Procurement Assistant
Organizational Context
This Procurement Assistant position is based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, within the Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan (ROCA) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The role operates under the broad authority of the Regional Representative and the direct supervision of the Procurement Officer.
Job Purpose
The Procurement Assistant provides essential support to the office's operations by managing standard procurement and logistics processes with a focus on quality and accuracy. This role ensures adherence to UN rules and regulations, promoting a client-oriented, results-driven approach. The incumbent collaborates closely with operations, programme, and project personnel to ensure consistent service delivery. Key responsibilities include assisting with acquisition plans, reviewing purchasing requests, preparing tender documents, supporting bid evaluations, finalizing purchase orders and contracts, maintaining procurement databases, and contributing to sourcing strategies. The role also involves administrative and logistics support, including asset management, customs clearance, and fleet coordination.
Responsibilities
The Procurement Assistant supports office operations through standard procurement and logistics processes, ensuring high quality and accuracy. Responsibilities include: Procurement Process: Contributing to acquisition plans, reviewing and prioritizing purchasing requests, assisting requisitioners, preparing tender documents (e.g., ITBs, RFPs, RFQs), supporting bid evaluations, participating in order negotiations, finalizing purchase orders and contracts, maintaining procurement databases, and assisting with contract administration. The role also involves contributing to sourcing strategies, researching suppliers, and providing input for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). General Administration and Logistics: Assisting with asset/inventory write-off and verification, customs clearance, receipt and tagging of purchased items, disposal of project equipment, coordinating the vehicle fleet, facilitating vehicle inspections, preparing monthly service reconciliations, and assisting with data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in procurement is required, including planning, tendering, vendor management, and contract administration. This is reduced to five years with a first-level university degree. Three years of experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and three years of experience with computer software (MS Office) and web-based management systems are also required. Experience in asset management, logistics, customs clearance, or fleet management is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, Teamwork, Planning and Organizing, procurement policies and procedures, purchasing and accounting techniques, financial rules and regulations, data analysis and interpretation, computer proficiency (MS Office, ERP systems), vendor management, contract administration, logistics, asset management, fleet management.