Senior Procurement Specialist

About Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2022-2023, FAO will, under the life-saving assistance Outcome (1) of the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF), focus on the following four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. Additionally, FAO will contribute towards resilience building activities under Outcome 2 of the TEF. 

Job Summary

Reporting Lines

The Senior Procurement Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, the direct supervision of the International Procurement Officer and technical guidance of CSLP in the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and Headquarters.

Technical Focus 

The Senior Procurement Specialist performs day-to-day procurement operations, including specialized and complex processes and functions, ensuring consistency, timeliness, and conformity with relevant rules, procedures, and practices. S/he provides procedural guidance to clients regarding procurement procedures and contributes to timely and efficient procurement operations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Tasks and responsibilities

•   In strict compliance with FAO procurement guidelines and relevant FAO Manual Section provisions reviews, check, monitor and implement the procurement steps as per established check lists and Standard Operating Procedures;

•   Lead procurement processes, focusing on achievement of the following results:

o   Routine follow-up on procurement and informing the supervisor of the status;

o   Undertake the Buyer function in conformity with FAO rules and regulations;

o   Identify and make initial determinations and recommendations concerning disputes or claims arising out procurement action;

o   Provide advice on the best procurement strategy and regarding procurement planning requirements;

o   Analyses complex procurement/contractual and risk related issues and provides advice and assistance;

o   Prepare and support the submission of cases to the Local and Headquarters Procurement Committees as appropriate;

o   Written responses to queries from external parties regarding procurement matters;

o   Establishment and maintenance of working files on procurement activity, including printing of all offers (for the assigned cases) from the e-tendering portal after the formal Opening by the Tender Opening Panel;

o   Preparation of letters, memoranda, email, etc. to monitor progress and liaise with vendors during the entire procurement cycle; examination and resolution of post-order problems and preparation of progress reports on procurement matters;

o   Liaison with the requesters on receipt of goods, equipment's and services given obtaining the proper delivery reports or similar to ensure all supporting documents are available for audit and review purpose;

o   Provide monthly reports on status of contracts progress and payment to Programme, Procurement and Operations Teams;

o   Conduct market research to add more qualified Service Providers to the database of shortlisted Service Providers practicing due diligence in verifying the Profile and Past Performance of the Service Providers; 

o   Prepare and bi-monthly work on Procurement Plan together with the Procurement and make analyses of planned activities vis-à-vis planned dates to identify bottlenecks and ways of improvement;

•   Implement the procurement plans through the issuance of tenders, following up on the evaluations, preparing commercial evaluations, drafting the submissions to the Review Committees, issuing contractual instruments (Contracts and GRMS ERP Purchase Orders), following up on delivery and closing the contractual instruments; 

•   Lead the preparation of RFQs, ITBs or RFPs documents, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, and their preliminary evaluation;

•   Ensure the adoption of all World Bank procurement guidelines for all types of project-related procurement of irrigation rehabilitation contract works, goods and supplies;

•   Performs any other duties as required.

Job Requirements

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•   Advanced degree (Master’s) or a university degree (Bachelor’s) Procurement, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, Commerce, Law or closely related field.

•   For advanced degree at least seven (7) years of professional experience in procurement, supply chain, contract management or related area of work.

•   For university degree at least ten (10) years of professional experience in procurement, supply chain, contract management or related area of work.

•   Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Pashto and/or Dari).

•   National of Afghanistan. 

FAO Core Competencies

•   Results Focus

•   Teamwork

•   Communication

•   Building Effective Relationships

•   Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•   Familiarity with UN agencies administrative, finance and procurement operations systems is highly desirable;

•   Strong familiarity with internationally recognised international standards and all phases of the procurement process;

•   Experience in identifying client’s procurement related needs and in providing support and guidance from a client’s point of view; 

•   Ability to prepare communication and contractual documentation in English; 

•   Ability to identify and resolve problems expeditiously and pragmatically; tact, initiative and sound judgment; ability to establish and maintain good working relations with other staff / colleagues from different cultural background;

•   Previous experience with the UN is considered a strong asset;

•   Strong professional command of Microsoft Office, in particular Word and Excel.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO 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/  
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 
•  Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 
• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

Submission Guideline

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills

• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile

• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications

• Incomplete applications will not be considered

• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application

• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered

• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile

• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Functional Area

Procurement and logistics

Business Administration

Economic Growth

Accounting/Finance

Law

Social Science

Countries

Attachments

Quick Guide_ Applying for AVacancy At FAO.pdf

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