Senior Procurement Manager - Education

Position Location: Ramallah, Palestine

 

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions, and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike. 

Creative Associates seeks a Senior Procurement Manager for the USAID-funded West Bank and Gaza (WBG) Basic Education Activity, which will strengthen education services for Palestinian children of KG 1 through Grade 6 that enable them to thrive and reach their full developmental potential. Under the Basic Education Activity, USAID seeks to work with the private sector, non-formal, non-governmental, community-based, UN, and civil society partners to strengthen early childhood and primary educational opportunities through high quality early childhood education services and supplemental support structures to strengthen foundational pre-primary and primary education for children in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Specific areas of focus anticipated include strengthening foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, social emotional learning (SEL)/soft skills, building teacher and student resilience capabilities and assets, and strengthening pathways between non-formal to formal education.

The Senior Procurement Manager will be responsible for reviewing overall procurement processes to ensure compliance with Creative policy and procedures, tracking procurement of goods and services through the procurement cycle, ensuring that adequate competition is achieved for procurements, providing regular procurement mentoring to project staff to support project implementation, and coordinating with Creative HQ Procurement.

The Senior Procurement Manager will report to the Deputy Chief of Party with a dotted line relationship to Creative HQ Procurement.

• Establish, lead, and implement procurement processes and logistics to support activity implementation for the project, strictly following all rules and regulations including:
  • Creative Procurement policies and procedures
  • ADS (Automated Directive System)
  • FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations)
  • CFR (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations)
  • AAPD (Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directive)
  • Local Law
• Manage procurement and logistics team
• Train and mentor staff in procurement policies and process.
• Work with Project technical team to prepare the annual Project Procurement Plan to maximize efficiency and coordination in the procurement of goods and services.
• Conduct market research for each type of procurement and maintain a database of vendors and items commonly needed by the project.
• Determine the most reasonable and expeditious process for procurement in compliance with Creative policies and procedures and USAID regulations.
• Manage the procurement process to include:
  • Preparing and issuing solicitation documents based on approved requisition.
  • Providing clarifications to all vendors when required. Also, prepare and issue solicitation modification when applicable.
  • Ensuring confidentiality throughout procurement and vendor selection process.
  • Facilitating the evaluation process for each solicitation according to Creative’s procurement policy.
  • Leading negotiations with vendors.
  • Ensuring proper documentation of the selection of vendors using Creative’s official templates.
  • Completing vendor verification process prior to award.
  • Manage internal review process for procurements and prepare draft request for consent correspondence as required for the client.
  • Drafting, negotiating, issuing and management of Purchase Orders, Purchase Order Agreements, Local Consultant Agreements, Fixed Price Service Agreements, and any other type of agreements required to support the project
  • Processing requisitions for procurement and invoices in ReQlogic.
  • Ensuring payment requests forms are appropriately and consistently completed before being submitted to finance.
  • Verifying quality and quantity of products are delivered in accordance with terms and conditions in coordination with project.
  • Ensuring procurement files comply with Creative’s policies and procedures and uploaded into project database in a timely manner and updated promptly.
  • Preparing procurement reports.

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, procurement or logistic; Master’s degree preferred;
• At least 8 years’ management experience with project implementation, managing logistics and procurement, preferably in MENA; minimum of five years working in international development;
• 4 years of direct supervisory experience;
• Solid understanding of USAID regulations and procedures pertaining to acquisitions;
• Experience with automated purchasing systems such as ReQlogic;
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects;
• Ability to analyze budget line items for compliance with budget guidelines;
• Proven records maintenance and database management skills; and
• Speaking, writing and reading fluency in English and Arabic required.

Deadline: 19 December 2023

 

 Apply at: [email protected]

 

Only finalists will be contacted.  No phone calls, please.

Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer (gender/race/disability/veteran) and provides equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. Please view Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.