Senior Procurement Specialist

Location: Ramallah, Palestine

Position Status: Full-time Regular

Salary Level: (6-A)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.

The Program / Department / Team (Program / Department Summary)

The Operations Department, including, Procurement, Administration, Logistics, Permitting, and Security, provides crucial support to enable the effective implementation of all MC programs. It ensures that all MC activities follow MC Global and National policies and procedures and are in compliance with donor rules.  It also ensures staff can complete their jobs in a safe, secure, and supportive manner with clear responsibilities and rules.

The Operations Department provides key support to the entire country program in procurement, asset management, warehouse management, vehicles fleet management, facilities & office management, permitting and security for successful program implementation. 

The Position (General Position Summary)

The Senior Procurement Specialist is responsible for overseeing the procurement aspects of Mercy Corps’ logistic operation. Working closely with Program, Administration, Finance, and Logistics, the Senior Procurement Specialist is instrumental in supporting program activities through their services, and will develop and maintain effective systems that support a healthy, robust, and integrated collaboration within the team and other functional areas of Mercy Corps, the Senior Procurement Specialist will work closely with Head of programs, and other client departments to meet the program expectation regarding procuring qualitative commodities/services/works on time and to ensure all mission requirements for procurement are met

The Senior Procurement Specialist will provide technical support, to ensure all procurement activities are unified and implemented according to FP3.

Essential Responsibilities (Example Section Below - Adapt to Specific Role)

• Coordinate Mercy Corps West Bank/Jerusalem procurement activities according to the Field Procurement Policies and Procedures, SOPs, and donor rules & regulations.
• Act as Head of Procurement in the West Bank and Jerusalem
• Has a full understanding of Mercy Corps procurement policies, formats, and applications.
• Ensure that the procurement department supports the programs efficiently and compliantly.
• Interact with contractors, vendors, and service providers in coordination with the Senior Operations Manager and/or Program Leads.
• Oversight the large and complex procurement involving standard and high-value tenders, assist Mercy Corps programs/departments with specifications development, obtain needed approvals, and serve on evaluation committees.
• Ensure that the required documentation of goods, services, and transactions is completed and archived per Mercy Corps standards.
• Build and develop relationships with key suppliers, partners, and stakeholders, and maintain an effective working relationship between them and Mercy Corps.
• Manage Mercy Corps West Bank/Jerusalem contracts and master agreements according to the established policies and procedures.
• Prepare status reports on deliveries for P&L and Office Management and recipient of supplies. Assist in the maintenance of thorough procurement files as outlined in the Mercy Corps procurement policy.
• Review, analyze, and approve all purchases to ensure justification exits and policy is followed for each selection.
• Resolve problems and protests concerning bid solicitations, contract awards, or contract performance as the need arises.
• Coordinate with the Warehouse on delivery of items including completion of Goods Received Notes, storage of items, and transfer of items to field sites.
• Coordinate with the Finance Department to ensure payments to vendors/service providers are made on time and without any unnecessary strain on the financial systems of Mercy Corps.
• Assist Logistics with assets registration, identify assets, and provide relative item information and status delivery reports to the Assets Controller.
• Ensure that Mercy Corps’ procurement activities are legal, moral, and transparent.
• Enforce proper use of procurement ceilings and approval procedures.
• Ensure that Mercy Corps West Bank/Jerusalem procurement plans are reviewed periodically and checked with programs and operations for updates.
• Provide accurate procurement status reports to programs and compliance departments as required for the preparation of donor reports.
• In collaboration and coordination with the JER/WB team, ensure that the team can implement and maintain the highest standards of efficiency and integrity in the purchase of goods and services.
• Work with programs and other departments to forecast procurement needs, update plans for the office and programs and create procurement schedules to ensure program needs are met on time.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire, and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Supervisory Responsibility

Directly supervises the Procurement Officers and Procurement Assistants.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Senior Operations Manager

Work closely with: Mercy Corps programs, Operations teams, Finance and Compliance teams, Global Procurement Team

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• A degree in a relevant business field or professional procurement qualification is desired.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in procurement management at a large scale.
• Strong organizational skills, and ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.
• High level of computer skills in MS Office programs.
• A demonstrated ability to multi-task and process information into action to not delay program activities.
• A clear understanding of procurement ethics and donor compliance is essential. 

Success Factors

The successful Procurement Manager will be good at problem-solving and working out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. They will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial and training capacity while demonstrating the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing program activities. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a solid commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in (Ramallah, Palestine), and it requires up to 100% travel to support country programs in the West Bank and Jerusalem, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status, or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Qualified people with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online HERE no later than 12:00 PM Monday 27 November 2023.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.