UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

UNDP, as an integral part of its mission to fight poverty and improve the lives of people around the world, is committed to being open, transparent and accountable. In 2015, as part of this commitment UNDP established a Global Shared Service Unit (GSSU) to ensure optimal and consistent provision of operational services in the areas of finance, HR, procurement, administration to UNDP Offices worldwide, and to provide training to UNDP Offices where needed. The Global Shared Service Unit (GSSU) is part of the Bureau for Management Services (BMS).

As part of this 2020 procurement function review, procurement activities were categorized into strategic procurement activities and tactical procurement activities. Strategic activities include procurement activities requiring strategic and category expertise (e.g. strategic sourcing, vendor management, bid negotiations, planning, etc.), while Tactical activities include transactional activities that require functional skills but are category agnostic. These activities include PO placement, master data management, and other transactional activities.

The Global Shared Services Unit (GSSU) Procurement Unit will execute all tactical and transactional activity (non-Micro-Purchasing) across all spend categories accounting for nearly $2,230M in annual procurement spend (~41K transactions). Due to the global reach of the GSSU, it is critical that timezone, language and cultural considerations are maintained to ensure that service levels remain high.

Under the direct supervision of the Procurement Specialist, GSSU, the Business Specialist is responsible for the development and implementation of the GSSU Master Data Strategy and supporting the design and implementation of related systems, processes and policies. The Business Specialist works in close collaboration with the Office of Procurement Hubs, Procurement Regional Advisors, Operations, Programme and project teams in the Business Units, UNDP HQs, ITM, Regional Bureaus and Governments to successfully deliver these.

Works with Global and Regional Procurement Units, OFRM, the GSSU Finance unit, RBx and COs, to:

  • Develop SOPs and setup the new Oracle cloud ERP to ensure that the GSSU is able to effectively provide tactical and transactional procurement activities (non-Micro-Purchasing) across all spend categories.

Coordinates the development and implementation of digital infrastructure of procurement architecture to efficiently and cost-effectively meet UNDP’s needs:

  • In full compliance with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; elaboration of the effective digital infrastructure and information management tools to provide client-oriented procurement management system;
  • Ensures the design and development of digital tools (databases, the information management tools etc.) to provide efficient procurement support service to Country offices, including the upgrade of the new Oracle Cloud ERP;
  • Liaise with ITM and GSSU Finance and Business Systems Management Teams to ensure that tools and systems related to procurement are aligned with policies and procedures and meet requirements by Senior Management;
  • Development and implementation of electronic document management repository;
  • Coordinates the development and introduction of an electronic product catalogue for key product categories;
  • Provides substantive inputs and guides the procurement teams with enhancement of Key Performance Indicators system to monitor the performance of suppliers and provide regular consolidated reports;
  • Review the data sets collected, assist in optimizing the data collection and data analysis approaches.

Develops and implements a centralized master data management (MDM) strategy

  • Works with Global and Regional Procurement Units, OFRM, the GSSU Finance unit, RBx and COs, to develop a strong master data management strategy to maintain data integrity, support improved reporting and visibility, and enable new measurements and metrics to be generated to support the organization;
  • Collaborates with the abovementioned stakeholders to ensure the centralization of how material and vendor records are updated;
  • Standardizes data taxonomies to allow UNDP to manage, report on, and report out data consistently and accurately;
  • Support the abovementioned stakeholders in defining a standardized methodology for managing taxonomy updates;
  • Ensures that all reporting adheres to the established UNSPSC and UNDP Sector Taxonomy to maintain alignment of reporting;
  • Highlights elements of the MDM strategy that should form part of UNDP technology upgrades;
  • Drives the MDM Strategy, maintaining all master data elements.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing to Business Units, focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Manage the development and implementation of coherent knowledge management platforms that facilitate gathering, processing, codifying and use of knowledge required for services provided by the GSSU Procurement Unit;
  • Develops regular knowledge building and sharing initiatives, including webinars and other forms of knowledge dissemination;
  • Synthesizes lessons learned to enhance service provision. 

Core

Innovation

  • Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

  • Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management

  • Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

  • Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

  • Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Technical/Functional

Advocacy

  • Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating GSSU’s mandate.

Building Strategic Partnerships

  • Ability to engage with stakeholders and forge productive working relationships.

Service Delivery Coordination

  • Ability to coordinate and deliver services in line with service level agreements and standards of excellence in UNDP.

Knowledge Management

  • Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Education:

  • Advanced (Masters or equivalent) university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Science, Engineering, Information Management, Data Science or related field.
  • Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field with an additional 2 year of relevant experience will also be acceptable.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 5 years professional experience, which includes international experience in public procurement;
  • Demonstrated ability to analyze and formulate corporate policies, procedures and business processes;
  • Solid understanding of UNDP policies and procedures;
  • Working experience at UNDP is required;
  • Working experience at a UNDP Country Office is preferred;
  • Previous hands-on experience in a data analysis/ process improvement capacity is highly desirable;
  • Solid knowledge on data management systems is considered an asset;
  • In-depth knowledge of the ERP, Oracle Cloud or Peoplesoft preferred.

Language Requirements:

  • Strong written and spoken English language skills. Fluency in a second UN language is highly desirable.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam warning

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Contract Duration: 2 Years with possibility for extension

This vacancy is archived.

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