Job: Head, Contractual Procurement Section

Location: Jordan

Organization: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Country: JordanClosing date: 05 Dec 2013

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST UNRWA

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA's services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:

Head, Contractual Procurement Section

Vacancy Announcement Number 13-HQ-AM-50 Grade P-4 Deadline for Applications 5 Decmeber 2013 Duty Station Amman

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Procurement and Logistics Division, the Head Contractual Procurement Section will directly supervise staff assigned to the Contractual Procurement Section. The incumbent is responsible for the procurement and delivery of supplies, equipments and services that are acquired through the use of long-term agreements and contracts used Agency-wide. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the receipt and consolidation of supply, equipment and services requests that are acquired through long-term agreements and standard contracts with the Agency; oversee the processing of Tenders including Invitations, Proposals and Quotes; evaluate submissions and award contracts in accordance with the prevailing delegated authority; oversee the development of service contracting standard procedures;
• Manage the development of new long-term agreements and special project contracts to ensure best value for money is being obtained; provide advice to department and field contracts management staff on the best strategies for method of procurement, negotiation and contracts planning;
• Allocate work assignments; establish work plans and sets priorities; coach and evaluate staff; participate in recruitment of new staff and provide advice and guidance on professional development; communicate strategic issues and builds cohesion, commitment and confidence in the section;
• Manage and control the contracting process for acquiring insurance services; plan the Agency's insurance requirements and provides guidance and advice to the management on developing, implementing and revising both insurance policies and service contracts;
• Negotiate the insurance contracts for property, vehicle, marine, group health, third party liability insurance, cash money and any other insurance that may be required and monitors the contracts ensuring the adequacy of the insurance coverage;
• Investigate all claims raised in connection with property, vehicles, marine and group-health, liability, and cash money including related examination and /or investigations of losses or damage;
• Prepare, monitor and control budget for the section and the various insurance policies in liaison with Finance Staff;
• Control and oversee the maintenance of contracts management documentation, information and records, contracts, tenders and bids, suppliers and claims information, ensuring their accuracy and confidentiality at all times.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced university degree from an accredited education institution in a supply chain management discipline, business administration, public administration, commerce or a related field;
• At least eight years experience in the application of supply chain management with progressively responsible professional experience in high volume procurement and logistics operations in large commercial or international organizations, of which at least five years should have been at international senior level, preferably in developing countries;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Inventory Control methods and techniques;
• Excellent leadership and management skills and ability to coordinate work with others, work under tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations to senior level staff, both verbally and in written forms, in a clear and concise style;
• Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources using standard methodologies and analytical techniques, draw conclusions and assess impact on the social development and policy issues; willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff members and operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations.

Desirable Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of UN policies, procedures and operations as well as leading–edge supply chain management or procurement and logistics;
• Additional studies, course-works or trainings in the areas relevant to supply chain management, procurement and logistics;
• Membership in an acknowledged and relevant professional institute or association;
• Working knowledge of the use of computer applications relevant to supply chain management or procurement and logistics operations;
• Knowledge of Middle Eastern cultures and practices;
• Working knowledge of written and spoken Arabic.

Additional Information The incumbent will be required to travel frequently in the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East.

Equivalency When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Director of Human Resources may exceptionally substitute part of the unmet requirements with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and progressive relevant work experience. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

Conditions of Service

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $72,467 net tax free with dependants or $67,483 single, plus post adjustment of 47.4% (subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks annual leave. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Initial contract is for two years, with the possibility of further extensions subject to the availability of funds and the continuing need for the post.

How to Apply To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

UNRWA does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process.

General Information UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Date of issue: 6 November 2013/ LF

How to apply:

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

UNRWA does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process.

More Info and Application