Batch Vacancy Announcement: 3 Procurement Assistant, GS5, 364 days, East Jerusalem

If you are a committed, creative professional and you would like to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better and safe world for children, we would like to hear from you. Our State of Palestine Office is seeking a dynamic qualified candidate to join our team as Procurement Assistant at G-5 level based in Jerusalem, SOP.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

UNICEF in the State of Palestine works to uphold the rights of children to access services and protection, from early childhood through to adolescence. Our objective is to ensure that every child in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, irrespective of background or circumstance, has an equal chance to fulfil their potential.

In the past years, UNICEF in the State of Palestine has achieved a high reach and engagement through its communication channels. UNICEF-SoP would like to build on this and continue engaging with our audience, who are not only seek information but are willing to have important conversations on crucial issues concerning children’s wellbeing and rights. 

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF work along with national and local stakeholders (including national and local authorities, CSOs, and communities) to improve the collective impact of humanitarian response.  Effective Information Management (IM) is critical to understanding evolving needs, the response of UNICEF and its partners, informing corrective action and meeting reporting accountabilities to donor and to affected people.

III. Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Procurement/contracting:

• Provide rapid and relevant assistance and support to evolving supply needs and situations facing children and families, including emergency situations, with a priority on achieving value for money.
• Support supply planning through coordination with Operations/Program Sections. Provides technical support in preparation of appropriate documents, and input on specifications and supply arrangements, facilitating cost-effective efficient procurement in support of the country program implementation.
• Assist in the Country Program strategy planning review to recommend on supply requirements and to provide support in the preparation of Plan of Operations and Plans of Action. Assist in the implementation of Procurement component of the Country Program.
• Implement sound, accurate procurement management systems, procedures, and documentation as well as regular, accurate reporting to maintain the highest level of integrity, standards, and accountability.
• Maintain effective working relations and contact with the Supply Division, Copenhagen, to confer on procurement and shipping policies and procedures. Advise the country office on policies and procedures impacting on offshore and local procurement and delivery. Maintain link with Copenhagen on transnational shipments, deliveries, claims, and appropriateness of supplies.
• Supervise the staff in preparation of appropriate documentation: cash and supply requisitions, purchase orders, CRC submissions etc.
• Participate in the preparation/compilation of the supply status reports required for donor reports, budget reviews, program analysis, annual reports, appeals, etc.
• Support UNICEF as well as Government capacity-building to enhance efficient, effective, and timely supply delivery.
• Plan, design, and conduct training for UNICEF's staff/consultants and counterparts in procurement management, customs clearance, distribution and inventory of supplies and equipment to improve supply delivery.
• Assists in the identification of training needs and plan training activities in procurement administration for UNICEF’s staff/consultants and counterparts, to improve supply delivery.
• Conduct and monitor effective procurement, local, regional and/or offshore, with a goal to attain lowest cost without sacrificing quality as applicable.
• Conduct local procurement through issuance of tenders, bid adjudication and contract management Identify and recommend potential local suppliers. Maintain data on and evaluate local supply sources' overall performance, (competitive pricing, product quality and timely delivery). Assess supply operations and control mechanisms and propose appropriate actions.
• Monitor progress of offshore and/or regional procurement through regular contacts with the Action Office(s).
• Communicate and report quality issues with respect to supplies and/or service agreements.
• Collaboration and Partnership
• Coordinate with the Program Section on supply planning, providing technical support on procurement specifications and procurement administration as well as providing advice on supply requirements in the development of the procurement component of the Country Program
• Provide advice to the Country Office and Government on offshore and/or local procurement policies and procedures, delivery and utilization of UNICEF supplies and equipment; coordinate with the Supply Division, Copenhagen, on procurment policy and/or activities.
• Team with the Program Section and other members of the Operations Section to facilitate procurement as well as efficient customs clearance, storage and distribution of supplies and equipment.
• And any other responsibilities as per assigned by the supervisor to support the country office.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education
Completion of Secondary education

Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of working experience in the Procurement field in general, three (3) years and an additional two (2) years of experience may be substituted for candidates holding a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, respectively.
• Excellent knowledge of SAP and use of collaborative tools (SharePoint/Teams).
• Experience in carrying out local procurement of goods and services.
• Experience in dealing with LTAs and complex contracting of services.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Work experience in emergency duty stations.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness(3)Drive to achieve results for impact(4)Innovates and embraces change(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity(6)Thinks and acts strategically(7)Works collaboratively with others.

IM Competencies

• Applies Humanitarian Principles, Standards and Guidelines (2)
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts [2]
• Planning and Organizing [1]
• Learning and Researching [1]
• Relating and Networking [1]
• Applying Technical Expertise [2]
• Analyzing [2]

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate. 

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

Special Remarks:

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.