Procurement Officer

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 (Legal support) reports to the Procurement Officer (Strategy/Policy), Procurement Service (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.

Key Results:

Ensure that procurement activities comply with FAO’s established policies, procedures and rules 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 stages 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 rules and processes, as set forth in the FAO Manual.
• Prepares and presents cases with the relevant Procurement Committees.
• Participates in and conducts site inspections, bidder’s conferences and contract negotiations, as necessary.
• 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, procedures and rules, as well as related tools, provides procurement reporting as well as clarification/information for auditing purposes.
• Participates in the development of training and related training materials and promotes best practices and capacity development at 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 conflict avoidance approaches, disputes or claims arising from contractual instruments or procurement processes.
• 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.
• Prepares monitoring reports, reviews and analyses data and makes recommendations based on findings.
• Performs other duties as required.

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following:

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree in law, preferably with an emphasis on commercial contract law and five years of professional legal experience in commercial law including at least two years of relevant experience in public procurement in an international context; OR
• A first level university degree in law combined with an additional seven years of relevant work experience and with completion of professional qualification to practice law in a national/state jurisdiction may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• 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).

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500600