Procurement Jobs at UNFPA Uganda

Job Title: Procurement Officer

Level: ICS 8 (NO-A)

Duty Station: Kampala

Organizational Context

The National Procurement Officer position is located in the Uganda Country Office. This post specifically serves the procurement and contracting needs of Uganda Kampala Country Office, three decentralised offices and three other sub-offices in which UNFPA personnel are located in the country's East, Northern and North-Eastern regions. The position reports to the Operations Manager and works in close coordination with the Team Leaders of the Policy, Planning and Quality Assurance; Field Operations and Programme Departments.

In direct support of UNFPA 7th Country Programme, and in the context of the UN Reform Strategy of the Uganda UNCT and the Uganda UNDAF, the National Programme Officer will ensure proper and effective use of UNFPA's and external partners' resources in the following activities:

§ Assist all Country Office Departments in defining and costing their procurement and logistics needs in accordance with the approved Annual Work Plans and Advocacy Strategy on a yearly basis;

§ Build capacity by advising National Programme Officers and external parties on all aspects of procurement and logistics management implementation and organization;

§ Represent UNFPA in UNCT working groups on procurement and Long Term Agreements, and on Government and NGO Committees that deal with procurement using UNFPA core or co-financing funds, especially those related with RH Commodity Supplies and Stream II Commodity Security; contributions to pooled funding in sector wide initiatives; procurement for Implementing Partners and on behalf of private sector initiatives.

The National Procurement Officer:

Assists all Country Office Departments in defining and costing their procurement and logistics needs in accordance with the approved Annual Work Plans and Advocacy Strategy on a yearly basis.

§ Prepares a consolidated Procurement Plans on the basis of a review of all Annual Work Plans and oversee procurement, ensuring the most economical and timely delivery of complete UNFPA country office procurement portfolio.

§ Liaises with National Programme Officers and Heads of Departments, in coordination as required also with relevant Government Departments and NGOs, in defining accurate specifications and agreeing procurement modalities for the most effective and efficient procurement in accordance with prevailing UNFPA Policies and Procedures.

§ Provides advice and systems to assist Team Leaders and National Programme Officers in proper forecasting, procurement planning and logistics management within their sphere of work in each of UNFPA's thematic programming areas.

§ Monitors and evaluate effectiveness of procurement processes within the country office and its decentralised offices and ensure compliance of the office business practices with the provisions of the UNFPA Policies and Procedures, work practices, and processes and suggest changes for improvement where and when necessary.

§ Ensures coordination with UNFPA Procurement Services Branch and Facilities Management Services, UNOPS and other UN procurement bodies for timely delivery and receipt of goods and services, release, acceptance and delivery of these to the destination point in a timely manner with due attention to quality assurance.

§ Provides regular updates on procurement timelines and ensure regular communication within UNFPA and externally with partners of the expected delivery dates.

§ Oversees local procurement in the country office and participate on the UNCT procurement panels and committees upon request/ necessity.

§ Maintains up-to-date and complete records, documentation and filing of all procurement processes.

Builds capacity by advising implementing partners and external parties on all aspects of procurement and logistics management implementation and organization

§ Provides information, technical advice and guidance on all aspects of procurement including commodity types, procurement activities, processes and procedures in relation to UNFPA business practices, liaising and advising on best practices as necessary in-house as well as with National Medical Stores, Joint Medical Stores, Clearing Agents, National Drug Authority, Public Procurement and Disposal Authority and Sector Procurement Committees.

§ Promotes local capacity building in procurement and logistics.

§ Designs and develop curricula and materials for procurement and logistics trainings and conduct the latter.

§ Keeps Country Office personnel abreast of latest developments in Policies and Procedures and all PSS activity as this relates to the Country Office including regular reporting of procurement activities.

§ Establishes and maintains professional contact with UNFPA Representative, Deputy Representative, Team Leaders, National and International Programme and Operations personnel, the Africa Focal Point in PSB, FMS, Technical Division's RHCS Africa Focal, Africa Regional Office and Sub-regional Office Johannesburg to advise / seek advice and clarify topics related to procurement and logistics and assist in the planning or execution of a project.

§ Develop sound working relationships with suppliers and third party procurement customers. Establish and maintain working relationships with procurement/ technical colleagues in other UN agencies.

§ Performs other job related duties as assigned

Required Competencies:

Functional Competencies

§ Business Acumen and ability to multi-task and balance competing priorities

§ Innovation and marketing of new approaches

§ Pro-activeness and Client Orientation

§ Organizational Awareness

§ Job Knowledge/Technical expertise

Corporate Competencies

§ Values/Guiding Principles: Performance Management; Developing People/Fostering Innovation and Empowerment; and Integrity

§ Working in Teams

§ Communication Information and Ideas/Knowledge Sharing

§ Self-Management/Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Management/Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements

§ Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making

§ Analytical and Strategic Thinking/Results Orientation/Commitment to Excellence

5. Job Requirements

Education:

§ University degree in commerce, business administration or related field.

§ Advanced university degree in business administration, procurement or related field.

Knowledge and Experience:

At least 4 years progressively responsible experience in procurement operations in a multi-cultural environment.

Languages:

§ Working knowledge of English a requirement

§ Limited knowledge of another UN official language is an asset

Additional Information:

* UNFPA will respond only to applicants in whom the Country Office has further interest.
* UNFPA offers an attractive compensation package commensurate with experience.
* 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.
* UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.

Application process:

* Applicants should submit their applications electronically through e-mail. Interested persons should send a cover letter and a completed P11 form that is available on the web-link http://unfpauganda.org/docs/p-11.doc . (CVs will not be accepted).
* Application should be sent to UNFPA e-mail address: vacancyug@unfpa.org
* Please make sure that the post title is clearly reflected in the "Subject" line of your e-mail message.
* Deadline for applications: 15 February 2011

IMPORTANT: There is NO application processing or other fees at any stage of UNFPA application processes