Chief, Service Contracting Centre (P5), Supply Division, Budapest, Hungary

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a Future Shaped by Visionary Leadership

Supplies are essential to fulfilling children’s rights. UNICEF procures and supplies over 5,000 products to address the needs of children. Supporting child survival and development programmes around the world, UNICEF-procured supplies are critical in providing for children’s health, education and protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

The Service Contracting Centre is part of UNICEF Supply Division. Established in 2017 to bring efficiencies and improve compliance by leading the procurement of services for diverse category of services across all Headquarters Divisions/Offices & becoming source of expert knowledge and resources in the various categories of services.

How can you make a difference? 

In this role, you’ll lead by example, balancing a results-driven approach with a strong commitment to the well-being and development of your team. You’ll have the opportunity to shape our section’s vision, implement innovative strategies, and make a significant impact on our organization’s success.

Under the general guidance of the  Deputy Director Supply Programme, the position is responsible for Leading the Service Contracting Centre that is responsible for the procurement of Services in support of UNICEF HQ divisions and UNICEF field offices globally. The Service Contracting Team operates and is based out of four locations: Budapest, Valencia, New York and Copenhagen. The Centre Chief is based in Budapest.

Key Functions, Responsibilities & tasks :

1. Ensures effective management of UNICEF Supply Division presence, staff and assets assigned to the Service Contracting Centre. Represents Supply Division in operational management groups of Outposted Divisions/offices in host division/office locations.(New York, Budapest, Valencia)

2. Establish with the team the centre annual work plan, set priorities/targets and performance indicators. Monitor work in progress to ensure results are achieved according to targets and performance standards. Take timely decisions to achieve results.

3. Establish clear performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently. Plan and ensure timely performance planning, management and assessment of the team.

4. Guide the preparation of budget proposals for financial, human and other required resources to ensure the centre operates efficiently and effectively.

5. Promote teamwork to ensure harmonization, linkages, collaboration and synergy and ensure that staff members are provided sufficient information, guidance and support to perform and deliver results according to organizational, personal and professional standards of efficiency, accountability and integrity.

6. Ensures service procurement activities are in compliance with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, SD Manual, General Terms and Conditions and Auditor’s observations relating to procurement and other applicable procurement procedures.

7. Lead the Service Contracting Strategy including but not limited to the development procedures, processes and system, design and implementation of service contracting training materials for the different service categories. This includes development and implementation of appropriate templates, tools such as the TOR repository, Procurement Case Management System through the Service Gateway.
8. Manages procurement of goods and services; including proposal of supply strategy and method of purchase; undertake global analysis of spend to inform the establishment of relevant LTAs to enable the placements of POs, Institutional Contracts, analysis and evaluation of procurement requests and appropriateness of Terms of References/Scope of Services.
9. Makes recommendations for finalization of contracting processes and award of contracts; signs procurement orders/contracts up to the authorized limit, and, in cases where the amount exceeds authorized signature authority, prepares submissions to the Contracts Review Committee for reviews and subsequent approval by the authorized official.
10. Conducts contracts management to ensure supplier compliance to LTA’s and contractual terms and conditions. Reviews KPls and   holds supplier meetings.
11. Acts as secretary to CRC committee to ensure efficient and effective functioning of the secretariat and CRC meetings, including accurate reporting on annual CRC and other related reporting is accordance with Financial Policy.
12. Responsible for the efficient and effective functioning of the Performance Monitoring Board including holding quarterly meetings and reporting on all the indicators to the Board in accordance with its Terms of Reference.
13. Responsible for the development of institutional policies and procedures on contracting for services; develops standards and tools and criteria for the evaluation of   the different categories of services.
14. Leads cross functional meetings among different stakeholders to ensure clarity of requirements and processes. Provides technical advice and best practice on contracting for services to NY Divisions and other Headquarter Divisions and Country Offices on all phases of the procurement cycle.
15. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement strategic initiatives and drive continuous improvement.
16. Develops training materials for Contracting for Services of the difference service categories and conduct training activities as and when required. Lead the collection of best practices and lessons learnt from NYHQ and field locations and incorporating into service strategy.
17. Carries out market research through expression of interest, internet, UNGM, networks and other methods to broaden the contracting for services supplier base as and when necessary. Negotiate and secure contracts that benefit the organization both financially and logistically.
18. Contribute to the development of innovative strategies, concepts, and localization by managing contracts for goods and services, emphasizing the importance of local sourcing.

Any other duties as mav be assiqned bv the Deputy Director Supply Programme.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completed advanced university degree in Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management or related field.

• Work Experience: Extensive experience, minimum ten years of progressively responsible of managerial experience at the international level in procurement of complex services, contract management and administration, and commercial negotiations with the public or private sector. Professional experience with development of procurement policies and procedures, as well as oversight mechanism. Experience with establishment of global procurement strategies is required. Experience with in-depth cost analysis evaluation technique. 
• Skills : Proven ability to manage and monitor the effective use of financial and material resources. Experience in building, managing relationships and partnerships, leading and managing teams
• Language Requirements: English proficiency is required. other UN languages can be an asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (III)

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (III)

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact (III)

(4) Innovates and embraces change (III)

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (III)

(6) Thinks and acts strategically (III)

(7) Works collaboratively with others (III)

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people (II)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female and programme country nationals are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.