Job Summary:
As a Senior Procurement Specialist for the Advancing Cross-border Resilience and Opportunities for Safety and Stability (ACROSS)ย project team, you will manage the projectโs systems and processes for local and international procurement of goods and services to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. You will coordinate and report on all project procurement activities and provide procurement-related guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Servicesโ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and experience will allow you to successfully manage the quality and efficiency of all procurement and purchasing activities and to ensure stewardship, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
Manage fully compliant procurement systems and operating procedures and organize the procurement functions. Assess effectiveness and efficiency and lead improvements. Ensure compliance with CRS procurement principles, standards, and policies, donor regulations, and local statutory requirements.Lead collaboration efforts across various departments and countries to proactively assist with goods/services flow analysis and determine the appropriate supply chain modality, needs, and quantity, quality, and delivery requirements for goods, services, and cash and voucher assistance (CVA). Maintain an up-to-date procurement plan for each country. Advise budget holders in developing annual budget plans that meet procurement needs.Manage and control the analysis-to-contract process with strategic sourcing solutions to ensure the best value for money. Key activities include market assessment and price monitoring, writing goods/services specifications, defining supplier evaluation criteria, organizing solicitation documents, running transparent and consistent bidding and vendor selection processes, preparing contracts, etc. Ensure the highest level of transparency and integrity amongst the procurement department and prevent fraud along with the procurement process. Conduct periodic risk assessment along the procurement process.Effectively manage talent and supervise procurement team, including remote management of direct reports in each country. Ensure appropriate allocation of staff time and resources to balance the needs of all countries. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being.Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development or training plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high-quality programming. Ensure the team is well-equipped with new knowledge and known developments in the field.Oversee and monitor relationships and transactions with suppliers and voucher vendors, supplier performance, and contractual obligations to ensure contract completion by authorized terms and conditions. Take action to address current and/or potential contractual issues and/or inefficiencies to mitigate risk. Advise contract/purchase order modifications, if needed.Monitor payment terms and schedules through maintenance of the open order report and oversee coordination with the finance team to ensure timely payments to vendors.Manage a reliable procurement document trail and database management system for control, accountability, and input for proper inventory recording. Ensure all required information and records are complete, accurate, up-to-date, and properly filed. Oversee reports preparation, consolidate reporting and analyze data for decision-making.Required Languages - English and Hausa languages are required. Proficiency in other local languages will be an added advantage.
Location: Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State
Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Good knowledge of various donorย procurement regulations (e.g., KFW, EU, UN)Knowledge of international and national procurement regulations and local market conditions in assigned countries.Strong knowledge of contract terms and proven ability to negotiate terms and agreements and build and maintain networks with suppliers.Ability to perform cost estimation and understanding of financial management and other quantitative information for decision-making in a procurement budget.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including via Outlook and Teams. Responsive and proactive in a remote working environment.Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.Proficient in the Microsoft Office package.Strong planning, coordination, prioritization, and time management skills.Strong analytical skills with the ability to make independent judgments and decisions.Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented with a focus on meeting customer needs.ย
Preferred Qualifications
A masterโs degree in business administration or other relevant field.Management experience, preferably in an INGO.Professional certifications are a plus.Specific CRS programming experience.Experience with Oracle ERP or similar supply chain management software.Good knowledge of and experience in CVA programming and operational requirements.ย
Supervisory Responsibilities: none
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Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Program Manager II, Procurement Manager MEAL Coordinator, ACROSS Component leads, Other MEAL Officers, ICT4D Specialist, Operations Staff.
External: Local partners, enumerators, external consultants, and other key stakeholders
Basic Qualifications
Safeguarding
CRS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all people who interact with our work. We uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and expect all staff and partners to respect and protect the dignity and rights of everyone from any form of harm, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. All staff are required to follow CRSโs safeguarding policies and procedures and to complete mandatory safeguarding e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
ย Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Personal Accountability โ Consistently takes responsibility for oneโs own actions.ย Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.ย Is considered honest. Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions. Collaborates with Others โ Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams. Open to Learn โ Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.Agency Leadership Competencies:
Lead Change โ Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation. Develops and Recognizes Others โ Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance. Strategic Mindset โ Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.What we offer
CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.ย Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.ย CRSยด work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.ย Catholic Relief Servicesย works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. ย Catholic Relief Servicesโย relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.ย We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRSโ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.ย The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRSยด Code of Conduct.
CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.
Disclaimer:ย This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.ย
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
General Requirements
CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidateโs ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.ย ย All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.