The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Nairobi, UNOPS East and Southern Africa supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements diverse, partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. In Mozambique, this includes delivering specialized equipment (EU), supporting health services (UNICEF), promoting agro-processing (KOICA), and advancing peacebuilding efforts through a Multi-Donor Fund. UNOPS also supports agricultural input distribution and the Northern Crisis Recovery Project, both funded by the World Bank. In Malawi, efforts include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in partnership with the EU and the British Council. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacities, enhancing service delivery, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

This vacancy is at ICSC Level 10; equally qualified International ICA (IICA 2) and Local ICA (LICA 10) applicants are encouraged to apply.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the functional supervisor(s) / Head of Support Services, the Procurement Manager 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 a deep understanding of procurement policy and processes and the Procurement Manager 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 Manager promotes a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Business Unit.    

The Procurement Manager works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and Project Management teams in the given geographical area and UNOPS HQ personnel, particularly with the Procurement Group (PG) and Contracts Committee, and Government officials to successfully deliver procurement services.  

The Procurement Manager will work in close cooperation with the Business Unit and Project Managers and report to the management on central issues related to procurement activities.  S/he supervises and leads procurement personnel to deliver work results, in close cooperation with the leadership team in the given geographical area. The Procurement Manager may  have both primary and secondary reports, both individuals and teams that are based within project units/ project offices or country offices within the multi-country office. These individuals would be both internationals/ nationals.  The procurement manager may be  allocated pre-clearance reviewer rights and approvals. 

The Procurement Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategic and effective procurement services reflecting best practices in international public procurement; compliance with UNOPS procurement rules and regulations; appropriate risk management; and obtaining the best value for money for the acquisition of goods, services and contracting of works. The role analyzes and interprets relevant rules and regulations and provides advice and solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement. 

The Procurement Manager has a deep understanding of procurement policy and processes, as well as their application to appropriate situations. In addition to responsibility for the deliverables of the work team, the role focuses on strategic relationship building and demand management, mainly related to aggregation and dealing with complex organization 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.

By role-modelling the highest degrees of personal and professional ethics, the Procurement Manager maintains a collaborative, quality-driven, client-focused and results-oriented approach to their procurement role. The incumbent works in close cooperation with the office leadership and project managers, reporting to management on central issues related to procurement activities.

1. Development and Implementation of  procurement strategies  

2. Management of procurement processes 

3. Implementation of sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools 

4. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing 

5. Team Management

Leads the development and implementation of procurement and contracting strategies for goods, services and works, focusing on achievement of the following results:  

• Appropriate application of UNOPS procurement governance framework (rules, regulations, policies and tools) in Business Unit and Project operations. 

• Provision of supply-market intelligence and analysis.  

• Procurement strategies, approaches and plans designed and implemented according to cost reduction and saving strategies, applying:  

  • Expertise in market intelligence matched to business requirements; 

  • Optimal Stakeholder management principles; 

  • Sustainability criteria; 

  • Appropriate work processes to individual cases.  

• Oversight and supervision of the implementation and results of strategic and routine procurement work plans in Business Unit, covering Pre-Purchasing: Strategy and Planning; Requirements Definition; Sourcing; Purchasing: Solicitation; Management of Submissions; Evaluation; Review and Award; Post Purchasing: Contract finalization and issuance; Logistics; and Contract Management.

Manage and guide  procurement processes for the acquisition of goods, services and the construction of works for the Business Unit, focusing on achievement of the following results, in compliance with the official procurement policies, rules, regulations and procedures:  

• Sustainability embedded in the procurement process. 

• Appropriate procurement modalities and instruments applied (e-sourcing, procurement and Rosters of Suppliers) based on individual case requirements, utilizing expert knowledge of procurement policies and instruments. 

• Creation, implementation and oversight of proper monitoring and control of procurement processes in Business Unit and projects including organization of RFQ, ITB or RFP, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their evaluation, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNOPS Procurement rules and regulations. 

• Review and pre-clearance of solicitation documents, requests for awards and submissions to Contract and Property Committees (CPCs) in the role as Procurement Reviewer (in OneUNOPS or Enterprise system). 

• Procurement contracts and contractors optimally managed through supplier and contract performance management against agreed benchmarks and through agreed reporting mechanisms.  

• Implementation of Internal control system. 

• Elaboration of comments regarding project audit reports of the Business Units, when necessary. 

Ensure introduction and implementation of sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools focusing on achievement of the following results:  

• Creation, development and management of rosters of suppliers, elaboration of supplier selection and evaluation, quality and performance measurement mechanisms. 

• Ensures that the e-sourcing tools are used in accordance with PG goals and standards in this area.

Knowledge building and Knowledge Sharing  

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for Business Unit personnel on Procurement-related topics. 

• Lead and conduct initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for procurement personnel, including network development, plans, learning plans and activities, procurement practice information and best practice benchmarking. 

• Oversee team’s contributions to Procurement knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in procurement management. 

• Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.  

• Participation in Common UN agency procurement groups to support establishment and implementation of harmonized procurement services and elaboration of proposals on common services expansion and management of joint procurement for UN Agencies in line with UN reform.  

Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development. 

• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

Required:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree) preferably in Procurement and/or Supply Chain Management, Law, Commerce, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field with 5 years of relevant experience is required, OR

• A First University degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in a relevant discipline in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 

Desired:

• For those who do not have a degree in Procurement of Supply  Chain Management, a Chartered Institute of Supply and Management (CIPS) Level 4 or similar international Certification is a distinct advantage.  

• Knowledge of UN/ /UNOPS Procurement Rules and Regulations is a distinct advantage.

Required:

A minimum of five (5) years’ relevant professional procurement experience in advising on, implementing policies and procedures to deliver a range of complex procurement programmes and services is required. 

A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in managing complex high value procurement cases and managing teams consisting of both locals and internationals 

Desired:

• Experience working in infrastructure procurement is desirable.

• Experience in working with a range of stakeholders on procurement in developing or developed countries is an asset.

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, and experience in handling web-based management systems, is an asset.  

• Experience with Enterprise systems, including OneUNOPS, is desirable. 

• Some experience in UN system organizations, preferably in a developing country, is desirable. 

• Knowledge of UN/ /UNOPS Procurement Rules and Regulations, including Emergency Procurement Processes, is a distinct advantage. 

• Experience working in hardship locations is a distinct advantage. 

• Experience working in infrastructure procurement is desirable.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.