Procurement Officer

Organizational Setting
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Corporate Services Department (CSD), led by the Associate Vice-President, CSD, provides IFAD with the human resources, administrative services, safety and security and information technology resources required to allow IFAD to meet its objectives of enabling rural people overcome poverty. The work of the CSD is undertaken by three divisions (i) Human Resources Division (HRD) (ii) Administrative Services Division (ADM) and (iii) Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT) and three units: (a) Front Office CSD (b) Field Support Unit and (c) Medical Services Unit.

The Administrative Services Division (ADM) provides high-quality, customer-oriented, sustainable, timely and efficient operational support and administrative services to clients worldwide to satisfy current and future corporate needs in support of IFAD's mandate and mission. This includes the provision of sustainable, customer-oriented, cost-effective and efficient administrative services.

The Procurement Officer works under the overall guidance of the Director and the direct supervision of the ADM Manager.

Job Role
The Procurement Officer positions are designed to build expertise in a broad range of administrative work and requires knowledge of the technical concepts and tools of a specialized field of work. The position has delegated authority to approve purchase orders and contracts up to the authorized Contract Committee threshold. Procurement Officers implement policies, approaches, models and methodologies to provide technically competent procurement services and support to client departments across the Fund.

Position Specifics assignments include:

Procurement Activities: planning, developing and implementing procurement and contract actions related to worldwide procurement of a variety of commodities, materials, equipment, and services; the key results include:

reviewing requisitions;

negotiating with suppliers and coordinating with client offices;

Purchase Orders Approval;

Contract Approval.

Key Functions and Results
1. BUSINESS PARTNER: The Procurement Officer's customer service focus is on client outreach and the provision of advice and guidance on purchasing and contracting regulations, rules and procedures. The position provides verbal and written advice and guidance to supervisors and staff on a range of ADM regulations, facilitating the provision of administrative services and a mutual understanding of issues and roles in the management of IFAD's administration services.

2. PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT EXPERT: The Procurement Officer has strong knowledge of Procurement policies, rules and regulations and is capable of conducting formal procurement activities of all levels of complexity.

3. PROCUREMENT ADVOCATE: The Procurement Officer promotes the unit's reputation as a value-added, technically competent and reliable service provider.

4. AGENT OF CHANGE AND INNOVATION: The Procurement Officer understands and applies the principles of change management and serves as a role model for transformation.

5. MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS: The Procurement Officer is accountable for integrity, transparency, and equity in the personal use of assigned IFAD resources.

Position specifics:

Coordinate the Annual Procurement Planning exercise;

Plan, develop, and manage procurement operations;

Participate in authorized negotiations with senior representatives of suppliers;

Provide administrative support to the CRC Secretary;

Maintain and build market and vendor knowledge.

Key Performance Indicators
The work requires analyses of individual cases and processes. The impact of the work performed has direct effect on the professionalism of the Procurement Officer and the overall reputation of the team.

Working Relationships
The work relationships of Procurement Officer involve both written and verbal communications to obtain and provide information regarding decisions on specific cases. Internal Fund contacts extend to supervisors and staff throughout the Fund.

Job Profile Requirements
Organizational Competencies:

Building relationships and partnerships

Communicating and negotiating

Demonstrating leadership

Focusing on clients

Learning, sharing knowledge and innovating

Managing performance and developing staff

Managing time, resources and information

Problem-solving and decision-making

Strategic thinking and organizational development

Team working

Education:

Advanced university degree from an accredited institution in a technically relevant area.

Experience:

At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a multi-cultural organization.

Position-specific experience: At least two (2) years in procurement operations.

Languages:

Required English (4 - Excellent)

Desirable: French, Spanish and/or Arabic (3 - Good)

Skills:

Contract Management

Procedure adherence

Procurement

Risk & compliance

Stakeholder management

Time management

Integrity and ethics

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Other Information
Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD. In accordance with IFAD's Human Resources Policy, the President can decide to assign them to any of the activities of the Fund.

IFAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic, social or political background.

Please be aware of fraudulent job offers. IFAD does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.

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