Job: Senior Procurement Specialist

Location: Washington
Deadline: Wednesday, 13 November 2013

Background / General description:

The World Bank Group serves 30 client countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region (LCR). Clients range from large rapidly growing sophisticated middle income clients to IDA countries to small Caribbean states to one fragile state. Despite immense resources, dynamic societies, and an average annual per capita income of about $4,000, deep inequalities persist in most LCR countries, with nearly a quarter of the Region's people living in poverty.

The Bank's strategy in LCR is focused on five pillars:

(a) stimulating growth and improving competitiveness;

(b) reducing poverty and inequality;

(c) making governments and institutions work for people;

(d) providing a platform for tackling global issues (climate change, trade, disease, migration), and

(e) reducing risk, whether from extreme weather events, climate change, crime and violence or other.

Procurement services in LCR are provided by a Procurement Team (LCSPT) that is part of the Operational Services department (LSCOS). LCSOS also includes the Financial Management Team, the Development Effectiveness Team, and the Information Technology Team.

The Senior Procurement Specialist reports to the Regional Procurement Manager (RPM) who currently manages a team of 31 procurement staff, of whom approximately two thirds are based in the field. The position will be based at Washington and will include travel. The Senior Specialist will support the RPM on a wide range of responsibilities including, but not limited to, conducting reviews of procurement transactions as well as the recommendations for the mandatory review and clearance of the RPM and/or the OPRC, and addressing bidders' complaints, as needed. The position requires a very experienced staff capable to manage complex technical matters and policy dialogue, as well as issues on governance.

The work also involves frequent interaction with senior management in the headquarters and country offices; top government officials, etc.; counterparts within and across the other regions in the Bank; Sector networks; INT; and Public Sector Management and Financial Management Specialists.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 3 year term appointment.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The RPM now invites applications for the position of a Senior Procurement Specialist to be located in the headquarters. S/he will serve as a procurement expert on projects, including support the RPM in the full range of procurement service, fiduciary and knowledge functions. Under the supervision of the RPM and the guidance of the Lead Procurement Specialist, the incumbent will:

• Work independently on procurement tasks in all sectors of the Bank's development work in LCR, carrying out the Bank's fiduciary functions under Credit and Grant Agreements and providing guidance on complex issues, as needed.
• Be responsible for reviewing and handling the commercial, financial and legal aspects of Bank-financed procurement at all stages of the project cycle, in consultation with the Bank's Legal Department, Financial Management specialists and operational policy units.
• Provide guidance to Borrowers and project teams on the procedures governing international and national competitive procurement.
• Participate as a member of mission teams in the development of new projects, project design, the Borrower' s procurement plans and prior and post reviews of bidding and contract documents during implementation.
• Contribute to country procurement assessments, procurement reform, use of country systems, governance and anti-corruption activities, and other strategic procurement tasks which are part of LCR's procurement agenda and as such, may be assigned to the incumbent by the RPM.
• Coordinate and monitor referrals to the RPM and Operations Procurement Review Committee (OPRC), while providing feedback on the quality of the review and analysis of packages and the recommendations for the mandatory review and clearance of the RPM and/or the OPRC.

Selection Criteria:

• Minimum Education: MA/MS degree with a major in a relevant discipline (e.g., Engineering, Law, Procurement, Finance, Business or Commerce) with 8 years of direct relevant experience including broad expertise in the management of public procurement in the public or private sector OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• In-depth knowledge of Bank procurement policies and practices as applied across a wide range of technical sectors and different types of lending operations.
• State-of-the-art knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices which govern international procurement of goods and works, and the contracting of consultant services both inside the Bank and in Borrowers' countries.
• Proven track record of handling the Bank's prior review of complex, high-value, time-sensitive procurement transactions, including prequalifications, bidding documents and evaluation reports for goods and civil works, supply and installation for plant and equipment, in both single- and two-stage procedures, as well as evaluation reports for consulting services and procurement-related complaints.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrix management environment and in close collaboration with procurement team members, FMS colleagues, and TTLs, solve complex problems; coordinate with country and sector teams and work independently under the general direction of the RPM.
• High level of integrity and a sense of personal responsibility for achieving a high level of technical quality and timeliness in performing the Bank's procurement fiduciary and service functions and in delivering the work program of the RPM office.
• Good understanding of critical linkages and relationships among business drivers and procurement processes, and ability to deal sensitively in a country-specific environment and build effective working relations with borrowers.
• Proven ability to carry out assessment of procurement capacity of implementing agencies, conceptualize and design procurement arrangements for new operations (including major projects and programmatic approaches, such as SWAps, PforR), and monitor follow-up actions during project implementation.
• Proven track record of promoting commitment from borrowers to the implementation and longer-term sustainability of procurement arrangements during the implementation of projects and policy reform programs.
• Demonstrated strong client-service skills in conducting procurement prior reviews and service functions in the Bank, including a high level of technical competence and responsiveness to internal and external clients.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively mentor/guide junior colleagues and design training/skills enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge/skills to both staff and clients.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to defend verbally and in writing, in English and Spanish, difficult issues and positions to Bank management, government officials, high-level officers of the Bank's procurement function, including members of the OPRC, etc.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrix management environment, both as a team leader and team member.
• Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.

In addition to the above, the successful candidate must demonstrate the following:

Competencies:

• Procurement Principles - Has in-depth knowledge of public procurement principles, regulations, systems, and approaches to international procurement with proven ability to independently provide well researched analyses of complex procurement issues and problems.
• Bank Procurement Policies - Has the ability to provide high quality, pragmatic advice on the application of Bank procurement policies and procedures as related to the design and implementation of projects.
• Procurement Transactions - Has in-depth understanding of procurement process and planning, including experience with resolving complex procurement issues, bidding documents, evaluation reports and contracts.
• Procurement Under Bank Financed Operations - Has seasoned knowledge and specialized command of all facets of Bank procurement policies and practices as applied across a range of Bank lending operations during the project cycle, and ability to address broader issues at sector/country level.
• Public Procurement Systems & Reform - Has solid experience in the supervision of Procurement AAA and acting as peer reviewer across the Bank.
• Operational Project Management - Demonstrates in depth knowledge and understanding of project management tools & methodologies, as well as of Bank instruments and processes related to project preparation & implementation, resource management, and stakeholder communications.
• Client Orientation - Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Drive for Results - Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.
• Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way across audiences of varied levels.
• Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Gathers inputs, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence

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