The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is the operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. With over 8,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

UNOPS Zimbabwe falls under the purview of the UNOPS KEMC (Kenya Multi Country Office) located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. This includes a large portfolio of Infrastructure, procurement and project management service projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and several Island states.

Following devastation caused to life, livelihoods and property by tropical storm Idai in March 2019, the World Bank (WB) has allocated up to US$75 million to finance the Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project (ZIRP); and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has allocated US$25 million for the Post Cyclone Idai and Kenneth Emergency Recovery and Resilience Project (PCIREP). The projects address both early and mid-term recovery needs in multiple sectors (food security and livelihoods, health, WASH, education, and community infrastructure rehabilitation). UNOPS has been requested to manage the WB funds for ZIRP and has established a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and is the Implementation Agency for the AfDB project. UNOPS has engaged multiple UN partner organizations to deliver specific components of ZIRP and private sector companies to deliver on the infrastructure works under AfDB.

The PIU has been established as a facility to support the World Bank fund only. As the Fund Manager/PIU UNOPS will be responsible for multiple functions vis-a-vis the ZIRP including the design of an early recovery/emergency response facility, fiduciary management, legal and technical oversight results management, reporting, quality assurance and communications.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Support Services Manager, the Procurement Specialist is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic and effective procurement services reflecting international public procurement best practices, compliance with UNOPS procurement policy, rules, regulations and procedures, ensuring appropriate risk management and obtaining the best value for money for the acquisition of goods, services and the contracting of works. 

He/she analyzes and interprets the respective rules and regulations and provides advice and solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement. The role requires deep understanding of procurement policy and processes and the Procurement Specialist should be able to apply them to the appropriate situations.

In addition to responsibility for the deliverables of the work team, the incumbent’s work is focused on strategic relationship building and demand management, mainly referred to aggregation and dealing with complex organizational structures, preparation of business cases and understanding of the supply market, as well as sharing knowledge with projects in order to achieve reductions of costs and savings.

Maintaining the highest degree of personal and professional ethics, the Procurement Specialist promotes a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Business Unit.  

The Procurement Specialist works in close collaboration with the programme/project colleagues in the given geographical area and with UNOPS HQ personnel, particularly with the Procurement Group (PG), as well as the Government officials, to successfully deliver procurement services.

 Functional Responsibilities

The Procurement Specialist will work under the guidance and direct supervision o...

 Education

Masters Degree preferably in Procurement and/or Supply Chain Management, Law, Co...

 Experience

A minimum of five (5) years’ professional experience at the international ...

 Languages

Full knowledge of the English working language is required Knowled...

 Competencies

Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and ex...

 Additional Considerations

Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time Applications