Procurement Assistant

This position is located in the Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan (ROCA) with duty station in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Procurement Assistant will work under the broad authority and guidance of the Regional Representative for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan and direct supervision of the Procurement Officer in Tashkent. For more information on UNODC, please visit the following website: www.unodc.org

The Procurement Assistant will provide support to the office’s operations by performing a variety of standard procurement processes, including administrative and logistics processes ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. The Procurement Assistant promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach consistent with United Nations rules and regulations. The Procurement Assistant works in close cooperation with the operations, programme and projects’ personnel in the UNODC Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan and other Programme Offices to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery. Within assigned authority, the incumbent will perform the following specific duties: Procurement process • Provide inputs for the preparation of acquisition plans for the office. • Review, record and prioritize purchasing requests and obtain additional information/documentation as required; provide assistance to requisitioners in preparing scopes of work and technical specifications of goods and services; propose product substitutions consistent with requirements to achieve cost savings; determine the availability of funding sources. • Produce tender documents (e.g. Invitations to Bids, Requests for Proposals and Requests for Quotation) based on the nature of the requirements and cost of procurement involved. • Support receipt of quotations, bids, or proposals, their preliminary evaluation, and the preparation of recommendations to the supervisor and project managers. • Participate in negotiation on the terms and conditions of orders under the guidance of Procurement Officers; obtain credit references and other relevant information on prospective suppliers. • Finalize purchase orders and contracts for approval by the Procurement Officer/Approving Authority; and, if required, prepare submissions to the Contracts Committee for review and subsequent approval by the authorized official. • Maintain relevant internal databases and files; keep track of any contractual agreements, direct provisioning contracts, etc. and inform affected users of contractual rights and obligations. • Contribute to implementation of sourcing strategies aimed at expanding and diversifying the pool of suppliers. Research, retrieve and present information from a variety of internal and external sources on sources of supply, vendors by commodity, etc., as well as obtain specifications for new products and equipment on the market. • Provide input to the office business process mapping and elaboration of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in procurement, logistics and asset management in consultation with direct supervisor and office management. • Identify repetitive/routine procurement activities and prepare procurement cases for recurring purchase orders (POs). • Assist with day-to-day administration of contracts between the UN and external contractors for outsourced services. General Administration and logistics • Provide assistance with asset/inventory write off processes and physical verification exercises. • Provide assistance with customs clearance processes for procured imported goods. • Ensure proper receipt and tagging of all items purchased through procurement unit and maintain accurate asset management reports and records. • Assist in the timely disposal of project equipment upon completion of projects in accordance with the UNODC procedures. • Coordinate ROCA’s pool of drivers, ensuring efficient use of vehicle fleet; maintain records of transport requests and drivers’ movement/workload in logbook, and ensure fair distribution of assignments among drivers if/when required. • Facilitate regular vehicles technical inspections, monitor mileage, and initiate procurement requests of required spare parts. • Prepare monthly report/billing reconciliations for utilities, mobile phone services, taxi services, vehicle washing, and other operational services, as required. • Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. • Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. • Draft a variety of correspondence. • Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Professionalism: Knowledge of procurement policies, processes and procedures and of purchasing and accounting techniques. Knowledge of financial rules and regulations and ability to research and gather information from a variety of standard sources and to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. Ability to perform analysis, modelling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Level 4 Diploma or equivalent is required.

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience in procurement, including procurement planning, tendering processes, vendor management, contract administration, and sourcing activities, is required. The minimum number of years of relevant work experience is reduced to five (5) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher. Of the minimum years of experience, at least three (3) years of proven work experience with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required. Of the minimum years of experience, at least three (3) years of proven work experience in usage of computers and office software packages (MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.) and experience in handling of web-based management systems is required. Work experience in asset and inventory management, logistics operations, customs clearance procedures, or fleet management is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Work experience with SAP based applications (such as SAP/Umoja) is desirable. Work experience within the United Nations system or similar international organization is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Uzbek is required. Russian is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Uzbek

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Desirable Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

Russian

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

The appointment against this position is limited to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. THIS IS A FIXED TERM LIMITED POSITION. Appointment against this project post is for an initial period of one (1) year. The candidate selected for this position will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited (“FTA-limited”) in accordance with section 2.2 (c) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2025/3 on Administration of appointments. Renewal of appointment is contingent upon continued existence of mandate and availability of funding. If this position is discontinued, the incumbent will be separated from service. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of "internal candidate" in staff rule 4.10 who are selected for this position will be reassigned or transferred to the position, without a lien to their parent position. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their career in accordance with established rules and procedures. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. The movement of staff members from the General Service and related categories to the Professional category in the United Nations Secretariat is exclusively allowed through the Young Professionals Programme competitive examinations. Only few staff members pass the competitive examinations. Passing the competitive examinations does not guarantee movement to the Professional category. For further information, please visit https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=GP

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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