Procurement Associate

Overview of position

To provide coordination, administrative services and research to support the efficient and effective procurement services.

Role objectives

• Provide operational coordination and administrative services, to support procurement projects and activities, following standard processes and contributing to the effective procurement of goods and services.
• Identify and recommend potential suppliers, and compile data/documents to support the selection of suppliers, ensuring standard processes are followed.
• Review, record and prioritize purchasing requests, and provide support to requisitioners, in order to support the procurement of appropriate goods and services, at lowest cost to WFP.
• Contribute to negotiations with new suppliers on terms and conditions of orders, alongside a senior officer, in order to obtain the best terms and lowest costs for WFP.
• Prepare Purchase Orders, contracts and any supporting documentation for approval by the appropriate stakeholder, and approve purchases within delegated authority, to enable the swift purchase of goods and services.
• Resolve issues related to delivered goods, using initiative, liaising with all parties and following standard processes, to ensure timely and accurate resolution of problems.
• Research, collect and analyze data in order to produce reports to enable informed decision-making by Procurement Officers, and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.
• Manage updates and further develop databases and records, to ensure information is accurate, organized, and available for others to access, and supports reporting requirements.
• Maintain relationships with internal counterparts, to support the alignment of procurement activities with wider programs and ensure a coherent approach to meeting food assistance needs.
• Supervise the work of support staff, providing practical advice and guidance, to ensure individual and team objectives are delivered to agreed standards and deadlines.
• Follow standard emergency preparedness practices to support WFP to quickly respond and deploy food and needed resources to affected areas at the onset of the crisis.
• Perform other related duties or assignments in line with the position level and expertise as assigned by activity manager.

Key competencies

Education:

• Completion of secondary school education. A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Procurement, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Management, or related social science field in the related functional area is desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of six (6) years of experience in procurement, contracting, supply chain, administration and/or other directly related technical fields is required.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated familiarity with locally purchased commodities/goods/services (e.g., cash based, in-kind donations).
• Experience conducting supplier research and coordinating with retailers, wholesalers and traders. • Demonstrated knowledge of procurement processes and linkages with other operations (e.g., logistics)