Team Manager - Sourcing Innovation, Copenhagen (IICA-3)

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need. Working in some of the world's most challenging environments, our vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

UNOPS provides services in sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement and sustainable project management, with projects ranging from building schools, roads, bridges and hospitals to procuring goods and services and training local personnel.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

We employ more than 6,000 personnel annually and on behalf of our partners create thousands more work opportunities in local communities. Through our headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and a network of regional and country offices, we oversee activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

Background Information - Job-specific

The overall aim of the Sustainable Procurement Practice Group is to ensure sustainability in all activities, including in partnerships, provide speedy and quality advice and services by leveraging on existing global knowledge, building and sharing knowledge further, and by increasing revenue through focus on commodities, economies of scale, and taking advantage of automation solutions to reach out to partners.

The purpose of UNOPS Procurement Operations Unit is to lead the strategic approach for all procurement and supply chain activities to ensure the goal of sustainability and to achieve process simplification and best value, leveraging volumes and shaping markets through proper planning, the establishment of commodity teams, a focus on results across the global organization. Further, the Procurement Operations Unit has the responsibility to support business development with special attention to optimizing business support through electronic catalogues and will ensure the procurement function across UNOPS is conducted with a transparent, consistent and efficient process from end to end underpinning it with the systems, analytics, agreements and expertise to facilitate best in class provision of services both within and outside the organization. Collaboration and outreach across UNOPS delivery practices and operational centres will be critical to success.

The purpose of UNOPS Sourcing function is to provide leadership regarding supplier management, sourcing methodology, solicitation practices and operationalizing sustainable procurement. The Team is to introduce procurement planning and supply positioning to support a more strategic assessment of procurement actions. The team is to manage and coordinate multi-disciplinary commodity teams to achieve best value solutions for strategic goods/services and provide subject matter expertise to support UNOPS global procurement in key areas. In addition the team will undertake procurements where appropriate and will lead the procurements for common goods and services. The team's responsibility will cover the end to end procurement, supply chain and contract management processes.

Functional Responsibilities

The Team Manager is expected to manage the unit's performance, to manage the team members, and be responsible for the unit deliverables based on the unit's activities explained above.

The Team Manager is also expected to:

1. Provide expertise, leadership, support and advise on sustainable procurement of goods, services and works through:

• Ensuring that the procurement function is optimized and aligned with the operation centers and projects' evolving needs.

• Collaborating with other subject matter experts located in the operational centres centres to create procurement strategies, identifying the appropriate procurement methodologies depending on the products or services and the various markets.

• Creating procurement strategies, identifying the appropriate procurement methodologies depending on the products or services and the various markets.

• Leading cross functional teams for strategic procurement initiatives.

• Advising on contract management issues that occur in and during the delivery period of the contract

• Providing leadership and coordination to support sustainable procurement processes across UNOPS

• Approving and signing contracts, purchase orders and LTAs within delegated authority.

2. Provide technical advice related to sustainable procurement:

• Develop and continually improve procurement planning tools and procedures and work with business units to develop sustainable procurement strategies and plans for specific tenders and/or projects.

• Work with clients and other UN agencies to exchange information on procurement needs, joint tender opportunities, common specifications to build cooperation and leadership in the area of sustainable procurement.

• Actively represent UNOPS with partners and on internal and external learning work groups/committees, in business seminars with suppliers, supplier meetings and other UN forums to advance sustainable procurement and collaboration.

3. Ensure Supplier management and development:

• Lead market research on products for tenders of goods and services to keep abreast of current market developments

• Ensure product and service specifications are clear and in line with market trends and that quality controls are in place to verify adherence to specifications working in close collaboration with the Technical Procurement Associate.

• Ensure regular supplier performance evaluations are conducted in accordance with UNOPS rules and regulations.

• Resolve and address any supplier performance issues.
• Subject matter expert in vendor management in collaboration with UNGM team.

• Optimize existing tools and practices (UN Web Buy, Atlas, UNGM) where possible to improve procurement process and to continuously search for new products and methods to support process simplification to improve procurement actions.

Competencies

Representational and Client-focused – Ability to serve and manage clients needs; be able to represent and promote UNOPS through knowledge and partnership building within the UN and other forums.

Managerial and Teamwork – Strong interpersonal skills and ability to manage a team, establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance. Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.

Knowledge Management and Learning – Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture. In-depth knowledge on public sector procurement solutions, systems and tools. Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills to tasks.

Ability to Analyze – Displays analyzing abilities specific to procurement; is able to understand and assess complexities, takes reasoned approach and discusses them with other key players for a balanced view and is able to match the scope of the solution by optimal use of the organisation's resources, with attention to detail and ability to convert data to useful information.

Communication – Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner to communicate effectively with stakeholders. Ability to communicate technical concepts in a manner relevant to stakeholders (procurement advisors, procurement associates, procurement specialists, and other end users).

Planning and Organizing – Experience in project work; ability to allocate appropriate time and resources for completing the work and managing conflicting priorities. Identifies priority activities and assignments adjusting priorities where required. Foresees risk and allows for contingencies when planning tasks. Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Computer Science, Supply Chain / Procurement, Business/Commerce, Accounting/Finance, Commercial or International Business Law, Economics, or other related disciplines is required.
• Professional certification in procurement is required, e.g. CIPS Certification level 4 or above.

Experience:

• At least 7 years work experience in a business environment with at least 5 years in procurement, supply chain, contracting and/or business in either a public or private sector international organization.
• Thourogh knowledge of commercial contracting and establishing complex contracts for goods, services and works.
• Ability to research and gather information from a variety of external and internal sources.
• Good presentation and communication (spoken and written)skills, including the ability to review a variety of procurement documentation and correspondence.
• Technologically aware with extensive computer skills; proficiency in standard computer applications (e.g. MS Office, People Soft, etc.), as well as in the use of databases and other software.
• Knowledge of United Nations and other international or bilateral organizations and their policy and practices is desirable Language: Fluency in English is a requirement. Workingknowledge of French and/or Spanish will be an asset

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: IICA* Contract level: IICA-3 Contract duration: One year *If the selected candidate is an internal staff member affected by the current SPPG realignment, the staff member's current contract type will be honoured For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:http://www.unops.org/ENGLISH/WHOWENEED/CONTRACT-TYPES/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements-ICAs.aspx

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• 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.
• For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

This position is the result of an internal realignment exercise. Internal candidates who have been affected due to this realignment will be reviewed prior to any other applicants. 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.