Procurement Services Specialist, P-4 at UNICEF

Job Number: 515235
Work Type : Fixed Term Staff

Brief Country Context

• Nigeria is a populous country with extremely diverse cultural, demographic and development profiles.  The country combines both development and emergency context as there is an ongoing major humanitarian operation in the conflict prone North East.
• Economically, the country presents huge potential for leveraging domestic resources (from both public and private sectors) for child-centered development.  Within its capital, Abuja, it hosts the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and a large number of development partners.

Country Typology

• Country Income Level: Nigeria is a lower middle income country.
• Duty Station: Abuja is a “C” family, and non- emergency duty station.
• Office Size: (375 established positions, 9 Field Offices plus a country office)
• Annual Budget: (USD296,200,000)
• Schooling: international schools available, covering different curriculum (British, American and French)

Job Description
How can you make a difference?

• Under the guidance of the Supply Manager, the incumbent will work closely with colleagues in Health Section, Supply Division and the respective Departments of Government of Nigeria to manage all aspects of Procurement Services.
• S/he will provide vision, technical leadership and coordination of technical support to regional and country office for strengthening national Cold Chain Logistics and Supply Management systems.
• S/he will also work with partners to develop/update the national strategies, tools and guidance on CCL&VM policies, procedures and systems.

The incumbent will work with regional and country teams to provide technical assistance to national systems to meet minimum standards in relation to:

• Equipment used in the CCL system;
• Vaccine stock management to prevent stock-outs and over-stocking and optimize vaccine usage;
• Vaccine shipment/transport; and
• Temperature monitoring.

The incumbent will also provide advice and facilitate trainings on:

• Links and synergies for CCL&VM for immunization campaigns with the procurement and supply management of routine immunization in endemic countries and, where appropriate, other essential health commodities;
• Where necessary, outsourcing of CCL&VM functions to improve efficiency and effectiveness;
• Developing alternative strategies to get vaccines from the national port to communities in the field. S/he will work as part of the proposed UNICEF/WHO CCL Hub and with close engagement of other partners globally and in the field and will provide support in countries beyond those specified here, as per need of the program.

Key End-Results

• Efficient implementation of PS projects and transactions
• Efficient management of PS large & complex requests and PS projects
• Regular monitoring of PS transactions and operational support to other centres in Supply Division (SD) and COs to address the bottlenecks and gaps
• PS requests timely screened and logged in line with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Efficient management of PS warehouse orders
• Develops and maintains a strategic framework for the identification of procurement services projects.
• Provides support and guidance to Key Counterparts at National levels and INGOs on PS  planning and transactions through regular communications, training and workshops and visits, as required.
• In coordination with Supply Division, delivers PS Key Accounts as well as complex and large requests and projects.
• Monitors overall PS transactions and facilitates the efficient and effective PS workflow, by addressing the bottlenecks and gaps and improving the processes, in close coordination with PS Unit in SD and National Counterparts.
• Obtain and communicate to customers, the cost estimate to finalize them within the agreed time-schedules.
• Contributes to SD Workshops, special/other events. Provides training on PS, particularly with regard to transaction management.
• Provide advice to the Country Office, Government and implementing partners on offshore and/or local procurement of goods and institutional services policies and procedures, Procurement Services and GAVI Co-financing; delivery and utilization of UNICEF supplies and equipment; coordinate with the Supply Division, Copenhagen, on supply policy and/or activities.
• Works with Health Section, Supply Division and partners to develop/update the tools and guidance on CCL policies, procedures and systems; and provide support through ROs and COs to implement at country level. Interacts with relevant teams at country level to develop a plan of action for building a CCL&VM system for polio vaccines prioritizing on polio endemic countries. With a specific focus on supporting the development of systems that produce data on: 
  • Equipment management;
  • Vaccine stock management;
  • Transport; and (4) temperature monitoring.
  • Develop protocols and guidelines to conduct thorough vaccine management assessments and audits related to polio vaccination to identify gaps in supply and management and cold chain and means to rectify them. Provides support, as needed, in undertaking the Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) assessment; and in developing and implementing the EVM-based Improvement Plan. On-going review of the tools and methods in the vaccine management for refining and improving them.
  • Develop and maintain partnership and collaborative relations with UNICEF, Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts in supply/logistics and institutional services activities including distribution, monitoring supply inputs, and inventory.
  • Participates in the preparation of all programme reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, annual reports, etc.

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

• An advanced University Degree (Master's or higher) in Supply Chain Management or Public Health or Program Management, or other academic qualifications in similar areas, and relevant experience.
• A minimum of Eight years of relevant professional experience in logistics, cold chain or related areas; of which at least 2-4 years in developing countries
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language would be an asset.