About the Surge Mechanism

At UNOPS, the Surge Mechanism is the quick mobilization and deployment of highly experienced personnel and specialized experts to reinforce an office’s capacity during periods of immediate needs. Surge is characterized by its urgency and short-duration commitment in high-risk situations. In collaboration with other business units, the Surge Team, managed by the Surge Coordinator, is leading the growth of the Surge Mechanism at UNOPS. Today, the Surge Mechanism is focused on providing 4 areas of support:

1. Operational Support: Filling urgent and unforeseen gaps
2. Diagnosis: Undertaking analyses and developing action plans.
3. Turnaround: Providing support in internal crises, working to get current projects or processes back on track.
4. Emergency Response: Responding to humanitarian and external crises.

The Procurement Analyst will serve to address critical situations and projects, either remotely or in-person. Hence, the Procurement Analyst is expected to be internationally mobile and willing to travel to different locations around the world, including hardship locations. Missions abroad may last for several weeks/up to a maximum of 4 months. The estimated time in assignments per year is 70%. Availability to travel is therefore a prerequisite for this position, even though some of the missions may be conducted remotely.

About the Role
As Procurement Analyst, you will be assigned to surge missions with the objective to support offices that require rapid procurement support, e.g. at the inception of a project, or cover a gap between recruitments following the unexpected departure of a procurement colleague.

You will be required to be a role model by leveraging a business partnering approach in every assignment. You will be responsible for providing implementation management and transactional support and capacity building , always with the aim of increasing quality, professionalism and creating efficiencies. Your work will focus on identifying challenges and providing innovative solutions to ensure high quality of procurement services across the organization. This also involves the use of data analytics to enable business decisions, for example by assisting country offices in the development of monitoring/planning tools for procurement activities. In the performance of your functions, you will benefit from expert technical advice from Surge Procurement colleagues if/when needed.

While on assignment, your primary reporting line will be the Procurement Manager or other senior authority in the (Multi-) Country Office. You will have a secondary reporting line to the Surge Coordinator. You will be responsible for providing temporary procurement operational and transactional support to ongoing or start-up projects, following UNOPS policies and guidelines. In this role, you will also advise on procurement matters, and highlight operational and compliance challenges to selected projects, whilst tailoring appropriate mitigation approaches.

The person in this position will be required to travel to different locations around the world, including hardship locations. Missions abroad may last for several weeks/up to a maximum of 4 months. Availability to travel is therefore a prerequisite for this position, even though some of the missions may be conducted remotely.

It is important to note that surge assignments vary in nature and context. Hence, this job description is generic and may not always be applicable, nor be comprehensive, for all assignments under this job title. The specific tasks and deliverables for each surge assignment may vary and will be detailed in the terms of reference developed for each assignment by the requesting office/unit.

1. Implementation of transactional procurement
2. Management of procurement processes
3. Implementation of sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools
4. Team Management
5. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1. In close cooperation with the Project Managers, under the guidance of a technical supervisor, and reporting to the management on central issues related to procurement activities, implements operational strategies and manages procurement, contract, and sourcing transactions, actions and processes for goods, services, and works, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Full compliance of assigned procurement activities with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategies; internal controls and client orientation.
• Implementation of the different steps of the procurement processes, including Pre-Purchasing: Strategy and Planning; Requirements Definition; Sourcing; Purchasing: Solicitation; Management of Submissions; Evaluation; Review and Award; Post Purchasing: Contract finalization and issuance; Logistics; and Contract Management.
• Implementation of strategic procurement for projects assigned in the Business Unit.
• Research undertaken and data provided for Business Unit’s supply market intelligence and analysis.

2. Manages and guides procurement processes for a select group of technically complex goods, services within a given geographical area and/or Business Unit, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Sustainability embedded along the procurement process.
• Timely and duly prepared procurement plans for projects and monitoring of their implementation.
• Establishment of Long Term Agreements (LTAs) and/or service contracts and other instruments, when necessary, either through standard or emergency procurement procedures in compliance with the Procurement Policy.
• Implementation of proper monitoring and control of procurement processes including organization of RFQ, ITB or RFP, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their evaluation, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulation.
• Awards recommended based on UNOPS procurement rules and procedures.
• Management of procurement contract, analysis of contract performance against agreed benchmarks and pre-established reporting mechanisms.
• Advice, remedial actions, or solutions to Programme Managers on procurement issues related to the procurement process and project cycle.

3. Implements sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Development and management of the rosters of suppliers.
• Utilization of-sourcing module in accordance with UNOPS Procurement Groups’ goals and standards in this area.

4. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for Business Unit personnel on Procurement-related topics.
• Contribute to Procurement knowledge networks and communities of practice by providing collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in procurement.
• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.

5. Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

Impact of Results:

The key results directly affect the overall efficiency of the relevant business unit/s and project activities in procurement management, impacting the timely availability of effective goods and services for UNOPS’ programmes. Timely, market-aware, and accountable delivery of goods and services, contribute to office performance, efficiency and client satisfaction, which promote the image and credibility of the team and office as an effective service provider in project services and management. This enhances UNOPS’ competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services in the country/region served.

Core Values and Principles:

Understand and respect UNOPS sustainability principles

• Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles in day to day procurement tasks.
• Seek opportunities to champion gender equality in the workplace.
• Champion and communicate sustainability aspects with key stakeholders.
• Understand and Respect National ownership and capacity
• Look for ways to build the capacity of local counterparts.

Excellence

• Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.

Education:

• Advanced Degree or equivalent preferably in Procurement and/or Supply Chain Management, Law, Commerce, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years experience at the international level in procurement management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• For those who do not have a degree in Procurement of Supply Chain Management, Chartered Institute of Supply and Management (CIPS) or similar international Certification is a distinct advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years’ professional experience in international public procurement.
• Experience in working with a range of stakeholders in developing and developed countries is an asset.
• Some experience in UN system organizations, preferably in a developing country, is desirable.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Office 2003 and/or newer versions) is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and French is required.

Desirable:

• Prior experience in a UN Agency and/or international organizations.
• Current or prior experience as a UNOPS procurement professional given the nature of the surge capacity role.
• Experience in the Global South and/or conflict/post-conflict environments.

Travel:

• The person in this position will be required to travel to different locations around the world, including hardship locations. Missions abroad may last for several weeks/up to a maximum of 3 months. Availability to travel is therefore a prerequisite for this position, even though some of the missions may be conducted remotely.

• Contract type: ICA
• Contract level: IICA-1
• Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

UN City in Copenhagen – short presentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF25xfMW0KQ

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.