Procurement Officer
Organizational Context
This Procurement Officer position is within the Facilities, Construction and Security Section of the Department of Operational Support. The Department provides end-to-end operational support across the UN Secretariat. The Procurement Division's mandate is to deliver expert procurement services and business advice to UN entities, ensuring best value for money through fair and transparent processes.
Job Purpose
The Procurement Officer serves as a senior expert in procurement and contracting, managing a wide range of complex supplies and services. This role involves providing technical advice throughout the procurement cycle, analyzing requests, and ensuring technical specifications are appropriate. The officer develops and prepares complex contracts for non-routine and advanced commodities or long-range services, manages international tenders, evaluates bids, and makes recommendations for contract awards. They also develop new procurement strategies based on market research, contribute to policy development, and evaluate supplier capabilities. The role includes negotiating contracts and disputes, potentially undertaking field consultancy missions, and providing guidance to junior staff.
Responsibilities
Serve as a senior procurement and contracting expert for complex technical and legal contracts, supplies, and services. Provide technical advice on procurement activities to substantive units across all procurement cycle phases. Analyze and evaluate procurement requests, ensuring technical specifications are appropriate. Develop and prepare highly complex contracts for non-routine commodities or long-range services, manage international tender processes, evaluate bids, and recommend contract awards. Sign procurement orders within authorized limits and prepare submissions for the Contracts Committee for higher values. Develop new tactical approaches and methods for contract application based on market research. Contribute to institutional procurement policies and procedures, establishing standards for evaluating goods, services, and supplier capacity. Monitor production patterns and evaluate manufacturer capabilities to identify supply sources. Establish negotiation strategies and conduct or coordinate negotiations, including dispute resolution. May undertake consultancy missions and provide direction to junior staff.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of experience in procurement, contract management, or supply chain management is required. This includes at least two years of experience in leading international procurement activities and managing solicitation processes and contract awards for complex projects within the last five years. Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP) or e-tendering systems (e.g., Ariba) is also required.
Skills
Expertise in international procurement standards, techniques, and operations for complex goods and services. Knowledge of contract law and handling complex procurement issues. Ability to measure supplier capacity and identify market trends. Skill in shaping agreements with stakeholders. Ability to apply technical expertise to resolve issues. Competency in developing procurement policies and procedures. Strong planning, organization, and client orientation skills.