Contracts Specialist, P-3, Supply Division, New York, Post #53160

UNICEF-procured supplies are critical in providing for children’s health, education and protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. UNICEF procures and supplies over 5,000 products to address the needs of children ensuring high quality and good value through fair and open procurement. In addition to supporting UNICEF’s ongoing programmatic activities, the Supply function provides rapid supply response to emergencies. Ensuring the global availability of essential supplies through influencing markets for lifesaving commodities such as vaccines, essential medicines and health products, and implementing a range of supply chain models to ensure these supplies are delivered to children, are two overarching focuses.

Duration of Post:  1 Year

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.  Click here to learn about UNICEF: https://www.unicef.org/

For every child, a commitment…  

UNICEF-procured supplies are critical in providing for children's health, education and protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. UNICEF procures and supplies over 5,000 products to address the needs of children ensuring high quality and good value through fair and open procurement. In addition to supporting UNICEF's ongoing programmatic activities, the Supply function provides rapid supply response to emergencies. Ensuring the global availability of essential supplies through influencing markets for lifesaving commodities such as vaccines, essential medicines and health products, and implementing a range of supply chain models to ensure these supplies are delivered to children, are two overarching focuses. 

Watch this video to connect to our mission https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1xkXZs0cAQ

How can you make a difference?

You will be responsible for the planning, development and execution of procurement strategies for service and goods contracting for ICT services and support contract management, monitoring suppliers' performance, worldwide market research and long- term procurement planning in conjunction with HQ divisions, in order to achieve value the most cost-effective procurement. This will be executed through an effective and strategic procurement process in compliance with UNICEFs Financial Rules and Regulations, guided by public procurement principles and pursuing Value for Money for the organization.  Some of the key functions will involve the following:

• Undertake procurement activities of ICT goods and services in compliance with the UNICEF Financial rules and regulations, SD Manual, and all other applicable procurement procedures. For ICT this include areas such as Cloud services, subscription solutions, and awareness of how to address cyber security issues, applying best practices. 
  
  
• Support other Divisions in developing terms of references (TORs) for reviewing material specifications and service requisitions with the Technical Divisions to ensure completeness and appropriateness. Undertake risk assessments where necessary and advice on appropriate risk mitigation strategies/measures.
  
  
• Manage the development and coordination of procurement plans and implement strategic procurement decisions and effective vendor relations management, keeping abreast of developments in the technology and vendor roadmaps. Undertake market research to develop a pool of healthy vendors and maintain updated vendor lists.
  
  
• Manage and monitor contractual agreements (including Long Term Agreements (LTAs) to ensure supplier compliance to LTA's and purchase order term and conditions as well as financial limits. Assist NY Headquarters Divisions in reviewing and monitoring performance and return-on-investment metric and initiating contract/LTAs modifications. Prepares and defends submissions to CRC, drafts and negotiate contracts and ensures performance and financial risk evaluation of vendors before recommendation for awards.
  
  
• Support collaboration/partnership initiatives on procurement activities with UN Agencies and other international organizations in areas that will bring value for money to UNICEF.   

 
To qualify as a Champion for every Child, you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master's) in Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management or related field.   
• *A first level university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and 7 years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international level, in commercial activities with the public or private sector in developing and industrialized countries.  Experience with worldwide procurement, contract negotiations and administration, combined with broader knowledge and understanding of strategic sourcing of ICT services/products and its implications for the organization is required. 
• Knowledge of the latest trends in procurement and contracting of information technology services and products for public sector or international organizations is highly desirable.
• Understanding of the principles of public procurement applied to subscription based Cloud Services (Software as a Service (SaaS) and similar is desirable
• Awareness of cyber security risks, compliance with standard terms and conditions addressing information and data security, and related best practices is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required.  Knowledge of an additional UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.  To view our competency framework, please click here.  

This position is classified as "rotational" which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.  UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.