Senior Project Procurement Specialist at the OPEC Fund for International Development

The OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976. Our 12 Member Countries are:  Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Project Procurement Specialist

Location: Austria
Employment type: Fixed Term Contract
Department: Operations Planning & Support Unit / Public Sector Operations Department (PSOD)

Job Profile

• The Senior Project Procurement Specialist contributes to the development and update of procurement policies and procedures and is responsible for planning, coordinating and monitoring project procurement related activities.
• The position ensures effective compliance with the procurement guidelines for successful appraisal and implementation of approved development projects.
• The incumbent provides technical advice to the Regional Units in the preparation of project procurement strategies and plans and in responding to project procurement needs.
• Further, the Senior Project Procurement Specialist contributes to capacity building programs for internal staff and external clients.

Duties and Responsibilities
Policies, Procedures & Processes:

• Provides significant input and recommendations in the development of the OPEC Fund’s Project Procurement Guidelines based on the Partner Countries’ needs, OPEC Fund priorities and the latest trends observed in public procurement and among MDBs.
• Accountable for policies, procedures and processes (implements and interprets policies and procedures contained in the Procurement Guidelines).
• Develops and updates standard project procurement documents relevant to the project procurement cycle for the selection of contractors, suppliers and the use of consultants.
• Provides technical advice to the Country Managers in the preparation of project procurement strategies and plans.

Project Procurement Management: 

• Provides specialist advice and support to the Country Managers on procurement matters in the preparation, appraisals and implementation of complex projects.
• Helps to finalize procurement arrangements for all new projects to ensure quality at entry and project readiness.
• Participates in the review and approval of procurement documents when deemed necessary.
• Participates in the approval of award recommendations for the procurement of goods and works and for the selection of project consultants.
• Develops, enhances and manages Project Procurement Compliance and Oversight Function across the Regional Units of PSOD.
• Contributes to the resolution of procurement issues form various stakeholders specially related to the review of specific integrity cases and the complaint handling mechanism of the OPEC Fund.

Knowledge Management and Innovations:

• Initiates innovative ideas and improvement proposals as well as providing expertise, recommendation, advice and guidance to Country Managers on procurement matters.
• Leads and participates in the capacity development / training programs of the key stakeholders in project procurement.
• Ensures effective dissemination of lessons learnt and best practices on procurement matters to promote knowledge at OPEC Fund.
• Encourages collaboration and communication with other departments/entities in the area of project implementation follow-up.
• Leads the following-up of agreed actions to ensure that they are effectively implemented.

Partnership:

• Contributes to the efforts to strengthen partnership with other development partners and stakeholders in procurement related aspects.

Reporting:

• Prepares periodic briefs on procurement related issues in-order to ensure that concerned parties are briefed regularly on procurement activities.
• Perform other duties as required by the Director, Operations Planning & Support Unit.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Engineering or Economic, Business Administration, Public Procurement or a related field or a related field. 
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in project procurement in a multi-lateral sector, preferably of which 3 years should have been at an international development finance institution.
• Certification in purchasing / procurement is highly desirable. 
• Robust analytical skills with regard to public procurement and development finance are required. 
• Experience in Procurement Project Risk Assessment are required. 
• Project Management skills are required. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Fluent in English. Good working knowledge of French, Arabic, Spanish, Russian or Portuguese is an added advantage.

Competencies:

• Subject Matter Knowledge - The in-depth understanding and expertise in specific fields relevant to the OPEC Fund's operations and the individual's role.
• Collaboration and Teamwork - The ability to effectively work with colleagues, stakeholders and partners to achieve shared goals.
• Communication - The ability to relay ideas, information and messages effectively and succinctly to a variety of audiences.
• Decision making - The ability to analyze information comprehensively to make well-informed decisions; assess both immediate and long-term ramifications. 
• Problem Solving Ability - The ability to identify issues adeptly, delve into root causes, and devise pragmatic solutions; demonstrate ingenuity and resourcefulness in overcoming challenges.

Application Closing Date
19th March, 2024.