Senior Procurement Officers at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality. As CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, strengthening and building the capacity of partner organizations is fundamental to the work of CRS. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently focuses on health, vulnerable children, agriculture, extractives and governance, and peace building programming.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Senior Procurement Officer

Location: Abuja
Department: GF Unit                   
Band: D-1                  
Reports to: GF, Operations Manager
Supervises: Procurement Officer                  

Primary Responsibilities

• The Senior Procurement Officer for the CRS Global Fund (GF) unit, will supervise and closely coordinate duties of the procurement officer.
• S/he will supervise calls for bid, local purchase operations, and international procurement specifically for the CRS GF program.
• S/he will coordinate with the various GF programming and administrative departments to ensure order of what they need in the appropriate quantities and quality, that they receive what they ordered in the correct quantities when needed and at the best cost.
• S/ he will develop procurement management systems as needed and train staff in their use.
• S/he will provide valid documentations to Admin Officer for preparing disbursement request for items purchased; liaising with suppliers/vendors to follow up delivery timelines for items purchased by CRS etc.
• S/he will also create filing systems and manage the document trail in a transparent manner to avoid compliance shortfalls and audit findings.

Specific Responsibilities

• As a member of a support department, s/he will encourage and positively reinforce open and continuous coordination and collaboration with all departments within Organization, particularly with staff, to ensure that the Procurement Office provides goods and services of the highest quality in the most cost-effective and efficient manner.
• Provide training and coaching as necessary, to staff with delegated procurement responsibilities.
• Adhere and be fully compliant with CRS’ procurement and asset management systems; review and revise existing country program systems to meet the needs of the GF unit. Verify that all systems and operations comply with policies and procedures.
• Fully document all procurement operations. Create procurement filing systems as required in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
• Review orders made by Gf staff and other parties to ensure budget availability, as well as quantity, quality and delivery requirements. Provide regular status reports on procurement to the GF Operations Manager and GF Program Director.
• Develop efficient office supply requisition and ordering systems in collaboration with GF Admin Officer.
• Develop relationships and maintain contact with local vendors.
• Oversee calls for bid and contracting with suppliers. Acquire prices and pro-forma invoices for all purchases.
• Fully document all local purchasing activities.
• Analyze requisitions, IRFs and purchase orders to determine:
  • That the description of the goods and/or services is accurate in every aspect, and that they are of the expected quality for the cost;
  • The method of pricing to be used (e.g. catalog, written or telephone inquiries, pro forma or other estimates).
  • That all the required support documentation is attached.
  • That quantities are correct and expected delivery times are realistic.
  • The choice of supplier, taking into consideration available facilities, vendor dependability, quality, reputation and geographic location;
  • The total price CIF, including all payment terms;
  • The best method of transporting the purchased item to final destination.
• Ensure that all requests for quotations are clear and complete.
• Review and approve IRFs. When required, request approval of senior managers or regional staff. Place rush orders by telephone or fax, and follow up with written (or e-mail) confirmations.
• Create procurement filing system as required under policies and procedures guidelines. Enter information into, and keep updated, purchasing and vendor databases.
• Create and maintain inventories for goods purchased during the emergency.
• Ensure that an adequate level of office and cleaning supplies is maintained and that rational distribution mechanisms are developed and implemented.
• In coordination with the Logistics Officer, contract local transport companies for the delivery of supplies and commodities.

Record Keeping and Reporting:

• Ensure proper filling of all procurement documents for record keeping and auditing, and maintain orderly files on active orders and post activities such as change notices, scheduling changes and partial shipments.
• Document due diligence processes conducted by someone other than person performing procurement role -  but do not be the person to prepare or conduct due diligent for new vendors
• Maintain an Approved Supplier List (ASL) with updated information on pricing by goods and services and performance ranking based on recent post-delivery evaluations.
• Creates vendor files with all necessary details by service category (e.g. stationery suppliers, electrical items suppliers, machine suppliers, etc.).
• Track the status of each procurement request and update management and requestors through regular Procurement Status Reports using procurement log sheet
• Periodically generate an evaluation report on supplier/vendor performance with recommendations based on service delivery/track record (at least every 6 months).

Inventory: 

• Provide necessary procurement documents to the Admin Officer to enhance proper and timely inventory count.

Hotel & Accommodation:

• Coordinate all hotel arrangements with GF Logistics officer as requested and ensure that the bills are settled promptly after the completion of the activity.
• Provide oversight for all accommodation bookings in sub offices
• Research available hotel options in states where CRS has GF-related activities and share findings with the GF Operations Manager.
• Follow up on the payments for the hotels in sub offices and ensure that the payment terms are adhered to for the services rendered.

Communication, Coordination and other duties:

• Ensure personnel designated to receive (admin. or logistics) have as much advance notice as possible of expected delivery of goods and to be ready to prepare fully the Goods Received Note (GRN).
• Provides details of fixed assets procurements (type, quantity, supplier, price, fund/project number, name of partner, etc.) to the personnel responsible for property management.
• As needed and always respecting segregation of duties recommendations, coordinate with the administration or logistics staff /personnel assigned to receive procured goods.
• Whenever there is a problem encountered with completing their established functions correctly and in a timely manner, as established in the CRS Procurement Manual: 1.) verify that the goods and invoices received meet the quantity, price and specifications on the Purchase Order/Contract document; 2.) complete a Goods Receiving Note (GRN) for all goods received; 3.) inform the requesting personnel and the PO that their goods have been received; 4.) enter the goods into inventory, and storage if needed;  and 5) submit the GRN and the supplier invoice to the designated non procurement personnel responsible for conducting 3-way matching (invoice, PO, GRN) and payment request processing.
• Following segregation of duty recommendations, work with staff person(s) assigned in admin. or logistics for receiving to resolve any quantity discrepancies between PO and supplier's delivery note/waybill.
• As needed and always respecting segregation of duties recommendations, communicate with suppliers to return any damaged goods or mis‑ordered goods to suppliers, and ensure substitution or completion of goods ordered if still applicable.
• As needed and always respecting segregation of duties recommendations, coordinate with non-procurement personnel assigned to carry out 3-way matching (invoice, PO, GRN) and payment request processing whenever there is a problem encountered with completing their established functions correctly and in a timely manner, as established in the CRS Procurement Manual to make sure that these tasks are completed correctly and in a timely manner.
• Assist in the preparation of award letters, agreements, memos and letters as needed
• Responds to audit queries in a timely and professional manner when necessary.
• Collects information on price of goods and services whenever needed for budgeting or planning purpose.
• When necessary and within acceptable parameters expedite requisitions and orders to meet urgent operational needs. 
• Ensure vigilance against fraudulent activities in all procurement processes and keep up to date with latest guidance for fraud prevention.
• Assist in advancing the use of new technologies and applications to improve procurement process efficiencies.
• Contribute to maintaining teamwork, discipline, sound work relationships and productivity.
• Provides support and training on procurement management to CRS staff and partners as found necessary by management.
• Provide coverage for other staff when required by workload or absence, and perform additional duties as assigned.
• Willingness and ability to travel to field locations regularly and sometimes on short notice

Staff Supervision:

• Will directly oversee the work of the GF Procurement Officer.

Key Working Relationships
Internal:

• HQ Global Procurement Team, Operations Manager, Administration Officer, Procurement officer, Logistics Officer and all relevant CP staff making requisitions or with process roles from: Programming, Finance, Logistics, HR and IT.

External:

• Suppliers, revenue authorities, customs officials, freight forwarders, transporters, consultants, donors, and peer agencies.

Agency Wide Competences
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Personal Skills:

• Must be scrupulously honest and always foster an atmosphere of trust and integrity.
• Good computers and ICT skills, fully capable with Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel and PPT), and experience conducting internet sourcing and price comparisons.
• Demonstrated ability to perform fast, efficient and cost effective procurement service while maintaining the agency's high standards.
• Good negotiator.
• Experience conducting market research.
• Good data analysis skills.
• Committed to always providing highest possible customer service.
• Good organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and relationship builder.
• When necessary be able to relay ideas and concepts to partners in an accessible manner.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a first degree in Social Sciences or Arts related field or Higher National Diploma in management. A master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience is required.
• Membership in a professional purchasing organization preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely in written and spoken English
• Must have a proven knowledge of contract management
• Proven ability to prepare reports and maintain complete files and records.

Disclaimer Clause:

• This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Application Closing Date
12th December, 2016.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should download the "Application Form Below" and send with a detailed 3-page resume in a single file word document to: [email protected]

Click here to download Application Form (MS Word)

Note

• Title of the position and desired location must be stated as the subject of the email e.g. Senior Procurement Officer - Abuja.
• Applications sent in the required format will be considered and only short listed candidates will be contacted.