Background:
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
The Division of Finance and Administration (DFA) leads the integrated management of UN Womenโs financial and operational resources, covering Regular Resources and Other Resources. Its responsibilities span resource planning and budgeting, financial reporting, accounting and oversight, information and communications technology management, as well as procurement, premises, asset management, administration, and safety and security. DFA ensures the effective and efficient delivery of these essential services while supporting the Executive Director in shaping and implementing the organizationโs mission, strategy, and action plans.
Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Director of DFA and the direct supervision of the Chief of Procurement and Travel Services, the Procurement Specialist for Policy Support will be responsible for the review and development of new or existing policies and procedures in line with business requirements. The Procurement Specialist will act as advisory body and provide strategic and authoritative advises to UN-Women personal on the interpretation and application of procurement manual, policies and procedures. The Procurement Specialist function is a comprehension of capacity development activities to support the Organization and procurement reform, creating benchmark with other UN Agencies.ย
The Procurement Specialist is expected to provide solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement, promote a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the section, work in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders both at Headquarters and field levels for the successful delivery of procurement services.
Key Functions and Accountabilities:
Manage the Development and Implementation of Operational Strategies:
Review and revise policies, procedures, and guidelines to align with UN Women's Strategic Plan and operational requirements. Aid in developing procurement strategies at headquarters and across regional, multi-country, and country offices, collaborating with supply chain stakeholders. Provide policy and procedural advice, ensuring consistent interpretation and application of procurement principles across all offices. Monitor and evaluate the impact of procurement policies on business needs and their effective implementation. Develop comprehensive system requirements for reporting, oversight, and other business needs. Contribute to the creation of contract management tools and procurement guides for standardization and knowledge sharing. Supplement the operational capacity of the Procurement Operations Support Section as required.Ensure the Standardization and Control of Procurement Processes:
Ensure regional offices effectively translate field and corporate procurement plans into regional sourcing strategies. Advocate for procurement best practices and benchmark supply chain cycles. Implement control systems for procurement processes, including ITB, RFP, and RFQ, and enforce compliance with standards and regulations. Design, maintain, and enhance reporting and monitoring tools that support procurement and travel oversight, compliance, and evidence-based decision-making. Monitor and report on procurement and travel compliance across Business Units, identify recurring issues, and recommend corrective or preventive measures.ย Provide support for high-value or complex procurements, including the review and establishment of solicitation documents.Lead on Policy and Process Enhancement:
Oversee the review and design of procurement processes in line with current and new policies. Simplify and streamline procedures while ensuring compliance with rules and regulations. Develop and maintain procurement tools, templates, and workflows, ensuring accessibility and user-friendliness. Identify strategic partnerships for efficiency gains in line with financial and forecasting needs. Ensure knowledge management and compliance with UN-Women policies and procedures. Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UN-Women regulations, rules, policies, and internal control mechanisms;Manage Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement:
Coordinate and follow up on audit activities across headquarters and regional offices. Lead in responding to queries from UN-Women stakeholders, other UN agencies, donors, and member states. Propose and implement policy and procedural improvements based on stakeholder feedback. Maintain effective team performance and alignment with procurement objectives. Identify and assess new inter-agency tools or frameworks that could enhance harmonization, standardization, and value for money. Monitor and oversee the supplier database to ensure data integrity, supplier eligibility, and compliance with policies and procedure, as well as the availability of accurate information for management and oversight purposes.Facilitate Knowledge Building and Sharing:
Provide strategic and technical support to Regional Procurement Specialists and procurement focal points, ensuring consistent policy interpretation and promoting knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and capacity-building within UN Women and the wider UN community. Develop and manage a comprehensive learning program for procurement training needs. Facilitate training and knowledge sharing within UN-Women. Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in procurement. Establish UN-Women as a Centre of Excellence in procurement practices.Lead and manage personnel under their supervision
The incumbent leads a team of up to 8 personnel, which includes up to 3 direct reports (at the General Service and Professional levels), as well as affiliate personnel (Service Contracts, Consultants, and Interns). Manage the performance of personnel under their supervision by provide managerial direction, guidance and leadership as well as performance feedback and coaching. Ensure performance assessment are completed on time and identify learning and development opportunities to support personnelโs engagement. Ensure all personnel under their supervision are fully aware of UN Womenโs workplace relations policies.ยThe incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies :
Core Values:
Integrity; Professionalism; Respect for Diversity.Core Competencies:
Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues; Accountability; Creative Problem Solving; Effective Communication; Inclusive Collaboration; Stakeholder Engagement; Leading by Example.Please visitย this linkย for more information on UN Womenโs Values and Competencies Framework:ย
Functional Competencies:
Has a strong understanding of the main processes and methods of work regarding to procurement; Possesses knowledge ofย procurement policies and procedures relating applies them consistently in work tasks; Client- oriented; Strong problem-solving skills; Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines; Ability to establish, build and sustain effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients; Ability to gather and present information on best practices in organizational change; Knowledge of data gathering and implementation of management systems; Strong procurement intelligence analysis skillsยRecruitment Qualifications:
Education and Certification:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Masterโs Degree or equivalent in Law, Business Administration, Public Administration, Operations, Supply Chain Management, Public Policies, or a related field;
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Procurement Certification from internationally recognized institutions (e.g., CIPS-Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply) is an asset.
Experience:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in procurement and supply chain management, with a focus on the development of procurement and/or public policies, including supply chain cycles and micro processes is required.
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Managerial experience and experience in managing procurement activities across multiple countries, regions, or divisions is required.
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is required;
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Experience in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system (Oracle Cloud or equivalent) and IPSAS is desirable.
Languages:ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Fluency in English is required.
โข ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an asset. Working knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.
Statements :
In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
Diversity and inclusion:
At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates,ย and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,ย ability, national origin,ย or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.
If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.
UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere toย UN Womenโsย policiesย and proceduresย andย theย standardsย of conduct expected of UN Women personnelย and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)
Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.
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