Procurement Manager at United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)

at United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Location NAIROBI, Kenya
Date Posted July 11, 2025
Category Administration
Management
Operations
Procurement
Secretary
Job Type Full-time
Currency KES

Description

The United Nations Office for Project Services is an operational arm of the United Nations, dedicated to implementing projects for the United Nations System, international financial institutions, governments and other partners in the aid world.

Responsibilities

ds the development and implementation of procurement and contracting strategies for goods, services and works, focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Appropriate application of UNOPS procurement governance framework (rules, regulations, policies and tools) in Business Unit and project operations.
  • Provision of supply-market intelligence and analysis.
  • Procurement strategies, approaches and plans designed and implemented according to cost reduction and saving strategies, applying: (i) Expertise in market intelligence matched to business requirements; (ii) Optimal stakeholder management principles; (iii) Sustainability criteria; and (iv) Appropriate work processes to individual cases
  • Oversight and supervision of the implementation and results of strategic and routine procurement work plans in Business Unit, covering Pre-Purchasing: Strategy and Planning; Requirements Definition; Sourcing; Purchasing: Solicitation; Management of Submissions; Evaluation; Review and Award; Post Purchasing: Contract finalization and issuance; Logistics; and Contract Management.

Manage and guide  procurement processes for the acquisition of goods, services and the  construction of works for the Business Unit, focusing on achievement of the following results, in compliance with the official procurement policies, rules, regulations and procedures:

  • Sustainability embedded in the procurement process.
  • Appropriate procurement modalities and instruments applied (e-sourcing, procurement and Rosters of Suppliers) based on individual case requirements, utilizing expert knowledge of procurement policies and instruments. Creation, implementation and oversight of proper monitoring and control of procurement processes in Business Unit and projects including organization of RFQ, ITB or RFP,
  • Receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their evaluation, negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNOPS Procurement rules and regulations. Review and pre-clearance of solicitation documents, requests for awards and submissions to Contract and Property Committees (CPCs) in the role as Procurement Reviewer (in OneUNOPS or Enterprise system).
  • Procurement contracts and contractors optimally managed through supplier and contract performance management against agreed benchmarks and through agreed reporting mechanisms.
  • Implementation of internal control system.
  • Elaboration of comments regarding project audit reports of the Business Units, when necessary.

Ensure introduction and implementation of sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Creation, development and management of rosters of suppliers, elaboration of supplier selection and evaluation, quality and performance measurement mechanisms.
  • Ensures that the e-sourcing tools are used in accordance with PG goals and standards in this area.

Team Management:

  • Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective recruitment, work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
  • Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing:

  • Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for Business Unit personnel on procurement-related topics.
  • Lead and conduct initiatives on capacity development and knowledge building for procurement personnel, including network development, plans, learning plans and activities, procurement practice information and best practice benchmarking.
  • Oversee team’s contributions to procurement knowledge networks and communities of practice including collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in procurement management.
  • Guide team’s collection of feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.
  • Participation in Common UN agency procurement groups to support establishment and implementation of harmonized procurement services and elaboration of proposals on common services expansion and management of joint procurement for UN Agencies in line with UN reform.

Education:

  • Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree) preferably in Procurement and/or Supply Chain Management, Law, Commerce, Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field is required.
  • A first University degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in the above mentioned fields with a combination of two (2) additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
  • For those who do not have a degree in Procurement or Supply Chain Management, Chartered Institute of Supply and Management (CIPS) Level 4, or similar international certification, is a distinct advantage.

Experience:

  • A minimum of five (5) years’ relevant professional procurement experience in advising on, implementing policies and procedures to deliver a range of complex procurement programmes and services is required.
  • A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in managing complex high value procurement cases and managing teams consisting of both locals and internationals is required.
  • Knowledge of UN/ /UNOPS Procurement Rules and Regulations, including Emergency Procurement Processes, is a distinct advantage.
  • Experience working in hardship locations is a distinct advantage.
  • Experience working in infrastructure procurement is desirable.

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Applying Instructions

Procurement Manager

Job categoriesProcurement
Vacancy codeVA/2025/B5303/30377
LevelICS-10
Department/officeAFR, ESAMCO, East and Southern Africa MCO
Duty stationNairobi, Kenya
Contract typeInternational ICA
Contract levelIICA-2
DurationOne year renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability
Application period11-Jul-2025 to 01-Aug-2025
Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

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Background Information - UNOPS 

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.


Background Information - East and Southern Africa Country (ESAMCO)

The ESAMCO sub-region currently consists of a multi-country office in Nairobi, Kenya. It  is responsible for developing, delivering, managing and implementing a portfolio of engagements, programmes and projects spread across multiple countries  in the East and Southern Africa Region by helping its partners achieve project goals in project management, procurement, infrastructure, human resource management and advisory services. It plays a critical role in providing management services for its life-saving peace building, humanitarian and development operations; supporting projects on behalf of a range of partners and creating real results that matter for people in need. This includes transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN Habitat and UNEP and multiple operational projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Eritrea and several island states. It provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of organizational processes and quality standards across all of the countries.  The office also operationally supports the Africa Regional office which is based in Nairobi Kenya.


Background Information - Procurement 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the functional supervisor(s) / Head of Support Services, the Procurement Manager is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic and effective procurement services reflecting international public procurement best practices, compliance with UNOPS procurement policy, rules, regulations and procedures, ensuring appropriate risk management and obtaining the best value for money for the acquisition of goods, services and the contracting of works.

He/she analyzes and interprets the respective rules and regulations and provides advice and solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement. The role requires a deep understanding of procurement policy and processes and the Procurement Manager should be able to apply them to the appropriate situations.

In addition to responsibility for the deliverables of the work team, the incumbent’s work is focused on strategic relationship building and demand management, mainly referred to aggregation and dealing with complex organizational structures, preparation of business cases and understanding of the supply market, as well as sharing knowledge with projects in order to achieve reductions of costs and savings.

Maintaining the highest degree of personal and professional ethics, the Procurement Manager promotes a collaborative, client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Business Unit.

The Procurement Manager works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and Project Management teams in the given geographical area and UNOPS HQ personnel, particularly with the Procurement Group (PG) and Contracts Committee, and Government officials to successfully deliver procurement services.

The Procurement Manager will work in close cooperation with the Business Unit and Project Managers and report to the management on central issues related to procurement activities.  S/he supervises and leads procurement personnel to deliver work results, in close cooperation with the leadership team in the given geographical area. The Procurement Manager may  have both primary and secondary reports, both individuals and teams that are based within project units/ project offices or country offices within the multi-country office. These individuals would be both internationals/ nationals.  The procurement manager may be  allocated pre-clearance reviewer rights and approvals.

Functions / Key Results Expected: Development and Implementation of&nb...
Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and ex...
Education: Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree) preferably in...
Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (I-ICA). Contr...
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. Applic...

APPLICATION TIPS

How to send a good application:

TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.

Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

We are proud of our people. The UNOPS family brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf on our partners. Spread across 80 countries, our workforce is rich in diversity and culture – with inclusion at its core.

We understand the importance of balancing professional and personal demands and offer several flexible working options.

Explore what we offer here.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.

For more information, please visit: www.unops.org

UNOPS Headquarters, Marmorvej 51, PO Box 2695, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Tel: +45 4533 7500

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