Procurement Officer

Organizational Context

The Department of Operational Support provides end-to-end operational support across the UN Secretariat. The Procurement Division within the Office of Supply Chain Management delivers expert procurement services and business advice to UN entities, ensuring value for money through fair and transparent processes. This role is situated within the Global Procurement Support Section in Entebbe, Uganda, reporting to the Chief of GPSS.

Job Purpose

The Procurement Officer serves as a senior expert in worldwide procurement of complex supplies and services, managing technically and legally challenging contracts. This role involves providing crucial technical advice throughout the procurement cycle, analyzing and evaluating procurement requests, and ensuring the appropriateness of technical specifications. The incumbent will develop and prepare complex contracts, manage international tenders, evaluate bids, and make recommendations for awards. They will also develop new contracting approaches based on market research, contribute to UN procurement strategy and policies, and evaluate supplier capabilities. The role requires establishing negotiation strategies, conducting negotiations, and potentially leading a team, while ensuring compliance with regulations and procedures.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior procurement and contracting expert for worldwide procurement of complex supplies and services, potentially leading procurement for large peace-keeping programs. Provide technical advice on procurement activities to substantive units across all phases of the procurement cycle. Analyze and evaluate procurement requests, ensuring technical specifications are appropriate. Develop and prepare complex contracts for non-routine and technologically advanced commodities or long-range services, manage international tenders, evaluate responses, and recommend contract awards. Sign procurement orders within authorized limits and prepare submissions for the Contracts Committee for higher values. Develop new tactical approaches to contracts and application methods based on market research. Contribute to UN category management strategy, institutional procurement policies, and procedures, developing standards for evaluating goods, services, and supplier capacity. Monitor production patterns and evaluate manufacturer capabilities to identify supply sources. Establish negotiation approaches and conduct or coordinate negotiations, including dispute resolution. May undertake consultancy missions and lead/supervise procurement personnel, providing direction and guidance.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in procurement, contract management, or supply chain management is required. This includes at least two years of experience in international tender exercises for complex goods/services within the last five years, and two years of supervisory experience. Desirable experience includes working with ERP/e-tendering systems, procurement for field operations, category management strategy development, and data analysis for supply chain metrics.

Skills

Professionalism, Teamwork, Accountability, Client Orientation, knowledge of international procurement standards and techniques, contract law expertise, quantitative methods for supplier capacity assessment, market trend analysis, negotiation skills, policy development, and ability to manage complex contracts.

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