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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Office/Unit/Project Description
The Bureau for Management Services (BMS) is the central operations Bureau in UNDP that supports the Organization in the provision of management services. Drawing on client needs, user experience, sound analytics, and a risk-informed approach, BMS provides policy, oversight, advisory and transactional services, and solutions for UNDP to deliver fully integrated development solutions. In doing so, BMS keeps pace with the evolving needs and expectations of development partners and international best practice through strengthening and innovating business operations. In line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan, BMS aims to provide effective, sustainable and customer-focused procurement services to clients both internal and external to UNDP. UNDP’s corporate procurement functions lie within the Office of Procurement (OP).
The Office of Procurement is responsible for development of procurement policy, corporate procurement services, procurement advisory services, as well as strategic procurement services to Country Offices and Central Bureaus. In addition, OP provides capacity building to the UNDP global procurement function. OP supports UNDP’s programme delivery in line with UNDP's Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and follows best practices in public sustainable procurement and the rules and regulations of UNDP, the accountability framework, while ensuring appropriate risk management for UNDP. We are a global team based in New York (USA), Copenhagen (Denmark) and in Cyberjaya (Malaysia), with additional Regional Procurement Specialists located in each Bureau Hub (Panama, Addis Ababa, Amman, Istanbul and Bangkok).
The Global Procurement Services Division (GPSD) is a division located in Copenhagen constituted by three teams: The Health Procurement Team, The Crisis, Climate & Infrastructure Team (CCIT), The Governance Team, and the Procurement Training Team.
This position will be part of the Procurement Training Team. The Training Team is a dynamic and growing team, leading procurement professionalization across the UN system, among partner Governments, NGOs and international financing institutions. The Training Team conducts around 100 yearly training courses and offers formal procurement certification programmes accredited by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) assuring full compliance with highest international quality and qualification standards. UNDP serves a large number of UN system and Government counterparts with bespoke and tailored training services, often in highly customized formats.
The new team member will be responsible for developing cutting-edge and high-quality training content and material, act as lead tutor/trainer, assessment developer and marker, and standard setter on certification programmes and other courses. The Procurement Training Specialist must be able to develop new training modules, exams and procedures with short notice. Good training and presentation skills are therefore of utmost importance, both for face-to-face trainings, virtual trainings and mixed formats.
The Procurement Training Unit has a growing range of training programmes and the procurement specialized must be on the front-foot and well versed with latest developments in the domain of procurement and supply, sustainable procurement, logistics etc. and have a very solid understanding of the profession, its future direction, and requirements.
Duties and ResponsibilitiesUnder the guidance and supervision of the Procurement Specialist/Team Lead – Procurement Training Team, the Procurement Training Specialist supports the development and implementation of UNDP’s procurement training/learning programmes. He/she also analyses, interprets, develops and applies UNDP procurement and learning and other UN and public procurement policies, rules and regulations, establishes internal procedures for training/learning and certification programmes, and provides solutions to the diverse and complex procurement capacity development challenges that arise.
The Procurement Training Specialist will work in close collaboration with the Procurement Advisor and other members of the Procurement Training Team, Deputy Director for GPSD, and will work with counterparts and clients across the UN system, colleagues in the Office of Procurement as well as across UNDP HQ business units and Country offices.
Develops and implements training/learning strategies, policies and procedures with the following key responsibilities:
- Ensure full compliance of procurement training-learning and certification programmes with the relevant strategies, policies and procedures; effectively implements internal controls and ensures proper design and functioning of the procurement training-learning programme.
- Undertake business process mapping and the elaboration/establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the development and implementation of training programs, contributes to the management of workflows in the Unit.
- Support development and implementation of the procurement learning and certification programmes.
Development and implementation of the training-learning curriculum with the following key responsibilities:
- Undertake learning needs assessments of UNDP staff members with procurement responsibilities through interactions with staff members, their supervisors and senior managers.
- Develop training course material, exercises, reference guides, workbooks, exams, and questionnaires and study guidelines.
- Development and updating of training manuals and other learning resources and ensure these are available and/or disseminated in a timely manner.
- Design specific curricular/modules to respond to the learning needs of different constituent groups of procurement practitioners and managers.
- Establish and maintain an up-to-date procurement capacity inventory which details the status of gaps in skills and competencies, organizational structures, procedures, practices and rules and regulations.
Develops and manages the delivery of training/learning programmes with the following key responsibilities:
- Act as lead tutor and trainer on procurement certification and training courses/workshops and perform assessor/marker functions of tests and exams.
- Develop training/learning initiatives in line with the strategy for procurement learning and certification programmes.
- Manage the development of training materials, publications and e-learning programmes.
- Manage contracts and relations with selected training providers.
- Conduct standard training/learning programmes and provide coaching and on-the-job training as relevant.
- Respond to online queries and requests for advice from procurement practitioners, course students and colleagues.
Monitoring and evaluation of learning/training and certification programmes with the following key responsibilities:
- Evaluate the impact of procurement training/learning programmes.
- Provide synthesis reports of learning evaluations to programme participants and their supervisors.
- Ensure participant feedback and lessons learned contribute to future programme design and management processes.
- Prepare regular reports on learning outcomes of procurement training/learning programmes to the head of unit - including inputs from participants and their supervisors on the application of learning on the job.
Facilitates knowledge sharing & creation in procurement quality assurance with the following key responsibilities:
- Provide advice on procurement training/learning and certification programmes in UNDP.
- Contribute to the development of tools and methods relevant to procurement learning programmes.
- Synthesize and report on lessons learned from programme implementation experience and outcomes and ensure these are integrated into programme development and implementation.
- Actively participate in the UNDP and UN system procurement network and relevant communities of practice.
Supports the Sustainable Procurement:
- Support the adoption of sustainability related innovative practices (i.e. reduced packaging, transition towards sea freighted consignments, biodegradable packaging, etc.) and develop and apply a methodology to capture impact and effect of these initiatives.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
The key results have an impact on the efficiency of the unit. Accurate analysis and presentation of information strengthens the capacity and accountability of the office and facilitates subsequent action by the supervisor. Timely compilation and presentation of data and information allows proactive decision making leading to implementation of most suitable sourcing and procurement strategies and tools.
Institutional Arrangement
- Under the guidance and supervision of the Procurement Specialist/Team Lead – Procurement Training Team, the Procurement Training Specialist supports the development and implementation of UNDP’s procurement training/learning programmes.
Core Competencies
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
- Ability to provide education and training on ethics, values, and standards and promote staff awareness of ethical behavior and ethical decision making
Procurement- Category Management
- Ability to segment spend into areas which contain similar or related products enabling focus opportunities for consolidation and efficiency
Procurement- Strategic Sourcing
- Knowledge of strategic sourcing concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
Procurement- Supplier/relationship management
- Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
Procurement- Contract Management
- Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
Business Direction and Strategy : Systems Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Science, Public Health, Law, Economic, International Development is required. or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- CIPS Level 4 is a requirement for this position. If certification is not available at the time of recruitment, it should be obtained within one year.
- Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in procurement field is required.
- At least 5 years working experience in UN and/or public procurement is required.
- Solid experience in the usage of computers, ERP Systems and office software packages (MS Word, Power Point, Excel, etc.) is required.
- Proven track record of strong oral, written communication and presentation skills is required.
- Experience in UN learning programmes is an asset.
- Work experience from a developing country is an asset.
- Experience in delivering procurement policy advisory services is an asset.
- Experience in developing and delivering training in certification programmes is an asset.
- Fluency in English both written and oral is required.
- Working knowledge of another UN language(s) would be an asset.
- CIPS Level IV Certification is a requirement for this position. If certification is not available at the time of recruitment, it should be obtained within one year.
Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications. Applicant information about UNDP rosters Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. Non-discrimination UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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