Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Procurement Section of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central Africa Republic (MINUSCA), Bangui. The incumbent will report to the Chief, Supply Chain Management Service.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority the Chief Procurement Officer is responsible for the following duties:
• Plans, develops and manages the procurement activities of the Procurement Section involving multi-million-dollar expenditures for worldwide procurement of a broad range of commodities and services.
• Serves as principal advisor to senior officials; provides authoritative technical and policy advice and support on all aspects of procurement.
• Develops and disseminates best practices and ensures the highest levels of quality and accuracy of the Procurement Section’s work.
• Leads and directs MINUSCA Procurement Section; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors, and evaluates staff; participates in recruitment and selection of new staff and in the development of training programs.
• Analyzes unusually complex and/or critical procurement proposals of significant financial or operational impact; determines appropriate strategy/approach to best serve institutional interests, and ensures implementation, including the authorization of exceptions to established rules, practices and procedures, as necessary.
• Directs, manages and conducts planning, solicitation, negotiation, and, if necessary, termination of contractual and procurement action.
• Authorizes up to approved limit or recommends authorization of procurement contracts/purchase orders.
• Develops proposals on revisions to procurement policies and procedures; develops and recommends strategy for the effective implementation of procurement policies, reforms and internal controls.
• Represents the organization in key meetings with senior officials internally and with government officials, and in negotiations with senior executives of various commercial organizations for the purpose of concluding major contracts.
• Maintains the Procurement Tracking Tool to monitor timelines, workload, requisition burn rates, outstanding shopping carts, delivery status and budget expenditure.
• Carries out programmatic/managerial tasks necessary for the functioning of the Procurement Section including budget preparation and staffing actions.
• Analyses and evaluates procurement requests and ensures appropriateness of technical specifications in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules, the Procurement Manual and Umoja requirements.
• Prepares logical, detailed and accurate submissions to the Contracts Committees for review and subsequent approval by the authorized official
• Performs other duties as required by the Chief Supply Chain Management Service or the Director of Mission Support.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of all facets of international procurement, including state-of-the art knowledge of procurement and contract principles, techniques, practices, regulations, as well as current knowledge of broader economic and market perspective. Able to work and cooperate with a Global Procurement Support Service in view of achieving greater regional sourcing and economy of scale with other field Missions. Knowledge of and experience in cost analysis evaluation techniques, combined with knowledge of administrative and management principles relevant to the direction of procurement operations of significant complexity, volume and financial and/or operational impact. Ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives. Ability to apply independent judgment and discretion in advising on and handling major procurement issues and problems. Ability to negotiate, persuade and influence others to reach agreement on complex and sensitive issues. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments. Adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions, as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Judgement/ Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions, when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, commerce, engineering, law or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

A minimum of CIPS Level IV certification is required.

Supply Chain Professional (SCOR-P) certification is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, or related functions such as contracting, demand and acquisition planning logistics and/or supply chain management is required.

At least 5 years of management experience in acquisition management or procurement at the international level is required.

At least 3 years experience in managing highly complex acquisition management operations in a conflict or post conflict environment with finite resources is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.