Contracts Specialist, P-4, Yemen Outpost to Amman, Jordan # 00102657

Under the direct supervision and technical guidance of the Operations Manager, the Contracts Specialist, will be responsible to ensure effective implementation of all the procurement and contractual processes associated with the project are effectively executed in line with relevant UNICEF policies and financial rules and regulations.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone and we never give up.

For every child, an Advocate

In the 1970s UNICEF established presence in Yemen to respond to the urgent needs of children in the poorest country in the Middle East. In 1991, Yemen ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and it was enacted immediately.  Since then the country has been making steady progress for children until it plunged into a brutal conflict in 2015 but even before that, Yemen needed large amounts of humanitarian assistance.

In collaboration with local authorities, non-governmental organizations and community partners, UNICEF is working in all the governorates in Yemen to respond to the needs of children throughout the country with a continuum of services to help children survive and grow to their full potential through the following programmes: Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Basic Education, and Child protection.

For more on our work in Yemen, please visit our website: https://www.unicef.org/yemen/

How can you make a difference?

Following an agreement between the World Bank and UNICEF to implement an ’Emergency Cash Transfers (ECT) for Social Welfare Fund (SWF) Beneficiaries’ project that would target 1.5 million beneficiary cases or almost 8 million people across all 22 governorates of Yemen with a throughput estimated over $200 million, the Yemen Country Office (YCO) is looking for a Contracts Specialist to oversee the establishment, implementation and monitoring to all ECT project agreements.

Under the direct supervision and technical guidance of the Operations Manager, the Contracts Specialist, will be responsible to ensure effective implementation of all the procurement and contractual processes associated with the project are effectively executed in line with relevant UNICEF policies and financial rules and regulations. 

To make a difference, the Contract Specialist will perform the following key functions/accountabilities:

• Responsible for managing the  procurement and contracting processes for the cash transfer project from initiation to contract approval in line with the relevant UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, Supply Manual and other relevant policies and processes.
• Manage the planning, coordination and implementation of any contracts related to Cash Transfer Project.
• Ensure the file for contracts for Cash Transfer Project is appropriately maintained. Manage contracts in VISION (SAP) and amend when and if necessary.
• Support the requisition team on the project on contract management and administration e.g. management of contract schedule, contracts amendment and reviews, coordination of meetings with suppliers, coordination with SD, DFAM and Legal, in case of contractual issues and supplier performance management, monitoring of the contract performance on VISION and support in the closure of the completed contracts.
• In collaboration with the requesting unit, monitor the progress, contractual terms compliance, including payment, expiry etc. of contracts related to Cash Transfer Project.
• Provide technical inputs on market research. The market research will be conducted through expression of interest, internet, UNGM, networks and other methods to broaden the contracting for services when and if necessary.
• Analyse and evaluate procurement requests and ensure appropriateness of Terms of References/Scope of Services by checking the deliverables, time bound, evaluation criteria for selection of contractor etc.
• Manage the tender process and provide assistance to technical evaluation team.
• Provides advice/guidance to requisitioning unit and relevant programme and operation team concerning contractual conditions and supplier appraisals.
• Organise briefing to implementing partners for the Cash Transfer project, as applicable.

• Establish a system for continuous evaluation of the procurement and implementation process to enable informed management decisions on any necessary adjustments

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced university degree in accounting, business administration, procurement, supply chain management, economics, or financial management.
• 8 years of relevant professional work experience in contracts management, office management, finance, accounting,  and/or in administration, supply and procurement related fields is required. First level degree and appropriate experience is acceptable in lieu of advanced degree.
• Strong service contracting experience desired.
• Knowledge of UNICEF operation’s policies, procedures and guidelines, including UNICEF financial rules and regulations is required. Knowledge of UNICEF emergency programme policies, goals, strategies, approaches and procedures asset?
• Work experience in emergency duty station as an asset
• Fluency in English and Arabic, both oral and written is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

“UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.”

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.