Procurement Senior Associate

Uzbekistan Office currently manages a portfolio of USD 414.7 million contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) - Good Health and Well-being - implementing the following projects:. The COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (CERP) – Strengthening pandemic resilience by upgrading over 150 Sanitary-Epidemiological Committee facilities. The project encompasses infrastructure improvements and upgrades across 45 national and regional laboratories, procurement of diagnostic and laboratory equipment, establishment of an ICT-based national epidemiological surveillance system, and comprehensive capacity building for medical personnel. Support to Development of Oncology Services Project – Enhancing access to quality cancer care by equipping the new National Oncology Center in Tashkent and 13 regional hospitals with advanced medical, diagnostic, radiological, and ICT equipment. The project also supports establishing a national Cancer Registry and providing specialized training for healthcare professionals. Kashkadarya Healthcare Infrastructure Project – Advancing healthcare reform through feasibility studies, technical designs, and the construction and equipping of two modern multidisciplinary hospitals in Karshi and Beshkent to meet national and international standards. Procurement of medical equipment for the new Multidisciplinary Medical Center in Tashkent Project - Equipping the New Multidisciplinary Medical Center with modern medical and diagnostic equipment and operationalizing it through trained medical staff 

Through these efforts, UNOPS supports Uzbekistan in strengthening its health systems and delivering improved quality of care for its citizens. 

The Procurement Senior Associate provides efficient and timely support services in procurement and contract administration to the different programmes managed by their office. The role promotes a quality-driven, client-focused and results-oriented approach to ensure compliance with UNOPS procurement rules, regulations, policies and strategies, while working and liaising with other procurement personnel and various other stakeholders, including programme support officers, chief technical advisors, portfolio managers, and portfolio assistants. In the discharge of their duties, the Senior Associate, Procurement works with minimal supervision.

Procurement Transactions Support

• Execute approved steps to embed sustainability in the procurement process.
• Ensure complete submissions to the Contract and Property Committees (CPCs).
• Ensure completeness of documentation for preparation/ processing of Purchase Orders (POs), Contracts, Long Term Agreements (LTAs), or their amendments.
• Conduct routine market research to determine supply sources using the UN Global Market Place and other relevant external sources. 
• Set up, enhance or maintain the local supplier database, ensuring regular update of information databases and procurement files and records.
• Generate status reports, as and when required.
• Ensure the availability of all supporting documents for audit and review purposes.

Procurement Planning, Requisition and Sourcing

• Collaborate with project personnel and managers in preparing their procurement plans and awards. 
• Maintain and update procurement monitoring processes for projects and provide feedback on POs to the requesting office.
• Provide proposals to requesting entities on modes for the provision of goods, works and services, including procurement deadlines for every stage.
• Review requisitions for completeness.
• Prepare proper and complete specifications for equipment and materials, job profiles and statements of work (SoWs) as inputs to Requests for Proposal (RFPs), Requests for Quote (RFQs) and Invitations to Bid (ITBs), ensuring clearance/ approval by the relevant approving units.
• Liaise regularly with vendors and consignees until safe delivery of goods is achieved.
• Monitor progress and liaise with vendors throughout the procurement cycle.
• Investigate and resolve post-order problems and share progress reports on procurement matters.
• Provide oral or written responses to queries from projects, clients, companies, etc, regarding procurement-related matters.
• Prepare monthly reports on procurement matters.
• Liaise with the logistics unit or projects on receipt of goods, equipment and services in view of obtaining proper delivery reports, Receipt and Inspection Reports (RIRs), or relevant certificates while ensuring that proper inventory is taken.

Bidding and Tendering Support

• Prepare shortlists of suitable contractors/ suppliers for purchases of value over designated amounts for approval by designated officer(s).
• Prepare and issue Expressions of Interest (EOIs), RFQs, ITBs, RFPs, or other tender documents as required, ensuring conformity with UNOPS’ approved templates and seeking legal clearance in case of required adjustments.
• Work with requesting programme or operations clients to review and evaluate bids or proposals received and prepare analyses for less complex contract awards for submission to the Local Contracts and Property Committee (LCPC) or other statutory designated body.
• Work with requesting programme or operations clients to make submissions to the HQ Contracts and Property Committee (HQCPC).
• Organize LCPC (or designated statutory body) meetings as may be required, circulating documents for review at least 24 hours in advance.
• Maintain records of LCPC or other designated statutory body.

Contract Administration

• Follow up on the signing of contracts by vendors.
• Obligate funds in the ERP and obtain appropriate signatures for approval.
• Disseminate contract advertisements and awards.
• Maintain contracts and filing system.
• Maintain databases/ rosters of best suppliers, contractors and service providers.

Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Organize, facilitate or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on procurement.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing lessons learned and disseminating best practices in procurement.
• Collect and productively utilize feedback, ideas and internal knowledge about processes and best practices.

Required

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 3 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate or membership (e.g. CIPS) is desired.

Required

• Relevant experience is work in procurement or related areas.  
• Experience in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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.