Procurement Associate (Category Associate)

Procurement Associate (Category Associate) Job #: req33904 Organization: World Bank Sector: Procurement Grade: GD Term Duration: 3 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Chennai,India Required Language(s): Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 8/7/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org. 

Vice-Presidency Context:
The Budget, Performance Review and Strategic Planning Vice Presidency (BPS VPU) was created in July 2013 and expanded to include Corporate Procurement in July 2024. The purpose of the VPU is to deliver high value for money with efficient, effective, and professional finance, procurement, and resource management services to help drive sustained business success through delivery of the WBG strategy. At the same time, it is focusing on improving governance to enable better oversight of what and how services are provided and continuing to strengthen its professional workforce with up-to-date skills, knowledge, and experience. The BPS VPU delivery model has three core roles designed to provide high quality, relevant and consistent services:

• Business Partners: embedded partners focused on decision support and performance oversight with strong understanding of the business.
• Centers of Expertise: providing thought-leadership and analytics, designing resource management policies, practices, and coordinating business finance knowledge management.
• Service Center: central unit to manage delivery of high volume and transactional and reporting services across Bank, including help desk to support to clients.

Unit Context, Locations, Roles: 

The Corporate Procurement Department supports the mission of the WBG by performing the procurement function following the principles of transparency, fairness, competition, and best value in an efficient, effective, and customer-focused manner. These principles are employed globally and represent the strategic elements that guide the Bank Group’s activities in procurement and contracting practices. Corporate Procurement is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the sourcing strategy, selection, and contract execution for more than 130 Bank Group offices around the globe, serving our clients from offices located in Washington, D.C., Chennai, India and Sofia, Bulgaria. Within the BPSSM delivery model, the Corporate Procurement Department focuses on three core principles:  

• Commerciality: Deliver best “value for money” supply solutions measured by cost, quality, and speed. 
• Risk Management: Predict, mitigate, and manage vendor related risks to protect WBG’s interests 
• Sustainability: Develop environmentally and socially sustainable supply chains. 
Categories of spend include: i) Corporate Services and Real Estate; ii) Consulting; iii) Human Resources and Professional Services; and iv) Technology.  

The Procurement Associate (Category Associate) position reports to the Senior Procurement Specialist, who in turn reports to Global Head Sourcing and Supplier Management.
 
The primary responsibilities include being a valued business partner to clients, understanding business needs, developing annual procurement plans, conducting internal (e.g., data-driven; category spend, client strategies, stakeholder analysis, and SWOT), and external analysis (e.g., market research & forecast, market share & trends, benchmarks, cost drivers), advising clients on market trends, and influencing change with the intent to maximize value for money while managing risks and maximizing impact on sustainability. The position for the category team requires knowledge of various categories, including but not limited to HRPS (Human Resources and Professional Services), TECH (Technology) and CSRE (Corporate Services and Real Estate).  

Key accountability for this position includes: 

• Conducts procurement, sourcing, and category management activities required by the World Bank Group globally. 
• Understands client’s needs, collaborates with clients in developing procurement plans; carries out market research to identify sources of supply, trend analysis and benchmarks.
• Develops vendor pre-qualifying and evaluation criteria, generates solicitations, manages bidding process, reviews technical specifications for completeness and competitive qualities; prepares contracts; and engages vendors in process discussions. 
• Negotiates contract terms and conditions for the assigned categories. 
• Category management of designated categories. 
• Monitors vendor commercial performance. 
• Liaises with clients in preparation and delivery of presentations to Procurement Committees. 
• Undertakes activities to ensure compliance with World Bank Groups’ policy.  
• Provides guidance and direction to Project Managers on commercial contract management issues. 
• Designs innovative solutions for medium to complex solicitations for large dollar and through a service risk-based approach. 
• Possesses an expert level understanding of commerciality and ability to demonstrate achieving value for money through strategic planning, solicitation, and negotiations.  
• Maximizes positive impact on sustainability (diversity, environment, social responsibility) through the sourcing process and category management. 
• Possesses a good understanding of risk management, analyses risks, and works with business partners to mitigate risks through sourcing and managing risks during category management.  

Due to the requirements of the job, this position may require frequent adjustments to the work schedule created by the time zone difference with many of the clients it supports and may also involve a limited amount of travel. 

Selection Criteria

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
2. Minimum three years of relevant experience.
3. Knowledge of international procurement practices and public/private sector procedures, with required in-depth experience in corporate-level service procurement at an international organization or multinational company.
4. Extensive experience in developing category strategies incorporating industry benchmark, understanding of sources of supply, market trends, pricing, etc.
5. Strong negotiating skills, including the ability to negotiate complex contract terms and conditions (e.g., international regulations, technology issues, data privacy, indemnification, intellectual property, cultural issues, assignment, contract termination).
6. Knowledge of sustainable procurement trends and practices, including supplier diversity & inclusion activities. 
7. Strong interpersonal and analytical capabilities and logical problem-solving skills, and ability to structure data and assign resources effectively, monitor implementation and deliver results in line with project goals. 
8. Project Management skills with extensive experience in managing multiple related projects to ensure the overall program is aligned and directly supports the achievement of strategic objectives.
9. Ability to deal sensitively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders. 
10. Experience with MS Office applications and proficiency of technology and/or systems relevant to the functional area (e.g., SAP, MS Dynamics, eSourcing tools) is desirable.

General Competencies:
1. Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relationships with clients and colleagues.
2. Ability to plan and execute negotiation process within established parameters and under general guidance and supervision.
3. Superior communication skills in English (verbal, written, and comprehension), and ability to resolve interpersonal conflict. 
4. Cross-functional team player with the ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a matrix management environment, as well as an individual contributor.
5. Strong client service orientation.
6. Effectively manage and analyze various data sources and content in a digital environment.
7. Possess intermediate skills in utilizing emerging technologies to deliver work program.
8. Other language skills would be an asset.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of Urgency – Anticipating and quickly reacting to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful Risk Taking – Taking informed and thoughtful risks and making courageous decisions to push boundaries for greater impact.
3. Empowerment and Accountability – Engaging with others in an empowered and accountable manner for impactful results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.