Contracts Specialist – P3  

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children 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, Hope

How can you make a difference?

Under the general guidance of the Policy unit lead, the incumbent will contribute to the planning and development of specific procurement policies, guidelines, strategies and best practices, manage specific tools improvement initiatives, and provide specific advisory support to the supply community. 

The incumbent participates in cross centre, interdivisional, interagency activities, including training and capacity building, with the aim to streamline, optimise and harmonise procurement, as well as to ensure the highest procurement quality and ethical standards.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Supports the review, preparation and development of procurement policies, procedures and guidelines. Ensures that all procedural documents are up to date and coordinates with the different stakeholders to ensure timely revision, publication and dissemination of these documents. Alignment efforts required with the new Regulatory Framework policy for the full suite of CC owned Procedures, Guidelines and Divisional Procedures. Coordinate CC review and inputs to new policy and procedures.
• Provides assistance and advice on contractual issues as well as procurement policy and procedures-related matters, including on audit observations/recommendations, and responds to queries from Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices. May represents the procurement/ contracting function at internal meetings with other functions.
• Contributes to initiatives to address audit observations, JIU findings, and similar, including aspects to simplify, optimize, and increase digitalization of procurement processes and practices. Provide key support in CC engagement in upcoming assessments and audit preparations related to procurement policies and practice.
• Develops procurement training materials and assists in the delivery of training, presentations and capacity building activities for intenal and external stakeholders.
• Supports the UNICEF participation in inter-agency UN procurement collaboration and harmonization activities. In particular supports the chief in the Procurement Network engagement both externally as well as in the internal UNICEF information and engagement and the internal related implementation efforts. May be requested to participates in intra-UN and external working groups.
• Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor.

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

Education

• A completed Advanced University degree (Master’s Degree) in business administration, commerce or law or technical field is required.
• *A first University degree may be accepted in lieu of a Master degree with seven years of relevant work experience

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in procurement, 3 years of which should include working internationally, is required. Experience related to policies and procedures with other UN agencies and/or international organizations is highly desired.

Technical Competencies:

• Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.
• Strong English writing skills.
• Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise.
• Analyses and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources.
• Sets clearly defined objectives and plans activities for self, own team or department.
  Demonstrates an immediate understanding of newly presented information; gathers comprehensive information to support decision making.
• Adjusts team or department’s approach to embrace changing circumstances.
• Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

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

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

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.

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.

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.

This is how cinfo can support you in the application process for this specific position:

• Application preparation: Before you apply for this position: Improve your application documents by registering for a Job Application Support. Our coaches are here to help tailor your application to the requirements of the job (service provided at your own cost).
• Interview preparation: When invited to the interview: Prepare for the interview by registering for a Job Application Support.
• Additional services for  Swiss nationals who get invited to the selection process (written test, interview, assessment centre, etc.):
  • Let us know by writing to [email protected]. We flag matching applications to HR partners and SDC/SECO for visibility.
  • Benefit from free interview/assessment preparation by registering here : Interview and Assessment Centre Preparation for Jobs in Multilateral Organisations. Our coaches stand ready to help prepare for upcoming interview/assessment centre.