Contracts Specialist, P-3, Copenhagen

Under the general guidance of Chief, Contracting, you will be responsible for the planning and development of procurement policies, guidelines and strategies, as well as best practices. Under the guidance of the Chief, Contracting, participates in cross centre, interagency and UN Reform activities (for example UNGM, benchmarking, sustainable procurement, and UN procurement certification scheme), including training and capacity building, with the aim to streamline and harmonise procurement, as well as to ensure common procurement quality and high ethical standards.

Qualification:

Advanced University degree in business administration, commerce or law or technical field.* Five years of progressively responsible professional experience including at least three at the international level. Experience in commercial activities with the public or private sector in developing and industrialized countries. Fluency in English and another UN language is required. *A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Key Expected Results:

1. Reviews, prepares and develops procurement guidelines, policies and practices. Ensures that all documents are up to date and coordinates with the different stakeholders to ensure timely revision, publication and dissemination of these documents.
2. Maintains all standard contractual documents, templates and forms and ensures that they are up to date.
3. Follows up on latest procurement developments and good practices, to improve internal processes and practices.
4. Provide assistance and advice on contractual issues as well as procurement policy and procedures related matters, and respond to queries from Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices.
5. Develop procurement training material and assist in the delivery of training and capacity building activities.

6. Participates in inter-agency and UN procurement reform activities.

7. When required, conducts different operational procurement activities. This includes the issuing international tender invitations, evaluating offers and negotiating with suppliers, preparing award recommendations and submissions to the contract review committee (CRC), issuing Purchase Orders, Contracts or Long Term Arrangements, and conducting contract management to ensure compliance to the agreed terms and conditions. Ensures that all these activities are in compliance with the UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, the Supply Manual, and all other applicable procurement procedures.

8. Establishes work plans and priorities, monitors achievements and evaluates performance of support staff.
9. Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor.

Competencies:

Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.

Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.

Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.

Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise.

Adjusts team or department's approach to embrace changing circumstances.

Identifies urgent and potentially difficult decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates team- and department-wide activities.

Ensures that team or department follows relevant company policies and procedures.

Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.

Sets clearly defined objectives and plans activities for self, own team or department.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation. If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2011-001501. Applications must be received by 20 September 2011. Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.