Procurement Associate

About the Role

The Procurement Associate position plays a critical role within the Operations Team of the UNDP Pacific Multi-Country Office. Reporting to the Procurement Analyst, this role encompasses comprehensive procurement service management to ensure transparency, effectiveness, and adherence to UN/UNDP policies. The incumbent is charged with fostering a collaborative work environment that benefits internal teams and partners across Pacific countries.

Responsibilities

• Administer and enforce procurement strategies and policies, ensuring full compliance with UNDP rules and high standards of client service.
• Map procurement business processes, develop and manage internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and monitor workflow efficiency within the Procurement Unit.
• Devise and implement cost-saving procurement initiatives in collaboration with management.
• Provide researched insights for contract strategy formulation, vendor selection, tendering processes, contract negotiations, and e-procurement deployment.
• Prepare and oversee procurement plans, sourcing strategies, and related procurement documentation such as RFQs, ITBs, and RFPs.
• Manage evaluation and negotiation phases of procurement, ensure timely and accurate purchase orders and contracts processing.
• Review procurement activities to support quality assurance and provide analytic inputs to decision-making.
• Apply internal control mechanisms including budget compliance reviews and error correction in purchase orders.
• Organize joint procurement initiatives for UN agencies and uphold procurement data accuracy, including vendor data in financial systems.
• Promote use and dissemination of e-procurement tools and best practices, facilitating training and knowledge sharing within the office.
• Provide robust administrative and financial oversight for procurement-related activities, ensuring data integrity and compliance.

Requirements

• Minimum secondary education required; a bachelor's degree in procurement, business or public administration, finance, economics or related field is advantageous.
• CIPS Level 3 certification is highly desirable; candidates without it should obtain it within one year of recruitment.
• At least 7 years of progressive procurement and administrative experience with secondary education, or 4 years with a bachelor's degree, preferably at national or international level.
• Proficient computer skills, including MS Office and experience with web-based management systems.
• Strong understanding of procurement procedures and practices, with experience in facilitating procurement processes aligned with UNDP rules.
• Experience managing official travel and logistics, familiarity with UN or international organization procurement rules, and knowledge of local languages (Fiji Hindi or iTaukei) are assets.

Perks & Additional Information

• This role is based onsite in Suva, Fiji, serving a multi-country office covering ten Pacific Island countries.
• The position requires adaptability to provide procurement support across multiple projects and teams in a multidimensional organizational structure.
• The organization encourages continuous learning, innovation, and maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Application Eligibility and Tiered Application Process

Applicants should note that the UNDP employs a tiered recruitment process prioritizing internal staff with different contract statuses, progressing to external candidates. Eligibility depends on the applicant's current contract type within UNDP/UNCDF/UNV or external status.