Procurement Senior Officer Vacancy-Job Ref: JKZMUNOPS/2010/202638

Procurement Senior Officer Vacancy-Job Ref: JKZMUNOPS/2010/202638

Lusaka (Zambia)

Job Description
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office
Based in Nairobi, UNOPS East and Southern Africa supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements diverse, partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. In Mozambique, this includes delivering specialized equipment (EU), supporting health services (UNICEF), promoting agro-processing (KOICA), and advancing peacebuilding efforts through a Multi-Donor Fund. UNOPS also supports agricultural input distribution and the Northern Crisis Recovery Project, both funded by the World Bank. In Malawi, efforts include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in partnership with the EU and the British Council. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacities, enhancing service delivery, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

Job Specific Context
This vacancy is at ICSC level 9; equally qualified internal International ICA (IICA 1) and Local ICA (LICA 9) applicants are encouraged to apply.

Zambia’s broader energy goals is to increase energy access in rural areas through the Rural Electrification Authority(REA) and is implementing the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation(ASCENT) project with the World Bank.

To this effect, UNOPS signed a World-Bank funded 24-month project with Zambia rural electrification Agency (REA) which aims at the procurement ,installation, Testing and commissioning ,Operations and Maintenance of solar for public institutions such as schools, hospitals, and government buildings in Zambia”.

The Procurement Senior Officer will report to the ESAMCO Procurement Manager and serve as the procurement focal person in UNOPS Zambia. The incumbent may also be assigned to provide procurement support for new projects which may be signed in the future.

Role Purpose
The Procurement Senior Officer is responsible for developing and implementing strategic and effective procurement services reflecting best practices in international public procurement; compliance with UNOPS procurement rules and regulations; appropriate risk management; and obtaining the best value for money for the acquisition of goods, services and contracting of works. The role analyzes and interprets relevant rules and regulations and provides advice and solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement.

The Procurement Senior Officer has a deep understanding of procurement policy and processes, as well as their application to appropriate situations. In addition to responsibility for the deliverables of the work team, the role focuses on strategic relationship building and demand management, mainly related to aggregation and dealing with complex organization structures, preparation of business cases and understanding of the supply market, as well as sharing knowledge with projects in order to achieve reductions of costs and savings.

By role-modelling the highest degrees of personal and professional ethics, the Procurement Senior Officer maintains a collaborative, quality-driven, client-focused and results-oriented approach to their procurement role. S/he works in close cooperation with the office leadership and project managers, reporting to management on central issues related to procurement activities.

Functions / Key Results Expected
Procurement Operations

Execute procurement activities in accordance with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategic frameworks.
Maintain a client-focused procurement management system, supported by effective internal controls.
Collaborate with project managers to review procurement plans and develop fit-for-purpose strategies that incorporate sustainability and value-for-money principles.
Implement or support all phases of the procurement lifecycle, including strategic planning; pre-purchasing; requirements definition; sourcing; solicitation; management of submissions; evaluation; review and award; post-purchasing; contract finalization and issuance; logistics; and contract management.
Develop and manage rosters of suppliers.

Procurement Process Management

Prepare procurement plans on time and as expected.
Monitor implementation of procurement plans for alignment with project timelines and strategic objectives.
Review and validate requirements to ensure clarity, completeness and suitability from a procurement standpoint.
Follow guidelines for embedding sustainability across the procurement process.
Coordinate the end-to-end solicitation process, including Requests for Quote (RFQs), Invitations to Bid (ITBs), and Requests for Proposal (RFPs) in line with UNOPS policies.
Coordinate the receipt and evaluation of quotations, bids and proposals.
Participate in the negotiation of conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations.

Prepare submissions to the Contract and Property Committees (CPCs)
Enter and update supplier information in the UNOPS ERP system – oneUNOPS (oU).
Monitor contractor performance and certification of completed work for compliance with contractual terms and payment.
Provide advice, remedial action, or solutions to project managers on procurement issues.
Draft Long Term Agreements (LTAs) and/or service or works contracts and other instruments when necessary, and create purchase orders (POs) in the ERP system.

Use of E-Procurement Tools

Utilize the e-sourcing module in line with goals and standards set by the Procurement Group.
Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

Organize, facilitate or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on procurement.
Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing lessons learned and disseminating best practices in procurement.
Collect and productively utilize feedback, ideas and internal knowledge about processes and best practices.

Skills
Contract Management, Market Analysis, Procurement, Regulations, Risk Management, eProcurement
Competencies
Education Requirements.

Required

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 4 years of relevant experience OR
Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate or membership (e.g. CIPS) is desired.
Experience Requirements.

Required

Relevant experience is work in advising on and implementing policies and procedures to deliver a range of complex procurement programmes and strategies within international/ multi-national organizations, or related areas.
Experience in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.

Desired

Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.

Please click on the button below to Apply.