnership coordination and collaboration:

• Support effective working relations with other agencies, local authorities and implementing partners through information exchange, collaboration, and harmonization. Cooperates with other UN agency counterparts in the UN reform initiatives (including common LTAs, bulk procurement, etc.).

Other duties/responsibilities:

• Provides practical input on implementation of guidelines in the area of supply and procurement, in close coordination with the Chief of Supply & Procurement and supervisor.
• Supports supervisor and the Chief of Supply & Procurement, and updates staff on supply and procurement policies, procedures rules and regulation. Implements the appropriate application and interpretation of Supply and Procurement rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Contributes to recommendations on the improvement of internal controls systems taking into account the prevailing conditions in the locality.
• Keeps supervisor abreast of potential problem areas, prepares reports on supply and procurement matters as required.
• In collaboration with supervisor, Chief of Supply & Procurement, Supply Division, Regional Office and the global supply community, provide input to help ensure knowledge exchange and learning is prioritized to continuously build capacity of individuals and the team. Develop and facilitate training of newcomers, establish processes or manuals to support effective workflows.

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

Education:

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• University level or technical courses in supply chain, business administration, contract/commercial law, or another relevant technical field is an advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience in managing contracting, procurement, supply, logistics, contract administration and management and/or other directly related technical fields in supply chain management or a commercial context is mandatory.
• Experience in managing complex contracts and hiring consultants is required.
• Experience working in development and/or humanitarian organization is an advantage.

Language:

• 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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

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

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.

Remarks:

• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.
• 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/
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
• 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.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.