Job Title: CHIEF, PROCUREMENT UNIT, P4
Department/ Office: Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific
Duty Station: BANGKOK
Posting Period: 14 September 2012-13 November 2012
Job Opening number: 12-PRO-ESCAP-25234-R-BANGKOK(G)
Org. Setting and
Reporting
The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote regional cooperation
for inclusive economic and social development in the Asian and Pacific region.
ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is
to support its membership, through its analytical, normative and technical
cooperation, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the
Asian and Pacific region.
This position is located in the Division of Administration.
The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Division.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Chief of Procurement Unit
will be responsible for the following duties:
• Leads,
oversees, and monitors all procurement related activities in support of ESCAP
including its offices away from Bangkok, its programme of work, and all work of
other non-ESCAP clients; as required.
• Serves as
a senior procurement and contracting expert with responsibility for the world-wide
procurement of a wide variety of supplies and services associated with highly
complex (technically and legally) contracts and procurement activities.
• Provides
technical advice on procurement activities to officials of substantive units
and offices outside Bangkok during all phases of the procurement cycle.
• Analyzes
and evaluates procurement requests and ensures appropriateness of technical
specifications.
• Develops
and prepares highly complex contracts for procurement of non-routine and technologically
advanced commodities or long-range services; issues international tender
invitations; evaluates responses to tender, and makes recommendations for
finalization of purchases and award of contracts; signs procurement orders up
to the authorized limit, and, in cases where the amount exceeds authorized
signature authority, prepares submissions to the Contracts Committee for review
and subsequent approval by the authorized official.
• Develops
new tactical approaches to contracts, as well as new methods for their
application, based on market research.
• Contributes
to development of institutional procurement policies and procedures; develops
standards and criteria for the evaluation of goods, services, supplier
capacity, etc.
• Maintains
under constant examination production patterns in exporting countries;
evaluates the productive capacities and performance of manufacturers to
identify supply sources.
• Establishes
approaches for negotiations and conducts or coordinates all phases of
negotiations with all concerned parties, including the negotiation of disputes
arising from contracts.
• Maintains
records of delegations of procurement authority across ESCAP including offices
away from Bangkok to ensure up-to-date delegations at all times.
• Reviews
periodically levels of delegated authority to offices away from Bangkok with a
view to determine appropriateness in relation to volume of procurement
undertaken by these offices.
• Organizes
and contributes to periodic training and briefing sessions to Heads of offices/
requisitioners/administrative officers/administrative assistants to whom
procurement authority has been delegated so that they keep abreast of latest
developments in procurement and have a solid understanding of processes to be followed
and principles to be applied.
• Provides
direction and guidance to more junior staff.
• Performs
other duties as required.
Competencies
Core competencies:
Professionalism:
- Knowledge of internationally recognized procurement standards
and of all phases of international procurement techniques and operations used
in contracting for highly complex and technologically advanced goods and
services.
- Knowledge of contract law and expertise in handling
complex procurement and contract issues.
- Knowledge of quantitative methods to measure supplier
capacity systems and ability to identify sources of supply, market trends and
pricing.
- Ability to shape and influence agreements with
requisitioning units and vendors.
- Ability to apply technical expertise to resolve a range of
complex and/or sensitive issues/problems.
- Ability to develop procurement policies, procedures and
new programmes.
- Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates
professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and
efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is
motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when
faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful
situations.
- Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives
and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Planning & Organizing:
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed
strategies.
-Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts
priorities as required.
-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for
completing work.
-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.
-Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
-Uses time efficiently.
Client Orientation:
-Considers all those to whom services are provided to be
“clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view.
-Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with
clients by gaining their trust and respect.
-Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate
solutions.
-Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the
clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems.
-Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects.
-Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to
client.
Managerial Competencies:
Managing Performance:
-Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability
and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and
reporting lines are clear to each staff member.
-Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed
to accomplish a task and matches task to skills.
-Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines.
-Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and
coaching to staff.
-Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and
initiative.
-Actively supports the development and career aspirations of
staff.
-Appraises performance fairly.
Judgement/ Decision-making:
-Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes
to the heart of the problem quickly.
-Gathers relevant information before making a decision.
-Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior
to making them.
-Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on
the Organization.
-Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based
on all available information.
-Checks assumptions against facts.
-Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the
expressed and underlying needs for the decision.
-Makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent)
in business administration, public administration, commerce, engineering, law
or a related field. A first-level
university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in
lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible
experience in procurement, contract management, administration or related area.
Relevant IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft
Office and web-based applications, required.
Experience in procurement systems required.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United
Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written
English is required. Knowledge of
another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Assessment Method
Qualified applicants will be evaluated through a
competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods.
Special Notice
Staff members are subject to the authority of the
Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff
are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in
accordance with established rules and procedures.
United Nations
Considerations
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the
eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under
conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the
United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a
non-smoking environment.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE
RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING).
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK
ACCOUNTS.
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