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, A fair chance

UNICEF Supply Division (SD) leads the global supply function in UNICEF, delivering supplies and services for children. Of these supplies a large portion comes through the channel of Procurement Services (PS), where UNICEF procures and delivers on behalf of partners.

Procurement Services Centre (PSC) is responsible for general policy oversight on Procurement Services, Procurement Services activities and providing partnership, co-ordination and monitoring support to Supply Division Centers and Country Offices working on Procurement Services activities.

The Transactions Management Unit (TMU) within PSC is responsible for managing and having oversight of all operational aspects of Procurement Services for Partners, including governments, NGOs, International Funding Institutions such as WB and lsDB, development partners such as JICA and other UN agencies; TMU manages screening and logging of all incoming requests and assigning to respective Business Units, including to TMU for warehouse orders, for issuance of Cost Estimates (CE), ensures consistent review and signatory of these, managing Partner expectations, overseeing and monitoring all PS transactions of the Division, identifies and establishes Key Accounts and Special Projects, Project monitoring including KPI monitoring. Operational support to Procurement Services Focal Points, acting as Help Desk, and follow up on complaint handling and overall operational improvements. 

TMU also acts as a normative Help Desk for the PS Function of the Division. With increased complexity of the transactions, the dedicated sub-unit for this normative role providing guidance, training, acting Help Desk, operational and system improvement projects (eg. CRM, Concept notes, DPs etc.), is essential. 

Continued increase of transactions, increase in complex projects need more coordination, new crucial / demanding partnerships and initiatives with special transactional requirements and ways of working. The complexity including ICL and PSM elements for Special Projects calls for an increased focus and BU engagement on operations and especially important/critical projects, Key Accounts as well as “Complex” project management and coordination.

This position is based in Copenhagen in a sub-unit focusing on the design and execution of complex/special operations and projects and new initiatives (recent examples include the Supplies Financing Fund (SFF), Nutrition Match Fund) and reports to the Procurement Services Manager (Transaction Management Unit), Post 21902

How can you make a difference? 

The Senior Procurement Service Specialist, with support from the PS Manager and the PS Specialist through a matrix management set-up, will lead the sub-unit and will work in collaboration, especially with the Policy and Partnership unit (PnP) but also across PSC as well as with other centers to provide strategic leadership and support at the different phases of special projects and new initiatives (preparing of CE cover letters for complex and sensitive projects and transactions, managing and having oversight of all operational aspects falling under Procurement Services, ensuring correctness of transaction documents, consistent quality review and signatory in line with set table of authority), streamlining and monitoring of transactions (including oversight on KPIs) and partnership management from an operational aspect (e.g., African Union) with particular focus on both supporting PnP as well as on facilitating BU engagement throughout the process.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 116960-PSC_Sr. Procurement Services Specialist .pdf 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Provides guidance, oversight and ensures execution of PS Key Accounts and complex/large requests (PS projects), as well as new supply financing initiatives, across the Division and monitors the management of PS requests of PS Focal Points of the unit and in BUs for the related projects, Key Accounts, and initiatives.

2. Leads in the conceptualization and design of initiatives and projects in collaboration with PnP, including from an operational perspective, and ensures aligned roles and responsibilities of assigned projects and initiatives across the different stakeholders and oversees and ensures successful project management is undertaken. Facilitates BU / PC engagement early on, from planning to full execution, including with other relevant stakeholders.

3. Identifies and mitigates PS operational risks by addressing bottlenecks and gaps and improving PS operational processes in close collaboration with the P3, Normative unit, and Unit Lead, as well as with other units in PSC, other centers in SD, and Country and Regional Offices.

4. Ensures and provides support and guidance to UNICEF Country and Regional Offices (CO/RO) on PS planning, processes, and transactions through regular communications/workshops and visits as required.

5. Ensures and contributes to the establishment and appropriate use of templates including Cover Letters (e.g. For special projects and new initiatives).

6. Supports PS Manager in Partnership management, representing and contributing to PS from an operational perspective.

7. Support in reviews and signatory of Cover Letters and other documents prepared by Business Units to ensure compliance with standards and avoidance of errors and in accordance with set table of authority.

8. Other tasks as may be requested.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: 
• Advanced University Degree in business administration, finance, project management or law.
• A first level university degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant technical field (as identified in JD), in conjunction with 10 years of relevant work experience may be taken in lieu of a Masters degree

 

• Work Experience:
• Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible work experience in business administration, procurement or related field.
• Proven expertise in project management related to the international public and commercial sector.
• Knowledge of Public Procurement principles.
• Experience/knowledge of IFI and international donor mandates, structures and procedures in the development area, particularly knowledge of procurement procedures for supplies and services (invitations to tender, bid preparation, evaluation).
• Experience in management of complex (multi-year, multi-country, multi-party) projects, resource mobilization experience, supply and transport management experience, and field postings are an asset.
• Knowledge and experience of Procurement Services processes and guidelines.

 

• Language Requirements: [Insert the primary UN language you need for the fluency requirement]
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French is considered an asset.

Desirables:

• UN experience desirable.
• Previous supervisory experience is desirable.

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…

(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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

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.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

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

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, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.