FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Professional Vacancy Announcement No: VA-2190-AFS
Deadline For Application: 20 August 2009
Position Title Contracts Officer
Duty Station Rome
Grade Level P-1/P-2
Duration Fixed term: One year**
CCOG Code: 1A09
Organizational Unit Procurement Service (AFSP) Administrative Services Division Department of Human, Financial and Physical Resources

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Procurement Service, and direct supervision of the Senior Contracts Officer, P-5, the incumbent will support the contracts function as follows:

  • analyze contract services requests for completeness and conformity with established FAO rules, procedures and practice and make recommendations to the Contracts Officer (s) on the appropriate action;
  • provide support to ensure the implementation of appropriate procurement strategy in conformity with the relevant rules, procedures and practices of the Organization;
  • review requests regarding authorizations of exceptions to established rules, procedures and practices as necessary and provide recommendations on appropriate action to the Contracts Officer (s);
  • draft documents on tendering, selection, preparation and issuance of simple contracts and ensure follow-up;
  • review recommendations for award of contracts to ensure that the recommended supplier conforms to FAO procurement requirements and provide recommendations to the Contracts Officer (s);
  • research and identify potential sources of supply and review documentation to assess suitability of the Suppliers’ services for FAO requirements and market trends;
  • maintain relevant procurement records and data;
  • undertake review of requests, tender documents and contracts submitted to AFSP by Field Offices and make recommendations on the appropriate action to be taken;
  • prepare reports, correspondence and documents as requested by the Contracts Officer (s);
  • participate in tender evaluation processes as and when requested by the Contracts Officer (s);
  • develop the relevant procedures and documentation for enhancing various areas of contract tendering and issuance process including commercial/technical evaluations, updating English language templates; annual statistics of the Contracts Unit, including an analysis of the cost savings generated; development of the Key Performance Indicators
  • perform other duties as required.

** APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION IS TEMPORARY AS ITS DURATION IS FOR ONE YEAR
WITH POSSIBILITY OF EXTENSION

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:

  • University degree in business administration, law, international relations or economics
  • One year (for P-1) or three years (for P-2) of relevant experience in contracting or procurement of goods, works and services
  • Working knowledge English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Italian

SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be assessed against the following:

  • Technical knowledge of procurement issues
  • Level of language skills in particular written and oral communication skills in English
  • Relevance and quality of work experience in procurement activities including experience in preparing, analyzing requests for services and drafting contracts
  • Ability to analyze procurement issues and propose effective solutions
  • Ability to work in a team and to plan and organize work effectively and deliver timely results
  • Knowledge of Italian.

Please note that all candidates should possess computer/word processing skills and should be capable of working with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
* The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

REMUNERATION

Level P-1/P-2 carries a net salary per year (inclusive of a variable element for post adjustment) from US$ 57 019/71 620 US$ 67 818/86 047 (without dependants) and from US$ 60 446/76 357 to US$ 72 223/92 216 (with dependants)

TO APPLY: Carefully read and follow the Guidelines to applicants

Send your application to:

V.A 2190-AFS
Chief, AFSP
FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome ITALY
Fax No: +39 06 570 0 54959
E-mail: AFS-vacancies@fao.org

This vacancy is open to male and female candidates. Applications from qualified women candidates and applications from qualified candidates from non/under-represented member states are encouraged. Please note that FAO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director-General and may be assigned to any activities or office of the organization.

  FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

  Post Number: Unidentified