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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, an Education

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, 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, bias, or favoritism. 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. Therefore, 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 supporting the equitable development of nations.

Access to safe, effective, quality assured, and affordable essential products for children and their families through public health services is instrumental to improving the health of children and families, improving health service coverage and financial protection and achieving meaningful change. UNICEF Supply Division strategic procurement of health and nutrition products for programme as well as procurement services enables governments and partners to leverage UNICEF’s procurement scale and expertise to meet supply needs.

To protect children and their families from the negative impact, UNICEF Supply Division will continue to do strategic procurement of essential supplies and collaborate with partners and governments in the development of innovative financing instruments for health and nutrition supplies.

Strategic office context:

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.

This position will be situated in UNICEF’s Supply Division in Copenhagen. Supplies are essential to fulfill children's rights. UNICEF procures and supplies over 5,000 products to address the needs of children supporting  UNICEF's ongoing programmatic activities,  rapid supply response to emergencies, as well as procuring and supplying through essential commodities on behalf of governments and other partners in their efforts.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the general guidance of the Contracts Manager (Medicines Unit), the incumbent develops and executes procurement strategies for pharmaceuticals to support special country projects, including proposing method of purchase in support of ensuring an uninterrupted, sustainable supply of affordable, quality pharmaceuticals. Focus is on securing efficient supply of pharmaceuticals, incorporation of innovation opportunities including engagement in innovation projects related to pharmaceuticals, and engagement in project implementation of projects that involve pharmaceutical procurement from program countries in coordination with complex partnerships and country specific health programmes.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Ensures all procurement activities for pharmaceuticals for project countries are in compliance with the UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, SD Manual, and all other applicable procurement procedures.
• Manages procurement of materials; including proposal of supply strategy and procurement modality: LTA's, Regional Procurement, Direct Order, LPA etc.
• Issues international tender invitations to acceptable suppliers, evaluates quotations, clarifies offers, and negotiates with suppliers as appropriate.
• Makes recommendations for finalization of purchases, adjudicates offers in consultation with Technical Unit and QA centres.  Prepares and defends submissions to CRC. Establishes supply arrangements.
• Conducts contracts management to ensure supplier compliance to LTA’s and purchase order terms and conditions.
• Works closely with project countries and partners providing procurement input for project planning, design, work plan and procurement coordination and integration, including development of long-term forecasting of quantities.
• Ensures adequate and coordinated planning of procurement and demand of pharmaceuticals, manages specific procurement projects for pharmaceuticals in the project countries, including for evaluation or scale up.
• Reviews and provides recommendations for Local Procurement by Field Offices.
• Reviews material specifications and requirements with the Technical and QA Centres to ensure completeness and appropriateness.
• In partnership with Technical and QA centres, evaluates suppliers with respect to delivery performance, product acceptability, and commercial acceptability.
• Establishes work plans and priorities, monitors achievements and evaluates performance of support staff.
• Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor

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

Education:

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

*A completed first University degree (Bachelor’s Degree) may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University degree with seven years of relevant work experience

Work Experience:

• Minimum five years of progressively responsible professional experience including at least three at the international level.
• Experience in commercial activities with the public or private sector in developing and industrialized countries.
• Experience in procurement.
• Experience and ability to manage and monitor the effective use of financial and material resources.
• Experience in the use of computer applications, including internet navigation and various office applications.
• Procurement experience in contracting of nutrition products/pharmaceuticals would be an asset.
• Fluency in English is required

Language Requirements:  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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Drive to Achieve Results for Impact
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Works Collaboratively with Others
• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, will be prioritized, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.