The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking applications from enthusiastic students who are looking to learn about and gain professional experience in procurement. The internship will be based at IWMI’s headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Scope of internship

During the internship period, the selected candidate will report to the Senior Procurement Officer and will work closely with IWMI’s Procurement Office for effective and timely procurement services for IWMI headquarters. The intern is expected to assist in handling all inward/outward shipments and duty-free clearance of items. They should maintain impartial and ethical customer-oriented relations with suppliers and also exchange relevant information with counterparts in other departments.

The intern will assist in the following areas:

• Assist in obtaining quotations from both local and foreign suppliers for the purchase of goods and services, track orders and follow-up deliveries as necessary to ensure delivery within the stipulated time frame. Understand the process and criteria for preparing a request for proposal (RFP)/request for quotation (RFQ) and obtain quotations from diverse suppliers.
• Assist in organizing and maintaining relevant records for each procurement decision for all the goods and services procured within IWMI.
• Learn to track and evaluate vendor performance and improvements related to pricing, contractual terms, and/or scope of services.
• Learn the life cycle of a purchase order and assist in preparing Purchase Orders for approval, dispatch approved Purchase Orders, and follow-up with the delivery of ordered commodities and services with vendors.
• Assist in maintaining and updating the supplier database and understand the importance of a well-maintained supplier database.
• Take part in supplier feedback meetings with IWMI Procurement Officers and record minutes where necessary.
• Learn about the importance of meticulous record-keeping in procurement. Summarize quotations and technical evaluations in preparing procurement submissions to the IWMI Procurement Committee. Help maintain records of committee submissions, purchases, shipments, and other vital procurement statistics.
• Study the structure and purpose of procurement management reports and assist IWMI Procurement Officers in the preparation and submission of reports relating to procurement.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Management, Finance or any other related degree from a recognized and accredited University.
• Certificate in Procurement and Supply Chain Management is desirable.
• An excellent command of the English language (written and spoken).
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize and manage time efficiently.
• Candidates should be goal-oriented, confidential, skilled planners and organizers, with good interpersonal and teamwork skills.

Benefits

IWMI will provide a monthly stipend to the selected candidate during the internship period.

The duration of the initial internship contract will be for 6 months with the possibility of extension for another 6 months based on performance, requirements of IWMI and the availability of funds. This is a nationally recruited internship and only Sri Lankans are eligible to apply.

To apply, visit www.iwmi.org/jobs. Applications must be submitted by 24:00 (Colombo time) on November 05, 2023 (Sunday).

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international, research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnership, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis to support implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change and inclusive economic growth. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR Research Center with offices in 14 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 30 countries. www.iwmi.org

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.