Procurement Specialist

The Procurement Specialist will manage procurement activities for assigned operations in the Latin America and Caribbean Region, providing technical and fiduciary support throughout the project cycle. The role involves advising borrowers on procurement strategy, supporting procurement planning, contract management, and capacity building to strengthen public procurement systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement activities for assigned operations, providing technical and fiduciary support throughout the project cycle, while seeking guidance on complex or sensitive issues when required.
• Apply appropriate procurement methods, market approaches, and risk-based strategies to both routine and complex procurement assignments.
• Advise Borrowers on procurement strategy, market engagement, procurement planning, and contract packaging, including the use of fit-for-purpose and value-for-money considerations.
• Support the preparation, update, and monitoring of procurement plans and related procurement documentation, including use of the Bank’s procurement systems and tools, as applicable.
• Review and advise on the technical, commercial, and legal aspects of procurement at all stages of the project cycle, in coordination with relevant colleagues, including legal, governance, and technical specialists, as needed.
• Provide operational advice to clients and Bank staff on procurement concepts, policies, procedures, and implementation arrangements for goods, works, non-consulting services, and consulting services.
• Participate in implementation support and preparation missions, assess procurement implications of project design, evaluate Borrower institutional capacity, and contribute to the development of appropriate procurement arrangements and mitigation measures.
• Contribute to analytical work, assessments, and policy dialogue related to public procurement systems, institutional capacity, and procurement reform.
• Support the resolution of procurement issues, complaints, and implementation bottlenecks through timely advice and sound professional judgment, in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
• Design and deliver training, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building activities for Bank teams, Borrowers, and other stakeholders on procurement policies, procedures, and good practice.
• Prepare a range of procurement-related documents and reports.
• Build effective working relationships with clients, counterparts, and internal stakeholders, taking into account sector context, institutional arrangements, and country systems.
• Provide guidance and training to STEP Focal Points in the Country Office, when needed.
• Work implies frequent interaction with Managers and Technical Specialists in the work unit and staff from other agencies, donors, consultants, and borrowers.

Requirements

• Master's degree with a major in a relevant discipline (e.g., Law, Engineering, Procurement, Finance, Business or Commerce) or equivalent academic qualification relevant to this position.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in public procurement, international procurement, and/or procurement under international financial institution-financed operations, including hands-on experience with project implementation support and contract management.
• Experience with World Bank or MDB projects is desirable.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English, independently preparing a variety of written outputs and editing technical reports.
• Proven past experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a procurement officer.
• Solid understanding of the concepts, principles, and practices governing public and international procurement, including value for money, fit-for-purpose approaches, strategic sourcing, market analysis, procurement planning, and contract management.
• Strong knowledge of public procurement systems, legal and regulatory frameworks, institutions, and current approaches to procurement reform and modernization.
• Good understanding of the linkages between client objectives, institutional capacity, operational design, and procurement arrangements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, flexibility, and ability to work in teams in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to deal sensitively and diplomatically with internal/external contacts at all levels; work independently, prioritizing work, taking initiative, and solving problems; adapt to changing business needs by continuous learning/training.
• Recognized ability to exercise good judgment and in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Demonstrate ability to function under time pressure and handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment of changing priorities, with initiative and resourcefulness.
• Excellent administrative, organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in standard office applications and procurement-related systems and tools.
• Another language such as Spanish, Portuguese and/or French will be an asset.
• Applicants must be able to travel frequently.

Skills

• Public Sector Procurement
• International Procurement
• Procurement under IFI operations
• Project Implementation Support
• Contract Management
• World Bank Procurement Principles
• MDB Procurement
• Procurement Planning
• Strategic Sourcing
• Market Analysis
• Value for Money Analysis
• Procurement Reform
• Procurement Modernization
• Legal and Regulatory Framework
• Procurement Systems
• Technical Report Preparation
• Procurement Capacity Strengthening
• Procurement Strategy Advising
• Office Applications
• Multi-cultural Team Collaboration

Languages

English, Spanish, Portuguese, French