Batch of 2 positions: Procurement Assistant, G-5, Temporary Position, 364 days, Supply Division, Service Contracting Centre, O/P Budapest (Open to EU citizens/valid Hungarian work permit holders)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Calling

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Contracts Specialist, the Procurement Assistant provides a broad range of transactional, procedural and administrative tasks in support of service contracting activities in Program and Operations Services areas that support the organization to deliver on Programme commitments and the related targets in the strategic plan including those related to normative mandates (Gender, Human Rights, Disability etc.)  and programmatic responses to emerging priorities such as mental health carried out by Global Programme Divisions and other Head Quarters Divisions/Offices, ensuring timely and efficient output that is in compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations, whilst demonstrating the capacity to research, adapt and evaluate irregular cases, and also to recommend improvements to process delivery and design.

At the GS-5 level, the below tasks are expected to be carried out with a high level of independence.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

• Prepares and analyzes data on past and present procurement transactions to determine the appropriate procurement strategy for different Service Categories, including collaboration with other UN agencies.
• Support planning through coordination with UNICEF Global Programme Divions and other Headquarter Divisions as well as provide support to Divisions through the requisitioning stage.
• Reviews incoming requirements from Divisions and Offices in coordination with Supply Division’s Contracts Specialist/Officer for appropriateness and completeness of ToRs and other required documentation to ensure quality and adequacy of information.
• Drafts and prepares Requests for Proposals, and coordinates evaluation of proposals with Divisions and Offices, ensuring procurement processes are conducted in a timely manner with transparency and farness, promoting competition to achieve value for money.
• Assists with preparation of Contract Review Committee (CRC) submissions using an electronic CRC tool.
• Draft and issue Contracts, ensuring Contracts are signed in a timely manner and all documentation is properly filed.  Monitors and follows up on progress of Contracts ensuring proper contract management is followed, and contracts are fully implemented. Coordinates required amendments to contracts and the evaluation of suppliers with respective contract managers, and ensures contracts are closed in Vision.
• Drafts and issue LTAS for services. Monitors the use of LTAS in accordance with LTA guidelines, and follows up on performance issues, as well as required amendments and extensions.
• Keeps Contracting Dashboard as well as other information management systems updated with contractual information, to be able to prepare reports and reports on progress of contracting processes.
• Maintains documents filing on SharePoint in accordance with UNICEF guidelines.
• Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Procurement Assistant_G5.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Completion of secondary school education is required, with courses/ certifications in business administration, finance, supply chain management, communication and procurement or any related relevant technical field.

A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) may replace 3 years. A Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) may replace an additional 2 years.

• Work Experience: At least 5 years of progressively responsible supply-related work experience (procurement/ contracting, supply). 
• Skills: Supply Chain Management, SAP, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Computer Skills, Business Administration, Communication, Coordination, Documentation.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Familiarity with UNICEF, UN Supply procedures and systems is advantageous.
• Good knowledge of the latest trends in procurement and contracting services and sustainable procurement for public sector or international organizations is strongly desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable. Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.

Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

At the time of application, candidates must possess Hungarian citizenship or be nationals of EU/Schengen countries or in possession of a valid work permit.  Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted. Applicants must be holders of acceptable permits already at the time of application. Applicants with non-EU citizenship must attach copies of their valid Hungarian work permits, otherwise their application will not be considered. Please note that General Service (GS) staff are locally recruited staff and candidates are personally responsible for any travel and accommodation arrangements.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.