Vacancy #: 7111 Unit: ESARO - Coastal and Ocean Programme Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, Nairobi, Kenya Reporting to: Deputy Regional Head–Delivery and Operations - COR, Nairobi Work percentage: 100% Grade: P1 Expected start date: 01 February 2025 Type of contract: Fixed-term (24 months) Closing date: 03 February 2025 BACKGROUND THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION
BACKGROUND:
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organisations and some 10,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous people’s organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
The IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) operates in twenty-four countries in the Horn of Africa, east Africa, southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. ESARO’s Programme focuses on biodiversity conservation through a diverse portfolio of projects and programmatic initiatives ranging from activities at the level of individual protected areas to shaping regional policy on biodiversity conservation. ESARO defines and delivers on its programmatic priorities in collaboration with IUCN members, commissions and other strategic partners.
The Coastal and Ocean Resilience (COR) Programme is responsible for marine and coastal issues, including biodiversity conservation, development and management of marine protected areas, other effective conservation measures (OECMs) and their networks, blue economy, ecosystem and fisheries management, High Seas, blue carbon, marine spatial planning, marine pollution, integrated management and governance of coastal areas, adaptation to climate change and disasters risks reduction.
In order to accelerate and scale up efforts in the region towards coastal and ocean resilience, IUCN has been coordinating efforts, together with countries and partners, in developing the Great Blue Wall initiative. The Great Blue Wall is a Western Indian Ocean (WIO)-born, Africa-driven roadmap to achieve a nature positive world by 2030. It aims at unlocking unprecedented nature-based recovery efforts through the establishment of a transformational movement. Its goal is to dramatically accelerate and upscale ocean conservation actions while enhancing socio-ecological resilience and the development of a regenerative blue economy by catalyzing political leadership and financial support. JOB DESCRIPTION MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Regional Head, Delivery and Operations (direct line manager), the successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that the COR thematic programme has proper operational controls, administrative, reporting procedures, and systems in place to effectively ensure operating efficiency.
The Program Delivery and Operations Officer will also facilitate strong coordination between contract negotiation/execution and project start-up, particularly in procurement and consultants/vendors management. S/he will continue to serve as in integral member of the COR team in tracking project implementation to ensure timely completion of activities and submission of contract deliverables.
The position will support the implementation of IUCN’s global procurement policy throughout the COR programme and acts as the procurement focal point for the programme. The incumbent will ensure that procurement is carried out efficiently, to a high standard and that IUCN receives the best value for money and respects sustainability, the environment and ethical principles in its procurement transactions.
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
Procurement;
Act as procurement focal point for the COR thematic area, the incumbent will ensure alignment of and creation and management of procurement short-, mid-, and long-term goals and objectives.
Manages procurement requests and leads consultant/vendor onboarding and management in consultation with relevant project manager to include liaising with Regional Procurement Officer to ensure proper supplier set up and timely invoice payments.
Provide advice and training as necessary and liaise with the Regional Procurement Officer regarding changes and improvements in procurement procedures, templates and tools.
Conduct overall needs assessment and help establish annual procurement plans for the entire COR programme and for individual projects as required by the project agreements. Identify logistical bottlenecks and propose ways to fill in the gaps. Develop a strategy to optimize purchasing power.
Set up a procurement monitoring system to follow up the implementation of the procurement plan. Participate in regular portfolio review meetings with programme and project officers.
Collect information and provide explanations for enquiries from the annual compliance review of procurements under COR.
When necessary, liaise with donors to resolve differences that occur between the donors’ procurement policies and IUCN’s.
Manage the entire process for all RFPs and RFQs, their evaluation, negotiation, selection and contracting in full compliance with IUCN, and donors’ rules and regulations,
Identify service providers; evaluate information regarding legal status and performance (quality, prices, delivery performance) of existing and prospective suppliers.
Ensure that all required approvals are obtained internally (Country office, Regional Office, Headquarters) as per delegation of authorities and IUCN procurement procedures and externally with the donor as per the relevant conditions in the project agreement.
Assist administrative/programme/project officers in procurements of lower value as deemed necessary. Review procurement documents and contracts and ensure quality control.
Maintain accurate records of procurement and operational activities including approved suppliers in relevant databases and systems.
Programme Delivery & Operations;
Lead and/or contribute to the development of and/or improvement of project management tools, processes and systems integral to high quality, efficient and consistent implementation, including but not limited to workforce planning/ time allocation tools, reporting and documentation tools.
Support the smooth implementation of programs, and ensuring compliance with policies and quality assurance standards
Support the identification and realization of cost-saving and cost-reduction opportunities
Serve as a key resource for program delivery related tools and systems and troubleshoot systems issues with IT department
Contributes to project start-up activities in close coordination with Deputy Regional Head, Delivery and Operations to ensure a smooth transition from contract execution to project start-up; serves as integral member of project management teams in ongoing project implementation through to project/contract close-out.
Builds and maintains strong working relationships with country teams and other thematic areas to identify issues and/or opportunities for process and systems improvements in collaboration and facilitates follow-up for process and systems enhancements.
Ensures good records management, according to IUCN and donor policies
Perform such other duties as may be assigned. REQUIREMENTS • POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Education;
Master’s degree in Procurement and Logistics, Business Administration, Project Management or other related fields from an accredited academic institution.
Work Experience;
Minimum of 7 years’ experience in program management support and/or implementation of donor-funded programs, including backstopping of country/field operations
A minimum of 2 years at mid-level position in procurement and contract management with programmes or projects funded by major multilateral and bilateral donors, such as European Union, USAID, GAC, AFD/FFEM, etc is mandatory.
Experience in supervising local procurement and logistics procedures is a must.
Experience in processing tax exemptions and customs formalities.
Familiarity with the context and local laws and regulations in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Demonstrated track record of achieving value for money.
Language Proficiency;
Excellent understanding, speaking and writing skills in English. French will be considered as a strong value add.
Excellent command of legal and procurement terminologies.
Core Competencies;
Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner, provides clear guidance to ensure that members of the team understand objectives and desired measurable results.
Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provide a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.
Functional competencies;
Strong organizational and coordination skills needed, with the ability to manage multiple remote tasks simultaneously under time constraints.
Personal integrity and commitment to the principles of transparent, ethical procurement
Engagement and negotiation skills a distinct advantage.
Strong attention to details.
Fully computer literate and familiar with Microsoft Office and, ideally, procurement applications.
Ability to work independently as well as part of a team and support technical teams.
Strong and demonstrated program/project management skills and effective time management and prioritization skills
Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills and ability to implement corrective action, as needed
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and conscious of cultural and political sensitivity
Excellent writing skills, meeting note taking, and reporting skills
Ability to prepare reports and provide clear and succinct information to management in a timely manner.
Willing to travel within the region and internationally. APPLICATIONS
Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the \"Apply\" button.
Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.
Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/
About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
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