Contracts Associate, Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU), Copenhagen, Denmark, G6 (1 Post + Roster)

Note: All recommended candidates who are not selected for this position, will be rostered for future Contracts Associate, G6 positions.

The Position:

The Contracts Associate position is located in the Strategic Sourcing Team within Pillar 2 – Supply Operations in the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU). The position reports directly to the Category Analyst. The Contracts Associate will work closely with other SCMU colleagues, the new integrated HQ division, the Humanitarian Response Division, other HQ Business Units, the Regional Offices and the Country Offices and with a number of external partners.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

The UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) is self-funded and was made operational in January 2022. It is tasked with ensuring that UNFPA is able to effectively and efficiently support the delivery of life-saving reproductive health products and other programme supplies to the end user when and where they are needed. To achieve this, it is important to strengthen the capacity of governments and implementing partners to ensure coordination, end-to-end visibility and accountability on all supply chain and logistics management related activities, in particular for programme supplies, across all UNFPA programmes.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

In general, the Contracts Associate will provide foundational support and ensuring smooth hands on day-to-day strategic sourcing, contracting and procurement services for a range of health commodities.

You would be responsible for:

You will provide the Category Analyst with:

A. Foundational support and ensuring smooth day-to-day sourcing, contracting and procurement services for a range of health commodities to achieve:

• Research potential suppliers and prepare Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) for Health commodities to serve development and humanitarian setting along with guidance notes on to operationalize them
• Prepare a fit for purpose UNFPA product catalogue, with a view at ensuring breadth and quality, as well as high presence of generic products.
• Review and check supplier compliance to BPAs’ and contractual terms and conditions.
• Implement sourcing, contracting and procurement strategy to support Corporate Procurement requirement for UNFPA Headquarters and Representative Offices
• Actively contribute to an environment of knowledge retention and sharing within and outside SCMU to ensure the timely and effective delivery of supplies to their Last Mile.
• Review and approve procurement orders up to the authorized limits, and in cases where the amount exceeds signature authority, prepare submissions to the Contracts Review Committee for review and subsequent approval by the authorized official, in compliance with UNFPA procurement policies and procedures.
• Implement Vendor sanction decisions as requested.
• Implement activities related to UNFPA’s Governance, Risk, Compliance and Reporting function.
• Provide input and analysis to the Planning Team to conduct comprehensive forecasting and quantification exercises.

B. Capacity Strengthening

• Support the implementation of UNFPA's capacity-strengthening initiatives.
• Train supply chain professionals whenever possible and support their development through sharing knowledge and experience.

C. Thought Leadership, Knowledge Sharing and Advisory

• Appreciate UNFPA's supply chain thought leadership through awareness and incorporating such initiatives into the overall approach to day-to-day activities.
• Actively contribute to an environment of knowledge retention and sharing by following best practices for supply chain implementation.
• Support improved supply chain execution by incorporating best practices and continuous improvement into day-to-day activities.

D. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

• Support UNFPA’s value proposition and relationships with donors and partners. • Assist with the preparation of SCMU’s resource mobilization proposals in particular with data and analysis.

E. Collaboration and Representation

• Maintain effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA to ensure coordinated and effective tailored solutions for each area of intervention.
• Maintain relationships with supply chain counterparts with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of UNFPA’s supply chain function.
• Attend and participate as required in SCMU and UNFPA in meetings related to supply chain management functions.

F. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Chief, SCMU.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• A University degree at Bachelor Level in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Procurement, Logistics, Marketing, International Relations, Development Studies, International Commerce, or equivalent field is an asset.
• A professional Supply Chain Management certification such as Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) at Level 2 and/or Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT-UK) at Level 2 would be an additional asset.

Knowledge and Experience:

• A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, logistics or supply chain operations or related areas is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to 3 years for candidates who possess a relevant first-level or advanced university degree. Candidates should demonstrate experience in the below key areas, with the understanding that these experiences may overlap:
  • Candidates with basic knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) products including familiarity with a range of SRH commodities, regulatory knowledge, global and regional market dynamics, quality assurance standards and practices are considered a strong asset.
  • Demonstrated experience is required in facilitating preparatory work for their organization’s participation in international public health coordinating bodies or group meetings. This includes preparing key materials, coordinating internal stakeholders, and/or ensuring meetings notes are shared.
• Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required; team management skills are an asset
• Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required.
• Professional written and spoken presentation skills, including for the development of reports, presentations, and the ability to synthesize complex supply chain documents for both technical and non-technical audiences is an asset.
• Experience working in a matrix organizational structure is an asset.
• Knowledge of UNFPA’s country classification system, UNFPA’s Strategic Plan, Strategy for Family Planning 2022-2030 and Acceleration Plan, UNFPA Humanitarian Thematic Fund, UNFPA Strategy and Operational Plan to Scale-up and Strengthen Interventions on Gender-based Violence in Emergencies, 2023-2025 is an asset.
• Basic knowledge of the principles and operational aspects of sexual and reproductive health commodities in global development and the humanitarian community is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Facilitating preparatory work for organization’s participation in international public health coordinating bodies
• Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
• Ability to collaborate with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA to ensure coordinated and effective tailored solutions for each area of intervention.
• Knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) products including familiarity with a range of SRH commodities, regulatory knowledge, global and regional market dynamics, quality assurance standards

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.