Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Vendor Registration and Outreach (VRO) Section, Enabling and Outreach Service (EOS), Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM), Department of Operational Support (DOS). The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, Offices Away from Headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions. The Office of Supply Chain Management encompasses the Logistics Division, the Procurement Division, the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre, Aviation Safety Section and the Enabling and Outreach Service. The latter supports supply chain operations through the provision of operational reporting, business intelligence, supplier diversity and performance management. The Procurement Officer leads the Vendor Registration and Outreach Team and reports directly to the Chief of the Vendor Registration and Outreach Section, and ultimately to the Chief of EOS.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Procurement Officer may be responsible for the following duties: • Serves as a senior vendor management expert with responsibility for the registration and maintenance of the Secretariat's vendor rosters for procurement of a wide variety of supplies and services associated with highly complex (technically and legally) contracts and procurement activities, including the master list of approved / prequalified air operators. • Manages and strengthens vendor registration and due diligence processes, including Special Approval requests, collaboration with the High-Level Committee on Management - Procurement Network (HLCM/PN) working groups, and continuous improvement through liaison with United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM). • Maintains vendor outreach and roster data, providing accurate statistics and analysis to respond to queries from Member States and oversight bodies. • Provides technical advice on procurement activities related to vendor management to officials of substantive units during all phases of the procurement cycle. • Analyzes and evaluates procurement requests, including requests for special approval and ensures appropriateness of technical specifications and case submissions. • Supports the procurement process, which covers the following: issuances of international tender invitations; management of submissions and tender opening; evaluation of responses to tender, and preparation of recommendations for finalization of purchases and award of contracts; special approval of vendors up to the authorized limit, and, in cases where the amount exceeds authorized signature authority, preparation of submissions to the Special Approval Committee for review and subsequent approval by the authorized official, as relevant. • Develops new tactical approaches to contracts, as well as new methods for their application, based on market research. • Oversees the submission, presentation, decision implementation, and reporting processes for Vendor Review Committee cases, including sanctions related to unethical or anti-competitive practices, vendor eligibility, contract performance, and reinstatement. • Contributes to the development of institutional procurement policies and procedures; develops standards and criteria for the evaluation of goods, services, or supplier capacity, etc. • Maintains, under constant examination, production patterns in exporting countries; evaluates the productive capacities and performance of manufacturers to identify supply sources, as relevant. • Establishes approaches for negotiations and conducts or coordinates all phases of negotiations with all concerned parties, including the negotiation of disputes arising from contracts, as relevant. • May carry out consultancy missions to the field. • Provides direction and guidance to more junior staff.

Competencies
• Professionalism: Knowledge of internationally recognized procurement standards, vendor due diligence and risk management techniques and operations used in contracting vendors for highly complex and technologically advanced goods and services. Knowledge of vendor management and registration criteria. Knowledge of quantitative methods to measure supplier capacity systems, evaluate suppliers' financial status and ability to identify sources of supply to meet the needs of the Organization. Knowledge of vendor outreach and ability to conduct outreach activities, including organizing business seminars. Ability to apply technical expertise to resolve a range of complex and/or sensitive issues/problems. Ability to develop relevant policies, procedures and new programmes concerning vendor management and outreach. 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. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. • 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, public administration, commerce, accounting, engineering, law or a related field. 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

Not available.

Work Experience
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contract management, contract administration, or related area is required. • Experience in vendor management, due diligence and risk management, vendor outreach, or similar procurement related functions for the United Nations or other comparable international organization, is required. • At least two years of supervisory experience is required. • Experience in making presentations or briefings to senior management, and external stakeholders is required. • Experience in drafting responses to and providing inputs on queries from Member States and oversight bodies on procurement or vendor outreach is desirable. • Experience in analyzing financial statements in accordance with accounting principles to assess the financial standing of vendors is desirable. • Experience in conducting market research, data analysis, and working with business intelligence systems to produce reports is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice
• Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. • Applicants from troop and police-contributing countries who are found most suitable and recommended for selection will be given due consideration for positions in a peacekeeping operation or Headquarters support account funded positions in the Department of Peace Operations and the Department of Operational Support, taking into account their contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/265 and 67/287. • Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. • 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. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.