Procurement & Contracting Officer

OVERVIEW

Post Number : 4AFADM0002PA

Grade : P-3

Parent Sector : Field Office

Duty Station: Kabul

Job Family: Administration

Type of contract : Project Appointment

Duration of contract : 1 year

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 07-Jul-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Operations Officer of the UNESCO Office for Kabul and the overall authority of the Director of the UNESCO Office for Kabul, with overall guidance from the Sector for Administration and Management at UNESCO Headquarters on matters related to Headquarters Contracts Committee.The work involves close coordination with the requesting units/programme specialists /project Officers and recipient entities as well as relevant colleagues at Headquarters concerning the implementation of UNESCO projects in Afghanistan.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following:

• Provide policy guidance, training and technical assistance for all contract categories, not only for procurement of goods, works or services, but also for Implementation Partnership Agreements (IPAs), financing activities contracts and other forms of contractual agreements, with special focus for high value and high-risk contracts (those are subject to review by the Contracts Committee);
• Advise programme Specialists/ project Officers in planning, developing and managing all contractual aspects of programme/projects including the identification of requirements, estimation of budgets, appropriate procurement and other contracting methods and in respect of established programme or project’s procurement plans. 
• Review procurement and other new contract requests to ensure completeness, correctness and adequacy to assure fair and transparent competition or comparison process, assisting in market research and providing advice where required. 
• Review and ensure compliance of the procurement notices, advertisements and distribution of invitations to bid or requests for proposals and follow-up on the replies and ensure that these are compliant with the provisions and standards; help in securing bid/proposal openings in accordance with applicable rules; bid/proposal openings. 
• When needed, participate in the evaluation team, analyze and evaluate vendors' offers/ proposals considering various factors affecting cost, technical specifications, implementation schedules, reliability, and after-sales/completion implications;

Long Description

• Advise on required respective contractual documents, with particular focus on potentially non-standard contractual arrangements and review submissions for approval by the appropriate authority including Legal Affairs and/or Headquarters Contracts Committee; Undertake a "compliance review" of applicable received submissions.
• Maintain effective relations with programme Specialists/ project Officers while involving them in each step of the process in order to enhance capacities for contractual proceedings; undertake training workshops; Update Office colleagues on all policy and procedural changes in the Administrative Manual; Study possibilities for process efficiencies both within the Office and interactions with Headquarters. 
• Maintain a tracking system and database to control the procurement and logistics activities to monitor during contract implementation, adherence to all contractual agreements, performance requirements, and respect of delivery schedules. Provide recommendations, advice, and status reports as necessary. Analyze and document lessons learned and recommend improvements for the application of future projects. 
• Provide backstopping support in procurement and contracting tasks under projects portfolio relate to UNESCO Office for Kabul in close relation with the Contracting Officer and under the direct supervision and coordination of the Senior Operations Officer.
• Contribute to the management of the procurement function and team by the Senior Operations Officer through monitoring relevant staff performance and conducting performance assessment and organizing and efficiently managing the workload of Unit and reporting achievements, challenges and solutions.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent degree) in public procurement, business administration, finance, law, or other fields closely related to the position and/or management with a specialization in the field of procurement. 

Work Experience

• Minimum of 4 years of professional experience, of which preferably 2 years of progressively responsible experience in procurement of works, goods and services at an international level. 
• Demonstrated experience in the procurement of complex services and procurement of construction and engineering services in complex environments, with a highly-diversified projects portfolio of procurement ( volume of minimum 10M USD per annum.)
• Proven hands-on management of procurement and logistics.
• Demonstrated experience in administrative and operational activities.
• Experience in procurement in an UN agency or other international organization.

Skills and competencies

• Solid functional competencies in planning, establishing contracts including monitoring and performance evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in procurement, contract, legal with preferably solid project management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Long Description

• Technology skills to use contracting and financial management software, including MS Office software applications and ERP.
• Capacity to lead a team and provide effective support and guidance.
• Strong sense of delivery and priorities; ability to provide timely feedback and advice to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a multi-skilled and multi-cultural team with tact and sensitivity to diversity.
• Knowledge-sharing capabilities; sound judgment and sense of initiative.
• Well-developed analytical thinking, problem solving, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Membership of/ and professional certification through relevant professional institutions such as the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) or other similar and equivalent organizations

Work Experience

• Work in developing countries, preferably in a conflict or post-conflict country at least for a period of no less than 3 years.
• A recognized certification in project management such as PMP or PRINCE2.

Languages

• Good knowledge of French.
• Knowledge of another official UNESCO language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish).

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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