Contracts Specialist (Policy), P-3, FT, post# 113438, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Hope

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does – in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life – in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions – her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens – addressing inequity – not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also accelerating the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Supply Division (SD), based in Copenhagen, is responsible for overseeing UNICEF’s global procurement and logistics operation. The Division supports UNICEF Country Offices and partners in achieving UNICEF’s priorities by procuring supplies that meet high standards for quality and value and then ensuring their timely delivery.

SD’s Contracting Centre (CC) provides oversight and the normative function on procurement issues, including service contracting and construction. The Policy and Procedures Unit, which is part of CC, leads and provides technical assistance, guidance, and support on procurement/contracting policy and on professional development to UNICEF’s supply community, and supports the implementation of procurement optimization projects. The Project Support Unit executes service contracting for SD Cph, and provides policy and strategy advise and development to SD and the UNICEF supply community.

Purpose for the job:

Under the general guidance of the Policy unit lead, the incumbent will be responsible for and involved in the planning and development of specific procurement policies, guidelines, strategies and best practices, manage specific tools improvement initiatives, and provide specific advisory support to the supply community. The incumbent participates in cross center, interdivisional, interagency activities, including training and capacity building, with the aim to streamline, optimize and harmonize procurement, as well as to ensure the highest procurement quality and ethical standards.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Supports the review, preparation and development of procurement policies, procedures, and guidelines. Ensures that all procedural documents are up to date and coordinates with the different stakeholders to ensure timely revision, publication, and dissemination of these documents.
2. Maintains all standard contractual documents, templates and forms and ensures that they are up to date and in line with best practices in international public procurement.
3. Manages projects for simplification and optimization of procurement related to internal business processes and practices, also as it relates to the UNICEF ERP system SAP “VISION” improvements. Follows up on latest procurement developments and good practices to ensure continuous improvement of procurement practices.
4. Provides assistance and advice on contractual issues as well as procurement policy and procedures-related matters, including on audit observations/recommendations, and responds to queries from Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices. Represents the procurement/contracting function at internal meetings with other functions.
5. Analyses compliance of procurement activities conducted at global level with UNICEF Regulations and Rules.
6. Develops procurement training materials and assists in the delivery of training, presentations and capacity building activities for internal and external stakeholders.
7. Contributes to Sustainable Procurement activities such as guidance, communication and advise to SD and UNICEF offices. May be requested to participates in intra-UN and external working groups.
8. Supports the UNICEF participation in inter-agency UN procurement collaboration, harmonisation and reform activities, and the internal related implementation efforts.
9. When required, conducts different operational procurement activities. This includes the issuing international tender invitations, evaluating offers and negotiating with suppliers, preparing award recommendations and submissions to the contract review committee (CRC), issuing Purchase Orders, Contracts or Long-Term Arrangements, and conducting contract management to ensure compliance to the agreed terms and conditions. Ensures that all these activities follow the UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations and all applicable procurement procedures.
10. Contributes to completion and updating of work plans and priorities for the Policy and Procedures Unit and the project support unit, assist in guidance for the staff in the units.
11. Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor, including acting as OIC for CC units.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master’s degree) in business administration, commerce or law or technical field is required.

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in procurement, 3 years of which should include working internationally, is required.
• Experience related to policies and procedures with other UN agencies and/or international organizations is highly desired.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

 UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships, (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, (3) Drive to achieve results for impact, (4) Innovates and embraces change, (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity, (6) Thinks and acts strategically, (7) Works collaboratively with others, 8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.