Procurement Officer
Organizational Context
This Procurement Officer position is based in Cairo, Egypt, within the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The role serves as the Head of the Middle East and North Africa Procurement Hub, reporting to the Chief Procurement Officer in Vienna and guided by the UNODC Regional Representative. The incumbent operates within the ROMENA Operations Team, collaborating closely with the Administrative and Finance Officer.
Job Purpose
The Procurement Officer leads and manages procurement activities for UNODC in the Middle East and North Africa, including the Gulf Cooperation Council Region. This role provides expert support for complex procurement processes across diverse goods and services, from IT and specialized equipment to construction and office supplies, considering local market conditions. The incumbent is responsible for planning, developing, and executing procurement strategies, ensuring compliance with UN regulations and policies. This includes managing contracts, leading negotiations, and developing innovative solutions for procurement challenges, particularly for construction projects. The role also involves developing procurement procedures, training staff, and improving processes through standardization and the implementation of new tools. The Procurement Officer plays a key role in ensuring efficient and compliant procurement operations, contributing to the overall mission of UNODC by supporting its projects and programmes effectively.
Responsibilities
The Procurement Officer is responsible for coordinating, supporting, and supervising procurement functions for UNODC ROMENA and the Gulf Cooperation Council Region, with potential support for other UNODC offices. Key duties include serving as an expert in complex procurement and contracting for a wide range of goods and services, including construction and refurbishment projects. This involves planning, developing, and managing procurement activities, ensuring compliance with policies, and providing end-to-end support. The role requires reviewing procurement requests, developing procedures and training materials, and leading negotiations with suppliers. The incumbent will manage complex contracts, evaluate bids, and prepare submissions for contract approvals. Strategic responsibilities include developing innovative solutions for procurement challenges, liaising with national authorities on construction laws, and ensuring compliance with UN Financial Regulations and Rules. The role also involves contributing to regional procurement guidance, streamlining processes, developing templates, managing reports, monitoring compliance, and supervising procurement staff. Additionally, the officer will oversee the implementation and utilization of corporate procurement tools and analyze data for planning and decision-making.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in procurement or a related field is required. Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is mandatory. Desirable experience includes working with SAP (e.g., Umoja), construction projects, decentralized environments, managing teams within international organizations, using e-tendering solutions (e.g., Ariba), and data analytics.
Skills
Professionalism, Accountability, Client Orientation, knowledge of international procurement standards, contract law expertise, quantitative methods for supplier capacity assessment, market trend analysis, ability to shape agreements, technical expertise for problem-solving, policy and procedure development, data analysis for decision-making, gender perspective integration, commitment to deadlines, and stress management.