Individual Contractor – Contracts/Procurement specialist, ICT Services and solutions, Supply Division – Office and Home Based – 11.5 months full time

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, care

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
Support the procurement cycle for a portfolio of ICT Service Categories, providing effective services to customers, ensuring accurate and timely processing of requests up to the completion and closure of contracts, with the overall goal of meeting the needs and requirements of the customers in UNICEF Head Quarters’ Divisions, Regional and Country Offices.

The Contracts specialist will be responsible for the planning, development and execution of procurement strategies for ICT service contracting including connectivity and communication services, data center, cloud-based services, software solutions (including saas), apps/tools development and enhancements (including web, data and mobile apps), digitization services, hardware and ICT equipment.

Scope of Work:

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Reviews incoming requirements from Head Quarters’ Divisions and Country Offices in coordination with Supply Division’s Contracts Manager for appropriateness of requests and budgets allocated in requisitions in ERP (Vision), completeness of ToRs and other required documentation to ensure quality and adequacy of information before proceeding with contracting process.
2. Drafts and prepares Requests for Proposals in Vision, 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.
3. Assists with preparation of Contract Review Committee (CRC) submissions using an electronic CRC tool.

4. Draft and issues Contracts, ensuring Contracts are signed in a timely manner and all documentation is properly filed in Vision and SharePoint. 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.

5. Drafts Long Term Arrangements (LTAs) in Vision, monitors the use of LTAs in accordance with LTA guidelines, and follows up on performance issues, as well as required amendments and extensions.
6. Keeps information management systems updated with contractual information, to be able to prepare reports and report on progress of contracting processes.

7. Maintains filing in accordance with UNICEF guidelines.

8. Any other duties or assignments as requested by the supervisor(s).

OTHERS:
Location: Combination of Home based with weekly on-premise presence in UNICEF Headquarters, New York, USA. The frequency of the on-premise presence is subjected to the “return-to office” policy of the United Nations in New York. Currently a minimum of 1 to 2 days of on-premises presence is require.

Main Key Deliverables

The individual consultant will manage a portfolio of ICT Service Categories on on-going basis to support the NY Supply Centre with projects falling under four (4) essential cones of the Organization designed to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies in order to deliver results for children:

1. Programmes & Emergency Cone,

2. Partnership Cone;

3. Field Results & Innovation Cone and

4. Evaluation Office and Management Cone.

• Specific on-going projects that will be supported by the individual consultant include:
• Supporter Engagement Strategy Initiative (Salesforce Ecosystem- HQ/PFP);
• Several Programmatic Open-source technologies (i.e. Nutrition/Health-PD)
• Several UNICEF’S Digitalization initiatives; (ICTD/HR/GSSC/SD Service Gateway-ServiceNow; DAPM different tools/systems);
• Several Corporate software solutions (particularly falling under DOC ( Analytics tools, Website hosting agreements (Acquia); website performance acceleration tools/systems (DLT/Akamai), DHR (Staff engagement tools; talent management and video interviewing systems) and emergency response systems for EMOPS (i.e. staff emergency notification systems).
• Others systems/solutions acquisitions as required.

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
Education:
• Advanced university degree in Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology or related field is required.

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
Experience:
• Minimum five years relevant working experience, preferably in a ICT procurement or operational function in a commercial working environment.
• Experience working with ERP system required (Vision logistic module is highly desirable),
• Experience working with UNICEF procurement and programmes desirable.
• Good knowledge of the latest trends in procurement and contracting of information technology services and products for public sector or international organizations is strongly desirable, including subscription-based Cloud Services (Software as a Service (SaaS) and similar.
• Awareness of cyber security risks, compliance with standard terms and conditions addressing information and data security, and related best practices is considered an asset.
Language Requirements:
• English language fluency is required in addition to excellent writing skills in English and another UN official language
Others:
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of UN system and UNICEF’s mandate is desired.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background 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.

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application
2. Financial quote including a daily rate in US Dollars and relocation expenses
3. At least 3 reference contact information from previous supervisors
4. P 11 form (which can be downloaded from UNICEF website)

Applications must be submitted through the UNICEF electronic application system by 12 December 2021. Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to submit at least 1 example of prior analysis work. This will be considered confidential.

UNICEF considers best value for money as a criteria for evaluating potential candidates. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e. achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Please note that consultants are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas, travel insurance and taxes.

Successful applicants will be evaluated by the following criteria:

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 75 points)
Overall Response (25 points)
Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response
Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal
Technical Capacity (50 points)
Relevance of consultant’s experience with similar projects and as per required qualifications
References
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 25 points)
Daily rate
Relocation expenses
Total estimated cost of contract (proposed contract fee only)
TOTAL SCORE (max. 100 points)

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.