Procurement Officer at Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD)

The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a loan from the African Development Bank (AFDB) for the implementation of Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-I (ATASP-I), The ATASP-I will contribute to the objectives of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government by addressing the constraints of Rice, Sorghum and Cassava value ehai:ris in four staple crop processing zones of Adani-Omor, Bida-Badeggi, Kano-Jigawa and Kebbi-Sokoto. The Programme comprises three complementary and mutually reinforcing components viz: Infrastructure Development; Commodity Value Chain Development; and Programme Management, The specific objective of the programme is to contri1ute to food and nutrition security, employment generation, and wealth creation along the priority commodity value chains.

For effective programme take-off, the FMARD is constituting a National Programme Coordination Team (NPCT) at the Programme Headquarters in Abuja. Consequently, part of the proceeds of the ATASP-I loan will be applied to engage the services of the following officers at the Programme Headquarters, Abuja.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) is recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Procurement Officer

Location: Abuja

Main Responsibilities
Responsible to the National Programme Coordinator, the Procurement Officer will ensure the effective and efficient conduct of all procurement activities within the project, in full compliance with the requirements and procedures of the AfDB the Federal Government of Nigeria, where applicable.

Specific Duties
Specific responsibility of the Procurement Specialist will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Establishing procurement procedures for the pect4n accordance with AfDB and FGN requirements where applicable.
• Prepare a Procurement Plan for the project, in consultation with other members of the PCT and the directors of the relevant FMARD operating units.
• Prepare and update the annual procurement plan to be included in Annual and Quarterly Work Plans and Budgets.
• Ensure the procurement of goods and services as identifiable and the Procurement Plan in accordance with AfDB requirements.
• Prepare Standard bidding documents and the preparation of relevant inputs to standard bidding. documents, such as TORs, specification and Bills of Quantities from and supervise extendibility in processes for the procurement of works, goods and services following AfDB procurement Rules and Procedures in addition to FGN procurement regulations as applicable.
• Constantly review procurement arrangements in addition to the procurement plan to ensure consistency with grant agreements and identify weaknesses, if any, and pleasures that should be undertaken to mitigate the risks posed by weakness
• Coaching and training of FMARD procurement staff
• Carry out any other activitie that are assigned by the National Project Coordinator

Qualification and Experience

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Public or Business Administration or Accounting/Finance or Architecture or Engineer or equivalent with proven track recording or specialized training procurement.
• Minimum of 10 years experience as a procurement specialist for multilateral donor funded project or program; experience with a procurement authority will also be considered.
• Familiarity with AfDB procurement procedures is added advantage
• Demonstrated ability to plan and co-ordinate and monitor his/her own work plan, including meeting deadlines.
• Self-motivated professional, with ability to work under minimum supervision.
• Computer literate with excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, especially Microsoft Project, Excel, Word, in addition to relevant AUTOCad engineering design software.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing and presentation skills
• Proficiency in English language with excellent communication skills and sound attention to detail.

Performance Criteria

• Outlines of procurement procedures for acquisition of (i) goods. (ii) wolirs and (iii) services of consulting finns and NGOs as. well as procedures for (iv) recruitment of individual consultants and (v)project staff are prepared within 14 calendar days of assumption of duty and submitted to project management for inclusion in the Project implementation Manual.
• Draft Annual Procurement Plan prepared in accordance with AfDB standard format and submitted to Project Coordinator within the time after resumption of duty and thereafter on the 1st of October every year.
• Specific Quantifiable quarterly procurenient milestones agreed with Project Management within 5 days prior to the beginning of each quarter on the basis of the approved Procurement Plan. Performance reports I accordance with A±B recommended format submitted to Project Coordinator within 5 days of the end of the quarter.
• Outdated Procurement Plan, Procurement Progress Reports and Service Providers’ Performance reportain adcordance with AfDB recommended format submitted to Bank supervision missions within 5 days .
• Liaise with subject matter specialists and ensure timely execution of project procurement activities in accordance with the approved procurement plan. This email (a) Timely preparation and publication of Specific Procurement Notices; (b) Bid opening on the same day as bid closing time; (c) Preparation of minutes of bid opening within 24 hours after bid opening; (d) Coordinating evaluation of bids proposal, arrangmg bid-evaluation meetings of retreats and compiling Bid/Proposal Evaluation reports within a maximum of 14 days following bid opening; (e) Timely submission and following-up of requests for No Objection; and (I) Timely preparation and signature of contracts within a maximum of 7 days after receipt of No Objection to draft contract.
• Ensure conformity of project procurement activities to the lotru and grant protocols of agreement Ensure conformity of project receipt activities to Bank’s rules and standars, Procurement clarification requested by the Bank responded to within a maximum of two (2) days of the query.
• Ensuing maintenance of procurement records management system in liaison with the Administrative Assistant and in accordance with the projects established record management standards.
• Agree with the National Project Coordinator at the beginning of each quarter, clear and measurable quarterly performance targets/bailestones.

Failure to comply with the above listed time-based criteria in any one year anti/or nonconformity to the prescribed plans, titles and standards, without documentary/ evidence of reasons thereof, shall disqualify the Procurement Officer from the post and lead to the cessation of the contract.

Terms of Appointment
Maximum of five years, renewable every year subject to satisfactory performance. The performance criteria will be the indicators for assessing every officer.

Application Closing Date
29th September, 2014

Method of Application
Applications are invited from suitable qualified candidates. Each candidate should submit ten (16) copies of his/her application.
Qualified Women candidates are highly encouraged to apply. All application should be addressed to;

The Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Attention:
The Director,
Department of Rural Development
No. 1 Capital Drive, FCDA Secretariat,
Area 11, Gerki, Abuja

Note: All applications must be addressed and delivered to the above address.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted, Applicants should ensure that the positions applied for are clearly written on the top right hand side of the envelopes.