PURCHASER

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and at the same time promote respect for international humanitarian law.  We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Role description

Main responsabilities

The purchaser oversees the entire purchasing process in an ICRC's delegation. In his/her capacity, he/she ensures that purchasing is carried out in line with standard institutional policies and procedures.

• Process specific purchase orders and establish contracts with suppliers, ensures all related information is available in the local database or filing system
• Negotiate purchase conditions and purchase all specific goods and services as specified in the requests
• Implement and follow-up ICRC purchase strategy for each family of product with the Geneva responsible purchaser
• Anticipate the needs together with the logistics co-ordinator
• Assist procurement officer to clarify problematic requisition orders
• Supervise and train national staff dealing with purchase
• Participate to procurement planning with SCA, warehouse, transport and medical logistics
• Participate to the choice of the supply source
• Negotiate and purchase: spot purchase, quotation, tender
• Follow-up the procurement process until goods are delivered by the supplier
• Sort out the quality claims and to validate suppliers invoices
• Visit and prospect suppliers, select and evaluate them
• Ensure maintaining of suppliers' and items' databases and filing
• Keep and update the purchase procedures
• Keep and update "tableau de bord": with activities and anomalies indicators (e.g.: purchase orders, purchase values and consolidated volumes of suppliers/families/sites, anomalies etc)
• Maintain good filing system for PO files, suppliers files, products files
• Assist in tenders for transport and clearing

Our operational & field constraints

• In line with the principle of neutrality, the ICRC does not assign personnel to a country of which they are nationals
• Candidates must be in good health and will have to do a medical check-up prior to departure in the field (web link)
• Driving licence (for manual transmission vehicles)
• Candidates must be prepared to accept unaccompanied postings (i.e. no spouse, partner, children or dependents) for at least the first two years

Desired profile and skills

• Qualification in related field and purchasing knowledge, negotiation and competitive bidding skills, management of product portfolio
• Minimum of 2 years purchasing of operational and strategic purchasing experience in commerce, industry and/or humanitarian field
• Very good command of English and French.
• Knowledge of another ICRC working language used in the field (Spanish, Arabic or Russian) is a strong advantage
• Good understanding of the supply chain processes
• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work
• Open-minded and adaptable, empathic and diplomatic
• Able to work in a team, under pressure in sometimes a dangerous environment
• Ability to take relevant decisions within a given framework
• Good management, administrative and communication skills
• Professionalism, integrity, interpersonal skills, goal focus

What we offer

• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment
• A two-week orientation course and other opportunities for further in-house training
• Generous social benefits
• Length of assignment:  12 months
• Join an ICRC talent pool and be considered for future assignments elsewhere