Senior Procurement Officer (AUSSOM)
Support procurement activities for the AUSSOM mission in Somalia.
Overview
Support procurement activities for the AUSSOM mission in Somalia.
You have:
- Master’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, Commerce, Public Administration, Finance, Law, or a related field with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in procurement, contract management, sourcing, vendor management, or operational procurement support within complex operational environments including at least three (3) years at supervisory level
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields with a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience in procurement, contract management, and related fields including at least three (3) years at supervisory level
- Professional certification or membership in a recognized procurement and supply professional body such as CIPS or equivalent is an added advantage
- Experience in AU, UN, or other international field missions, particularly in conflict or post-conflict environments, is desirable
- Experience in procurement planning, solicitation processes, contract administration, vendor management, procurement compliance, and procurement governance activities is desirable
- Strong analytical, reporting, coordination, negotiation, and procurement compliance skills are required
- Proficiency in one of the AU official working languages is required. Knowledge of another AU official working language is an added advantage
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AU Values
• Respect for Diversity and Team Work • Think Africa Above all
• Transparency and Accountability • Integrity and Impartiality
• Efficiency and Professionalism • Information and Knowledge Sharing
Organization Information
Reports to: Chief of Administrative Services Directorate/Department/Organ: Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security Division:AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia Number of Direct Reports:1 Number of Indirect Reports:0 Job Grade: P3 Number of Positions:1 Contract Type: Fixed Term Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
Purpose of Job
The Senior Procurement Officer reports to the Chief of Administrative Services and supports the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of procurement and contractual activities in support of the AUSSOM mandate and operational requirements. The incumbent contributes to the acquisition of goods, services, and works required for Mission operations in accordance with applicable AU procurement policies, procedures, financial rules, and regulatory frameworks. The Officer supports procurement planning, contract management, vendor coordination, compliance monitoring, and operational procurement support activities within a complex and high-risk field mission environment
Main Functions
• Supports the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of procurement and contractual activities in support of the AUSSOM mandate and operational requirements. • Contributes to the acquisition of goods, services, and works in accordance with applicable AU procurement policies, procedures, financial rules, and regulatory frameworks. • Supports procurement planning, sourcing activities, solicitation processes, bid evaluations, contract administration, and vendor management activities relating to Mission operational requirements. • Assists in coordinating Requests for Quotations (RFQs), Invitations to Bid (ITBs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), and other procurement processes in accordance with applicable AU procedures. • Supports procurement compliance, risk monitoring, documentation management, and quality assurance activities relating to procurement and contractual operations. • Contributes to procurement reporting, vendor coordination, market assessments, and operational procurement support activities in support of Mission effectiveness and continuity. • Supports coordination and liaison activities with Mission components, contractors, vendors, AU procurement structures, and relevant stakeholders on procurement and contractual matters.
Specific Responsibilities
- Supports the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of procurement and contractual activities in support of Mission operational requirements and applicable AU procurement frameworks.
- Contributes to the preparation and implementation of procurement plans, sourcing strategies, market assessments, and procurement schedules relating to Mission operational support activities.
- Supports procurement processes relating to RFQs, ITBs, RFPs, LTAs, and other procurement activities in accordance with applicable AU procurement procedures.
- Assists in coordinating bid evaluations, procurement reviews, vendor assessments, contract administration, and supplier performance monitoring activities.
- Supports procurement compliance, documentation management, audit support, risk monitoring, and quality assurance activities relating to procurement and contractual operations.
- Assists in preparing procurement reports, procurement status updates, market analyses, procurement summaries, and contractual documentation relating to Mission operational requirements.
- Supports coordination and liaison activities with Mission components, vendors, contractors, AU procurement structures, and relevant stakeholders on procurement and contractual matters.
- Contributes to procurement monitoring, inventory coordination, operational procurement tracking, and vendor follow-up activities relating to Mission support requirements.
- Supports the maintenance of procurement records, contractual files, procurement databases, vendor information, and procurement management systems in accordance with applicable procedures and record management requirements.
- Assists in supporting procurement planning and operational procurement requirements during routine and emergency operational activities within the Mission area.
- Acts as Secretary to the Internal Procurement Committee and Tender Board, as required, and supports related procurement review and governance processes.
- Coordinates the preparation and consolidation of procurement plans and contributes to monitoring implementation of approved procurement activities.
- Supports vendor and contractor performance reviews to promote accountability, transparency, value for money, and effective contract implementation.
- Assists in supervising, guiding, mentoring, and coordinating subordinate procurement personnel and related support teams, as required.
- Performs any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience
- Master’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, Commerce, Public Administration, Finance, Law, or a related field with a minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in procurement, contract management, sourcing, vendor management, or operational procurement support within complex operational environments including at least three (3) years at supervisory level
Or
- Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, Commerce, Public Administration, Finance, Law, or a related field with a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in procurement, contract management, sourcing, vendor management, or operational procurement support within complex operational environments including at least three (3) years at supervisory level
- Professional certification or membership in a recognized procurement and supply professional body such as CIPS or equivalent is an added advantage.
- Experience in AU, UN, or other international field missions, particularly in conflict or post-conflict environments, is desirable.
- Experience in procurement planning, solicitation processes, contract administration, vendor management, procurement compliance, and procurement governance activities is desirable.
- Experience in handling RFQs, ITBs, RFPs, LTAs, procurement evaluations, and procurement documentation within institutional procurement frameworks is desirable.
- Experience in procurement monitoring, audit support, inventory coordination, operational procurement support, and supply chain management activities is desirable.
- Experience in web-based procurement management systems, ERP platforms such as SAP, procurement databases, and standard Microsoft Office applications is desirable.
- Strong analytical, reporting, coordination, negotiation, and procurement compliance skills are required.
Required Skills
• Strong procurement, contract management, sourcing, and operational procurement support skills within complex operational environments. • Good understanding of AU procurement policies, procedures, financial rules, contractual frameworks, and procurement compliance requirements. • Ability to support procurement planning, solicitation processes, bid evaluations, vendor management, and contract administration activities in accordance with applicable procurement procedures. • Ability to coordinate RFQs, ITBs, RFPs, LTAs, and other procurement processes. • Strong analytical, procurement reporting, documentation management, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. • Ability to coordinate effectively with Mission components, vendors, contractors, AU procurement structures, and relevant stakeholders on procurement and contractual matters. • Good understanding of procurement risk management, procurement monitoring, audit support, inventory coordination, and operational procurement tracking activities. • Strong planning, organizational, supervisory, and team management skills. • Ability to work effectively under pressure and respond to evolving operational procurement requirements within a fast-paced field mission environment. • Proficiency in the use of procurement management systems, ERP platforms such as SAP, procurement databases, and standard Microsoft Office applications. • Ability to maintain professionalism, accountability, transparency, confidentiality, and sound judgment in procurement and contractual activities. • Proficiency in one of the AU official working languages is required. Knowledge of another AU official working language is an added advantage.
Leadership Competencies
Strategic Insight
Developing Others
Change Management
Managing Risk
Core Competencies
Building Relationship
Fosters Accountability Culture
..Learning Orientation
Communicating with Influence
Functional Competencies
Conceptual Thinking
Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
Drive for Results
Continuous Improvement Orientation
.
TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:
The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.
GENDER MAINSTREAMING:
The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
LANGUAGES: Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.
REMUNERATION:
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 125,607.58 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 91,058.73 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.
-Applications must be submitted no later than August 3, 2026 11h59 p.m. EAT.
-Candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 55 on the date of application.
-Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.
-Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas (Bac+2), Bachelor's degrees (Bac+3), Master's degrees (Bac+5) and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise. -The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. -Candidates from least represented and underrepresented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.
Least represented countries: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, and Somalia.
Under represented countries: Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan and Tunisia.
Potential interview questions
| Describe your experience coordinating procurement processes within challenging environments. | This question assesses your ability to work under pressure and manage procurement in complex situations. | Highlight specific challenges and how you successfully navigated them. |
| Can you provide an example of a time you had to negotiate a contract with a vendor? What was your approach? | The interviewer wants to understand your negotiation skills and techniques. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you ensure compliance with procurement regulations in your work? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience in managing vendor relationships effectively. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies do you use to assess procurement risks? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you explain a procurement process you streamlined? What was the impact? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you handle disputes with suppliers? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What do you consider when developing procurement strategies? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |