Procurement Specialist / Manager

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Support Services, the Procurement Specialist / Manager is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic and effective procurement services reflecting international public procurement best practices, compliance with UNOPS procurement policy, rules, regulations and procedures, ensuring appropriate risk management and obtaining the best value for money for the acquisition of goods, services and the contracting of works. 

He/she analyzes and interprets the respective rules and regulations and provides advice and solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement. The role requires deep understanding of procurement policy and processes and the Procurement Specialist should be able to apply them to the appropriate situations.

In addition to responsibility for the deliverables of the work team, the incumbent’s work is focused on strategic relationship building and demand management, mainly referred to aggregation and dealing with complex organizational structures, preparation of business cases and understanding of the supply market, as well as sharing knowledge with projects in order to achieve reductions of costs and savings.

• Advanced degree (equivalent to master's degree) preferably in Procurement and / or Supply Chain Management, Law, Commerce, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related fields. and five (5) years of relevant experience
• A first-level university degree (equivalent to a bachelor's degree) and seven (7) years of  relevant experience.
• Academic degrees or certifications in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, the Chartered Institute of Supply and Management (CIPS) or a similar international certification is a clear advantage.

• Based on academic degrees, a minimum of five to seven years’ professional experience at the international and  national level, in advising on, implementing policies and procedures to deliver a range of procurement programmes and services.
• Personnel supervisory experience in procurement;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (Google Suite or MS Office, alternatively).
• Procurement experience in health projects is desirable.
• Procurement experience in infrastructure / construction projects is desirable.
• Experience using Procurement Rules and Regulations of the UN and/or other International Cooperation and Development Organizations is a clear advantage

• Fluency in Spanish is required. 
• An intermediate level of English is required.
• Fluency in French or Portuguese is an advantage.

Type of Contract: Roster selection process, whose main objective is to prequalify male and female candidates for the different projects in different countries. Candidates who have a successful selection process will be on the roster for a period of 36 months and may be contacted as needed by the projects.

The contracting modality will be defined according to the needs of the projects and specific assignments. Below are the contracting types that may be used:


Contract for retention of services (retainer): in this type of contract an estimated number of days to work during the period is established. The supervisor will call the contractor to work only the days that are necessary and will be paid only for the days actually worked.


By Product (Lumpsum): This type of contract is for a defined product or products that must be delivered within a specific time frame. Payment for these services will be made as a lump sum payment, upon completion and delivery of the product (s) and with the acceptance and approval of the same by UNOPS.


Regular / Monthly Contract: This contract is established in the form of a regular monthly Contract, that is, a continuous provision of services is required during the contract period, making the payments associated with the contract at the end of each calendar month.


Homebased contract: in this type of contract, the contractor will work mainly from his / her place of residence, and will only be required to travel to the place where the project is developed occasionally.

Level: ICS-10


Destination: Countries in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, or other UNOPS locations globally as required.


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

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.