Procurement Officer (Category Management)

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Procurement Service (CSLP) provides advice, guidance and oversight for FAO procurement operations and the Letter of Agreement Quality Assurance function both at headquarters and in FAO Decentralized Offices; it provides policy and operational support to ensure that the Organization procures goods, works and services based on "Best Value for Money" principles.

The post is located in the Procurement Service (CSLP) in the Logistics Services Division (CSL) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Procurement Officer (Category Management) reports to the Unit Head, Senior Procurement Officer (Category Management and Risk-Based Management), CSLP.

Technical Focus
Timely, efficient and effective procurement of goods and services and Quality Assurance for Letters of Agreement in compliance with the relevant FAO Rules and Regulations.

Key Results
Ensure that procurement activities comply with FAO's established policies and procedures and reflect best practice for public procurement.

Key Functions

• Plans, develops and supports all procurement and contractual aspects of significant complexity.
• Advises requisitioning units on the full range of procurement issues, providing support and guidance at all stage of the procurement cycle, meeting objectives under tight deadlines.
• Prepares solicitation process, identifies method of solicitation, drafts tendering documents, identifies sourcing strategy and distributes invitations to tender, also using e-tendering system and supports bid/proposals evaluations while ensuring the solicitation process is fair, objective and transparent and that it follows the general principles, as set forth in the FAO Manual Section.
• Prepares and presents cases to the relevant Procurement Committees.
• Participates in and conducts site inspections, bidder's conferences and contract negotiations.
• Conducts market research to keep abreast of market developments, researches and analyses statistical data and market reports on the world commodity situation, production patterns and availability of goods and services.
• Contributes to updating procurement policies and related tools, provides procurement reporting as well as clarification/information for auditing purposes.
• Ensures the full implementation of corporate initiatives in accordance with the Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy to reduce emissions, increase efficiency and integrate sustainability and in line with the Strategy for Sustainability Management in the UN System 2020-2030.
• Participates in the development of training and related training materials and promotes best practices and capacity development at FAO headquarters and the Decentralized Offices.
• Provides guidance to new/junior staff and stakeholders, ensures entry of accurate data using the Organization’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and related systems.
• Makes initial determinations and recommendations concerning disputes or claims arising from contractual instruments or procurement processes.
• Prepares monitoring reports, reviews and analyses data and make recommendations based on findings.
  Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions

• Contributes statistical data and insights to support the development of policies, strategies, guidelines and reports related to procurement operations at FAO, with a specific focus on category management.
• Lead and/or facilitate inter-divisional category management working group(s).
• Supports the development of performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of category specific procurement strategies and initiatives. Regularly monitor and analyze performance data to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven adjustments.
• Utilize data and analytics to gain insights into market trends, supplier performance, and cost drivers.
• Identify and assess technical risks associated with the categories, such as supply disruptions, price fluctuations, or regulatory changes. As needed, develop adequate mitigation actions to be incorporated into the relevant category strategy.
• Provides guidance and support to requesting units and buyers to conduct market research and sourcing in line with category management strategy.
• Maintains open and proactive communications with relevant stakeholders to keep them informed about category strategies, performance and any significant developments or challenges.
• Contributes to collaboration with suppliers to optimize costs, drive innovation, and ensure a reliable supply chain for the categories.
• Supports the development and delivery of capacity-building programs and guidance materials for users, with a specific focus on category management.
• Supports the development and implementation of methodologies for risk-based decentralization management and conducts risk & capacity assessment of decentralized offices including short-term missions.
• Performs other related duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in law, business/public administration, finance, economics, commerce, information management or a related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in procurement related activities including at least two years in public procurement; OR
• A first-level degree in law, business/public administration, finance, economics, commerce, marketing or a related field,
  seven years of work experience in procurement related activities with at least two in public procurement; and completion of professional qualification from an internationally recognized body such as CIPS3, CIPS4, MCIPS, FCIPS or other UN-wide recognized certifications.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the field of the Corporate Environmental Responsibility.
• Demonstrated knowledge of internationally recognized procurement standards and of all phases of international procurement techniques and operations used in contracting for a diverse range of goods and services.
• Extent and relevance of experience in public sector procurement, preferably at international level, in drafting procurement procedures or guidelines, providing support and guidance to internal and external stakeholders.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic procurement and category management methodologies and associated tools is considered a strong asset.
• Experience in modelling and statistical analysis relevant to category management is desirable.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of French and/or Spanish is considered an asset.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http\://www.whed.net/
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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