Junior Professional Officer (JPO) (American nationals)

DUTY STATION

Geneva, Switzerland

COMMENCEMENT OF DUTY

To be determined NATURE OF APPOINTMENT

Fixed-term - 1 year
one year

Organizational Unit

Procurement section (PS), Administration Division
Governance Services Department WMO is committed to achieving diversity and a balanced workforce. Applications are welcome from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. The statutory retirement age after 1 January 2014 is 65. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This JPO position will serve as an Associate Procurement Officer.

Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief, Procurement and Contract Management Section and the Senior Procurement Officer, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

(a) Provides support to the Procurement team in all procurement and contractual aspects of projects of significant complexity related to WMO new ERP implementation/migration activities and other diverse services and commodities;

(b) Plans procurement actions for assigned projects, which typically involve the procurement of a select group of technically complex commodities or services, or for a variety of goods and services of a general nature;

(c) Responds to the requisitioning units and recipient entities on the full range of procurement issues, providing advice at all stages of the procurement cycle with full compliance to WMO Process and Rules;

(d) Reviews and analyzes technical specifications to ensure completeness, accuracy and competitive qualities, and identifies optional courses of action;

(e) Assists staff in matters regarding procurement policies and procedures, technical specifications, pricing, and product/service availability, as well as appropriate substitutes or alternative options to reduce costs;

(f) Solicits and evaluates bids/proposals/quotations to ensure overall competitiveness, quality, and conformity to specified requirements to determine which supplier can deliver the required goods/services at the best terms and lowest costs possible under the guidance of more senior Procurement Officers;

(g) Formulates strategies and designs innovative solutions to resolve issues/conflicts for complex procurement projects;

(h) Establishes and maintains work program and schedule for ongoing/new projects and contributes to the process of procurement planning including the associated activities;

(i) Compiles and presents procurement data; prepares all relevant supporting documents and recommends approval of the contract or purchase order; may authorize purchases in line with delegated authority, and, in cases where the amount exceeds authorized approval authority, prepares submissions to the Contracts Committee for review and subsequent approval by the authorized official;

(j) Conducts market research to keep abreast of market developments; research and analyzes statistical data and market reports on the world commodity situation, production patterns and availability of goods and services;

(k) Identifies new technologies, and products/services, evaluates and recommends potential supply sources and participates in the incorporation of research results into the procurement program;

(l) Oversees adherence to contractual agreements, recommends amendments and extensions of contracts, and advises concerned parties on contractual rights and obligations;

(m) Prepares a variety of reports, correspondence, and documents (purchase orders, contracts, amendments, communications, guidelines, instructions, etc.) on procurement-related matters;

(n) Researches, retrieves and presents information from a variety of internal and external sources on sources of supply, vendors by commodity, etc., as well as obtains specifications for new products and equipment on the market;

(o) Provides guidance to new/junior staff and interns;

(p) Carries out other relevant duties as required. QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) or bachelors' degree in business administration, public administration, commerce, engineering, law or a related field. Extensive qualifying experience and relevant certifications in procurement may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.
Experience
A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contract management or related area. Experience in the area of the ERP implementation and/or migration is an asset.
Other requirements
Good research and/or analyses of market and suppliers and of factors affecting cost, technical specifications, implementation schedules. Good analyses of responses to tender, evaluation and selection of suppliers. Well-reasoned identification of issues and development of recommendations on a variety of procurement-related matters. Consistently apply appropriate policies, guidelines, procedures, and processes. Effectively, and in a timely manner, liaise with concerned parties at all stages of the procurement process. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to foster diversity and team spirit.
Languages
Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable; knowledge of another official language of the Organization is an advantage.

(Note: The official languages of the Organization are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.) Additional Information:
This is a Junior Professional Officer Position funded by the government of the United States of America. Only applicants who hold US citizenship will be considered. Date of issue of vacancy notice: 13 May 2024