Procurement Associate

The Procurement Associate supports procurement projects and activities by providing operational coordination, administrative services, and research to ensure efficient and effective procurement of goods and services. The role involves supplier identification, purchase order preparation, contract support, issue resolution, data analysis, and team supervision under the leadership of the Head of Supply Chain and Procurement Officer.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational coordination and administrative services, to support procurement projects and activities, following standard processes and contributing to the effective procurement of goods and services.
• Identify and recommend potential suppliers, and compile data/documents to support the selection of suppliers, ensuring standard processes are followed.
• Review, record and prioritise purchasing requests, and provide support to requisitioners, in order to support the procurement of appropriate goods and services, at lowest cost to WFP.
• Contribute to negotiations with new suppliers on terms and conditions of orders, alongside a senior officer, in order to obtain the best terms and lowest costs for WFP.
• Prepare Purchase Orders, contracts and any supporting documentation for approval by the appropriate stakeholder, and approve purchases within delegated authority, to enable the swift purchase of goods and services.
• Resolve issues related to delivered goods, using initiative, liaising with all parties and following standard processes, to ensure timely and accurate resolution of problems.
• Research, collect and analyze data in order to produce reports to enable informed decision-making by Procurement Officer, and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Manage updates and further develop databases and records, to ensure information is accurate, organized, and available for others to access, and supports reporting requirements.
• Maintain relationships with internal counterparts, to support the alignment of procurement activities with wider programmes and ensure a coherent approach to meeting food assistance needs.
• Supervise the work of support staff, providing practical advice and guidance, to ensure individual and team objectives are delivered to agreed standards and deadlines.
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to support WFP to quickly respond and deploy food and needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.

Requirements

• Completion of secondary school education is required.
• A post-secondary certificate or diploma in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Logistics, or a related field is desirable.
• Professional certification in procurement and supply chain management would be an advantage.
• A minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in procurement, supply chain management, finance, logistics, contract management, business administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in procurement operations, sourcing, evaluation, contract administration, and supply chain processes.
• Experience working with Coupa systems and procurement platforms, including data analysis, reporting, and monitoring of procurement activities.
• Proven ability to engage and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers, government counterparts, and partner organizations.
• Experience working in international, development, humanitarian, or complex operational environments is desirable.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of procurement, sourcing, contract management, and supply chain processes, with the ability to independently manage end-to-end procurement activities.
• Sound understanding of procurement policies, compliance requirements, and risk management principles, ensuring adherence to organizational procedures and standards.
• Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, for procurement reporting and data analysis.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with suppliers, partners, and cross-functional teams in multicultural environments.
• Fluency in English (oral and written) is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language or a relevant local language is an advantage.

Skills

• Procurement Operations
• Sourcing
• Contract Administration
• Supply Chain Management
• Coupa Systems
• eProcurement Platforms
• Data Analysis
• Procurement Reporting
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Supplier Management
• Contract Management
• Procurement Compliance
• Risk Management
• ERP Systems
• MS Excel
• Negotiation
• UN Procurement Policies
• Purchase Order Preparation
• Issue Resolution
• Team Supervision

Languages

English