Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org to learn more about the World Bank Group.
The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises 30 diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. Majority of the countries are high and upper middle-income countries with only three being low-income IDA countries. ECA has an active portfolio of 256 projects with net commitment of around US$40 billion and a strong lending pipeline as well as a large and growing portfolio of Reimbursable Advisory Services. To learn more about ECA region visit: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/ECA. Knowledge is critical to the Bank’s value proposition to client countries in the ECA region in both lending and advisory services. A predominantly middle- and high-income region, the ECA region is at the vanguard of building regional connectivity while having to manage the changing structure of the labor market and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Procurement Team in ECA Region works with client countries on procurement reform and policy and strategy development. Many of these engagements are based on insights from data analytics. Many countries in the region have e-procurement, contract management, and payment systems that provide the data necessary to work on big data analytics applied to procurement. The Kazakhstan portfolio has seven active projects ($3.8 billion) and five new projects in the pipeline in different sectors($1.5billion). In addition, the Government of Kazakhstan is in active stage of adopting ambitious procurement reforms to improve competition and transparency in the public and quasi-public sectors. In this context, the ECA procurement team seeks to recruit/appoint a highly organized, energized, and experienced professional, capable of operating effectively in Kazakhstan, and if needed in other countries of ECA.
Scope of Work
• Supporting clients in achieving value for money (VFM) in public procurement to enhance service delivery and development outcomes with integrity.
• Working under the guidance of the assigned Procurement Team Leader on procurement matters in specific sectors in the performance of the Bank’s fiduciary and service functions, seeking guidance on complex projects/issues from senior procurement staff.
•Providing technical fiduciary advice on procurement activities and engages in policy dialogue to strengthen procurement systems under the guidance of PTL.
• Working across countries/sectors, and is responsible for reviewing and handling the technical, commercial, and legal aspects of procurement (in consultation with PTL as necessary) at all stages of the project cycle, including analysis of systemic and other procurement issues, risk assessment, procurement strategy development, procurement planning, design, implementation and management, and training.
• Providing operational advice to clients and Bank staff on concepts, policies, and procedures for international and local procurement.
• Participating in missions to support the Procurement Specialist of the project; assesses procurement implications of project design, evaluates the institutional capacity of borrowers, updates project risk ratings in Procurement Risk Assessment and Management System (PRAMS), develops suitable action plans, provides input for Implementation Status Results (ISR) Reports and Implementation Completion (ICR) Reports.
• Participating in country procurement assessments, prepares background analysis, collaborates on developing appropriate public procurement legislation and practices, and tailors instruments to meet specific client needs.
• Negotiating and resolving difficult procurement issues with Borrower agencies and handles questions/complaints from government officials and bidders on bidding and contract award issues.
• Designing and conducting workshops of procurement training for the Bank staff and borrower agencies on the Bank’s philosophy and approach to procurement, the rationale of its policy framework, relevant procedures, and processes, as well as on specialized procurement topics and Systematic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement (STEP).
• Preparing a range of procurement-related documents and reports.
• Handling appropriate interaction with country counterparts on the sector, organizational, human resources management, financial, economic, and regulatory practices.
• Providing support to Country Unit on procurement-related issues.
The Procurement Specialist will be working under the oversight and mentorship of the Regional Accredited Practice Manager. The duty station is Astana, Kazakhstan.
Selection Criteria
Basic Requirements:
• High level of integrity.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Russian languages.
• Master’s degree with a major in a relevant discipline (e.g. business administration, engineering, commerce, law, procurement, public policy, etc.).
• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices governing international procurement, with the ability to translate concepts into operational work, including but limited to VFM, sustainable procurement, strategic sourcing, market analysis, contract management, etc.
• Minimum of five (5) years of directly relevant experience in carrying out technical duties in procurement inside or outside the World Bank.
• Ability to deal sensitively in a multi-cultural environment and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.
General Competencies:
• Good communication skills and persuasiveness in presenting, negotiating, and resolving highly complex issues, both orally and in writing.
• Client-driven and a sense of personal responsibility for achieving technical quality and timeliness.
• Ability to solve complex problems involving multiple stakeholders and constraints.
• Analytical skills to recognize patterns, and extract conclusions and strategies out of information coming from multiple sources and in a variety of forms.
• Results-oriented to act as a trusted, strategic advisor, partnering with clients to deliver results.
Specific Specialized Skills, Knowledge, and Competencies:
• Knowledge of institutions and procurement reforms in Borrower’s countries.
• Understanding of the World Bank’s business objectives, products, and project cycle.
• Understanding of political economy, public policy, public systems, and public management.
• Knowledge of procurement systems, practices, and agencies in Kazakhstan.
• Aptitude and exposure to procurement data analytics in the monitoring of public procurement performances, leading to evidence-based modernization of procurement policies and practices.
• Good understanding of risk management.
• Tolerance for peak workloads and tight deadlines and readiness to travel frequently when required.
• Excellent computer skills.
The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture, and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
This appointment is expected to last three (3) years, but it could be extended depending on performance and business need.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.