Procurement Senior Associate (Pharmaceuticals)

UNOPS’ Pristina Office reports to the UNOPS Multi Country Office in Vienna, as part of the UNOPS Europe & Central Asia Region (ECR). UNOPS presence in Pristina was established in 1999 to help the Kosovo Government and other partners achieve their development, peace and security goals and aims to enable the achievement of UN-SDG Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through projects and tailored interventions by providing a broad spectrum of sustainable project management, procurement and HR Services to development partners in the following areas:

• Governance and Rule of Law;

• Provision of Health Sector Strengthening in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic;

• Infrastructure - Design development and Construction Project/Contract Management;

• Technical Assistance;

• Partner Personnel HR Management;

• Project Management

UNOPS (Pristina Project Centre) has a portfolio of projects that include infrastructure, procurement projects, project management support to partners and HR management of partner personnel projects with UN agencies in the region.

The infrastructure component relates to ongoing health response projects to the COVID 19 Pandemic, with infrastructure activities at different stages of the project cycle, as well as planned health infrastructure upgrade, there is also a procurement component related to strengthening the health systems for COVID19 response in Kosovo that procurement of medical equipment require associated renovations of the physical infrastructure of hospitals and other health facilities.

UNOPS Pistina Office is engaged in health projects supporting the Government of Kosovo to successfully fight COVID-19 Pandemic from 2020 and continues to be engaged in 2021 in similar projects. The interest of the donor community in Kosovo is increased towards UNOPS engaging in implementation of similar projects. The Government of Kosovo agreed with the World Bank Group and the Council of Europe Development Bank for loan allocations in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.  The Government of Kosovo, respectively the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health approached UNOPS to implement these projects.

These engagements, among others consists of renovation of the part of Regional Hospitals in Kosovo respectively Installation of the internal distribution network for medical gas (oxygen) in the General Hospitals - Gjilan, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Peja, Mitrovica and Vushtrri, Expansion of capacities of the Morgue in Pristina and  supporting the COVID-19 Vaccination process in Kosovo through construction of a new national vaccine building in Pristina at the site of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo main hospital.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

In order to support the projects in response to the COVID-19 situation and public health system strengthening, the Pristina office has an urgent need to engage a Procurement Senior Associate-Pharmaceuticals  who will support the office's efforts in procurement of pharmaceuticals and coordinating the project with stakeholders.

• In collaboration with the Senior Programme Manager and Procurement Official, undertake all activities related to project procurements.

• Support the Senior Programme Manager in reviewing and/or preparing technical specifications for pharmaceuticals that is subject of procurement, confirm compliance with the project needs and provide recommendations for improvement if needed; 

• In coordination with Senior Programme Manager conduct the verification of the pharmaceuticals in terms of its compliance with the project budget and provide recommendations if needed;

• Conduct market research and support establishing list of potential suppliers;

• Prepare bidding documents for Request for Quotation (RFQ) processes for further review and approval;

• Determine compliance of the bids in accordance with the technical requirements detailed in the Invitation to Bid, provide recommendations as necessary;

• Together with the Senior Programme Manager and project’s technical team, perform technical evaluation of proposals for the supply of pharmaceuticals;

• Perform quality assurance upon the delivery of the goods.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Proper coordination with other UNOPS ECR AUMCO Pristina offices is maintained at all times to achieve effective completion of procurement functions under project.

a. Education

• Secondary education (high school or equivalent) is required; 

• First University Degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) in Pharmacy or equivalent disciplines preferred.

b. Work Experience 

• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant experience in providing procurement support services in national and/or international public or corporate organizations or Bachelor’s with three (3) years of progressively relevant working experience.

• Experience in purchasing processes for medicines in public, state and / or mixed entities.

• Experience in purchasing / acquisitions processes that includes specific and relevant experience in evaluating offers of medicines.

• Experience in working with a range of stakeholders in developing countries.

• Similar experience within the UN system will be a distinct advantage.

• Good working knowledge of G Suit applications

• Experience in working with government officials and donor representatives preferably in similar projects/programmes is an asset.

c. Language Skills

• Fluency in English and Albanian is required, knowledge of Serbian language is considered an advantage.

Contract type: Local Individual Contract Agreement (LICA)- Retainer (approx 6 days per month)

Contract level: ICS-7 / LICA-7

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.