Contracts Specialist (Medicines)
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The UNICEF Supply Division (SD) ensures equitable access to essential supplies and services for children and families globally, acting as the UN’s largest end-to-end supply chain entity. SD focuses on strategic procurement, supply preparedness, and supply chain optimization.
Job Purpose
The Contracts Specialist (Medicines) will support optimization projects within the UNICEF Supply Division, focusing on pharmaceuticals. This role is responsible for providing technical assistance and knowledge management, including sharing information through communication pieces and publications on key products and markets. The incumbent will ensure all procurement activities for pharmaceuticals comply with UNICEF's Financial Rules and Regulations, the SD Manual, and other applicable procedures. This includes managing the procurement of materials, proposing supply strategies, issuing tenders, evaluating quotations, negotiating with suppliers, and making recommendations for purchases. The specialist will also manage contracts to ensure supplier compliance and work closely with project countries to provide procurement input for planning and coordination, including long-term forecasting of pharmaceutical quantities.
Responsibilities
Ensures all procurement activities for pharmaceuticals for project countries are in compliance with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, SD Manual, and all other applicable procurement procedures. Manages procurement of materials, including proposing supply strategy and procurement modality (e.g., LTAs, Regional Procurement, Direct Order, LPA). Issues international tender invitations to acceptable suppliers, evaluates quotations, clarifies offers, and negotiates with suppliers as appropriate. Makes recommendations for finalization of purchases, adjudicates offers in consultation with Technical Unit and QA centres, and prepares submissions to the Contracts Review Committee (CRC). Establishes supply arrangements. Conducts contracts management to ensure supplier compliance with LTAs and purchase order terms and conditions. Works closely with project countries and partners, providing procurement input for project planning, design, work plans, and procurement coordination and integration, including developing long-term forecasting of quantities. Ensures adequate and coordinated planning of procurement and demand of pharmaceuticals, managing specific procurement projects for pharmaceuticals in project countries, including for evaluation or scale-up. Reviews and provides recommendations for Local Procurement by Field Offices. Reviews material specifications and requirements with Technical and QA centres to ensure completeness and appropriateness. Evaluates suppliers in partnership with Technical and QA centres regarding delivery performance, product acceptability, and commercial acceptability. Establishes work plans and priorities, monitors achievements, and evaluates the performance of support staff. Performs any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor.
Work Experience
Five years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at least three years at the international level. Experience in procurement/contracting of pharmaceuticals and in commercial activities is required.
Skills
Procurement, Contract Management, Pharmaceutical Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Negotiation, Tender Evaluation, Financial Regulations, Market Analysis, Project Planning, Forecasting, Knowledge Management, Communication