1. Organizational Location
The Procurement Assistant position is located in Procurement Services Branch (PSB) in Copenhagen. The incumbent reports to and receives policy support from the Procurement Specialist who leads the regional team serving the procurement and contracting needs of their geographical areas and ensuring that procurement and commercial considerations are fully taken into account in country programmes. S/he coordinates procurement activities and processes in accordance with Financial Rules and Regulation and Procurement procedures of the UNPFA.
2. Job Purpose
In direct support of UNFPA’s strategy to achieve the ICPD goals and SDG’s ensure the effective and efficient implementation of procurement operations, through the provision of the following services:
- Administration, execution and coordination of procurement activities in the designated countries.
- Provision of advice and guidance to country offices and other parties on all matters related to procurement.
- Contribute to increasing procurement capacity inside the organization as well as to key external stakeholders.
3. Major Activities/Expected Results
1/ Administration, execution and coordination of procurement activities in the region
- Analyze requisitions; communicate with country offices and/or other customers to ensure correctness of the data entered into the Atlas system, clarity of the specifications, appropriateness of the products, delivery requirements and dates;
- Request quotations from suppliers and ensure that the most cost effective proposals are communicated and followed up with the customers;
- Process and issue Purchase Orders in Atlas;
- For field Procurement: Prepare Requests For Quotations, Invitation to Bids, evaluate the submission including negotiations with suppliers as appropriate, prepare CRC submissions if applicable;
- For local Procurement: Review CRC proposals to ensure their completeness and accuracy and proper application of processes and procedures, present cases if required.
- Follow up on delivery process to ensure timely delivery dates as per Purchases Orders; liaise with the suppliers and country offices in order to resolve problem deliveries;
- Review and validate invoices including liaising with the finance branch and/or the supplier involved to solve any issues;
- Handling 3rd party procurement including preparing pro forma invoices, liaising with the customer, manage the client account in cooperation with the Finance Branch (if required); following up on issues regarding delivery and payment of the final invoice (if required).
- In cooperation with the Contracting Team monitor the performance of suppliers with respect to on-time delivery, quality and commercial acceptability;
2/ Give advice and guidance to country offices and other parties on procurement processes and procedures
- Investigate and follow-up on all procurement related inquiries submitted by Country Offices, other UNFPA Departments or clients and provide prompt responses or follow-up; Propose updates to the procurement procedures or processes whenever relevant.
- Upon request communicate changes in procurement processes and procedures or updates in relating financial procedure provide clarifications and guidance if required;
- Monitor requests and relevant submission in terms of their compliance with procurement procedures; take action in case of their violation;
- Advise Country Offices in system related questions such as using of e-Procurement or OTS/OMS, and provide substantive inputs to countries’ procurement planning in terms of availability of RH products (both at country level, if known to PSB focal point as well as from the manufacturer), their relevance, specifications, prices and other costs.
3/ Contribute to increasing procurement capacity inside the organization as well as to key external stakeholders.
- Participate in the development of training materials and/or deliver regional or local face-to-face procurement trainings to UNFPA CO staff, HQ staff and/or external government- or donor staff.
- Upon request by UNFPA Cos/HQ/PSB/government counterparts, undertake capacity building- and/or trouble-shooting missions to countries or HQ.
- In cooperation with procurement specialist and associate, ensure country strategies are being implemented and progress tracked, maintain a vigorous exchange with all procurement forums to keep CO-PSB dialogue active.
4/ Perform other job related duties as assigned
4. Work Relations
Establishes and maintains professional contacts with UNFPA staff at country offices at all levels including with Representatives, HQ staff in various departments, Finance Branch, and with partners in other UN agencies, NGOs, government representatives at the relevant levels. Maintains daily contact with other procurement staff at PSB. Sustain close contact with suppliers.
5. Job Requirements
Education:
University degree at bachelor level in business administration or a related field* is required. A master’s degree in one of the relevant fields is a strong advantage.
*Degrees related to Business Administration include, but are not limited to: economics, management, finance, law, political science. However candidates with other academic backgrounds such as e.g. engineering or medicine with experience or complementary courses in business administration or similar may also be considered as qualified candidates.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Minimum 5 years of related work experience preferably in an international, customer focused organization
- Note that a Master’s Degree in combination with 3 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of 5 years of experience
- Knowledge of reproductive health related commodities and medical terminology an asset.
- Experience in international, public procurement and logistics, contracts and supplier management is highly desirable.
Required Competencies:
- Ability to analyze and utilize complicated data
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Ability to establish and maintain harmonious relationships with customers suppliers and colleagues.
- Ability to perform well under pressure and flexibility in handling unexpected work assignments as and when necessary.
- Service minded.
- Excellent working knowledge of MS Office, including Excel, word, Powerpoint, a good understanding of ERP systems (PeopleSoft/Oracle/SAP or similar) and e-filing systems.
Languages:
- Fluency in written and oral English and French is required.
Other Desirable Skills:
- Communication, information and ideas/knowledge sharing
- Analytical and strategic thinking
- Commitment to excellence
HOW TO APPLY:
UNFPA offers a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity, and a healthy work/life balance. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.
We offer an attractive salary, subsidized medical/dental insurance and pension benefits. This is a Temporal Appointment (TA) for 6 months.
Applications in English (including letter of interest, CV and completed/signed UN Personal History Form (P11) http://www.unfpa.org/resources/p11-un-personal-history-form qshould be submitted not later than April 29, 2016 at 17:00 hours (Copenhagen time) via email to: psb.vacancies@unfpa.org .
Please note that the selected candidate must have a residence/working permit in Denmark.
UNFPA will only be able to respond to those applicants in whom UNFPA has a further interest.
The UN Common Premises is a smoke-free work environment.
There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process.
UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
