Supply & Procurement Specialist at UNICEF in Tanzania

Purpose of the Position

Under the direct guidance of the Chief of Operations, the incumbent will manage the supply and procurement operations of a complex nature with significant impact on programme delivery, supply and logistic, institutional services, processes and systems, requiring advanced professional technical mastery and expertise in support of operations and programme objectives. The incumbent will also be accountable for effective planning, contracting, procurement, distribution, inventory management of UNICEF's supplies, in support of the Country Programme, as well as, Procurement Services and GAVI Co-financing.
The incumbent will actively participate in Tanzania One Procurement Team to accelerate implementation of the Harmonized Business practices for supply and procurement initiatives in line within Reform/coherence.

Key Expected Results

1. Provide rapid and relevant responses to evolving supply and institutional services needs and situations facing children and families, including emergency situations, with a priority on achieving ‘value for money.
   -Responsible for supply and institutional services planning through coordination with Operations/Programme Sections/Implementing Partners. Provides technical advice on specifications and terms of references, supply and logistics arrangements, facilitating cost-effective efficient supply and procurement, customs clearance, inventory management and distribution of supplies and equipment, in support of the country programme implementation.
   -Participate in the Country Programme strategy planning preview and reviews to advice on supply, logistics and institutional services requirements for the Plan of Operations and Annual Work Plans. Develops Supply/Logistics/Institutional Services component of the Country Programme, including systems for storage and distribution of supplies to all project sites.
2. Ensure sound, accurate supply/logistics and institutional services management systems, procedures and documentation as well as regular, accurate reporting to maintain the highest level of integrity, standards and accountability.
   -Establish and maintain contacts with the Supply Division in Copenhagen on supply, procurement and shipping policies. Interprets and advises the country office on policies and procedures impacting on offshore and local procurement delivery and institutional services. Maintains links with Copenhagen on transnational shipments, deliveries, claims and appropriateness of supplies.
   -Act as secretary and adviser to the CRC. Establish and maintain a system of contact with customs and port/airport immigration authorities at national ports of entry on the clearance of UNICEF supplies, in keeping with established protocol.
   -Oversee the overall preparation of appropriate documentation: requisitions, purchase orders, long term arrangements, CRC submissions etc.
   -Ensure preparation of the status reports required for donor reports, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, appeals, etc.
   -Regularly create and communicate to Sections status of their requests, accurate inventory of government warehouses, inventory aging and incoming supplies information.
3. Ensure that effective support UNICEF and Government capacity-building efforts are provided in order to enhance efficient, effective and timely supply delivery,
   -Plan, design and conduct training for UNICEF's staff/consultants and counterparts in supply and institutional services management, customs clearance, distribution and inventory management of supplies and equipment to maximize supply delivery. Provide effective coaching to the staff/consultants as required.
4. Supervise and manage effective supply (local and offshore) and procurement with a goal to attain lowest cost without sacrificing quality of goods and services.
   -Conduct local procurement through issuance of tenders, bid adjudication and contract management. Conduct market research, identify and recommend potential local suppliers and service providers. Gather and maintain data and evaluate local supply sources' overall performance, (competitive pricing, cost-effectiveness, product and service quality and timely delivery). Monitor and assess supply operations and control mechanisms and advises on appropriate actions to take.
   -Monitor progress of offshore and/or regional procurement through regular contacts with the Action Office(s).
   -Communicates and reports quality issues with respect to supplies and/or service agreements.
5. Collaboration and Partnership
   -Coordinate with Programme Sections on supply and contracts planning, providing technical advice on supply specifications, terms of references and provide advice on supply and contracts requirements in the development of the component of the Country Programme.
   -Provide advice to the Country Office, Government and implementing partners on offshore and/or local procurement of goods and institutional services policies and procedures, Procurement Services and GAVI Co-financing; delivery and utilization of UNICEF supplies and equipment; coordinate with the Supply Division, Copenhagen, on supply policy and/or activities.
   -Team with the Programme Sections and other members of the Operations Section to facilitate procurement as well as efficient customs clearance, storage and distribution of supplies and equipment for the office use.
   -Develop and maintain partnership and collaborative relations with UNICEF, Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts in supply/logistics and institutional services activities including distribution, monitoring supply inputs, and inventory.
   -Inform Programme Sections of slow moving inventory, upcoming field distributions or deliveries, incoming materials and quality issues to ensure maximum use of available transportation, warehousing space, manpower and other resources.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

• An advanced university degree (Master's) in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Supply, Procurement, Purchasing, Contract/commercial Law or a directly related field(s) is required. A valid professional certification (CSCP; CSCM; CPSM; SCMP; etc.) from an accredited supply management institution, in conjunction with a relevant first-level university degree (Bachelor's), may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree.*
  *A first level university degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant technical field (as identified above), in conjunction with seven years of relevant work experience in supply, logistics, purchasing, contracting, administration and/or other related technical fields, may be taken in lieu of an advanced university degree (Master's).
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in supply, logistics, procurement, purchasing, contracting, administration and/or other directly-related technical fields is required.
• Prior knowledge and hands on experience in GAVI Co-financing is considered highly desirable.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required. Knowledge of an additional UN Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking
Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget
Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment
Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization
Identifies urgent and potentially risky decisions and acts on them promptly; initiates and generates office-wide activities
Ensures that team or department follows relevant company policies and procedures
Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear
Sets clearly defined objectives and plans activities for self, own team or department

How to apply:

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.

If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children’s rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies. Applications must be received by 08 Oct 2014.

Vacancy position link:

https://careers.unicef.org/sap/bc/webdynpro/sap/hrrcf_a_posting_apply?PA...

Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.