Chief of Unit, Procurement

The Chief of Unit, Procurement is responsible for planning, developing, and managing procurement activities involving multi-million-dollar expenditures for goods and services within the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen. The role includes providing technical and policy advice, leading a procurement team, managing complex procurement proposals, and representing the organization in key meetings and negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Plans, develops and manages the procurement activities of the mission involving multi-million-dollar expenditures for procurement of a broad range of goods and services.
• Advises senior officials and provides technical and policy advice on all aspects of procurement; develops and disseminates best practices.
• Leads and directs a procurement work team.
• Plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors, and evaluates staff; participates in recruitment and selection of new staff and in the development of training programs.
• Analyzes unusually complex and/or critical procurement proposals of financial or operational impact; determines appropriate strategy/approach to best serve institutional interests, and ensures implementation, including authorization of exceptions to established rules, practices and procedures.
• Directs, manages and conducts planning, solicitation, negotiation, and, if necessary, termination of contractual and procurement action.
• Approves up to authorized limit within delegated authority, or recommends approval of procurement contracts/purchase orders through submissions to the Contracts Committee for review and approval by the authorized official.
• Develops proposals on revisions to procurement policies and procedures.
• Develops and recommends strategy for the effective implementation of procurement policies and reforms.
• Represents the organization in key meetings with senior officials internally and government officials, and in negotiations with senior executives of various commercial organizations for concluding major contracts.
• Provides direction and guidance to more junior staff.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, public administration, commerce, engineering, law or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Recognized qualification in procurement and contracting is desirable.
• Diploma in Strategic Public Procurement, CIPS Accredited Level 4 is required. Please attach a copy of your CIPS certificate.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in procurement and contract management is required.
• Additional years of experience in administration or related area is desirable.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in handling complex procurement and contract management issues in a conflict or post conflict environment is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of UN field mission experience is required.
• Experience working in the Middle East is desirable.
• Experience supporting more than one UN entity simultaneously is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience using ERP/SAP system such as Umoja is required
• English language proficiency at UN Level III in reading, writing, listening, and speaking is required.

Skills

• Procurement Management
• Contract Management
• Strategic Public Procurement
• CIPS Level 3
• ERP System Experience
• SAP
• Umoja
• Procurement in Conflict Environments
• UN Field Office Experience
• Multi-Entity Procurement Support
• Policy Advice in Procurement
• Procurement Team Leadership
• Complex Procurement Negotiations
• Public Administration
• Business Administration
• Contract Negotiation

Languages

English