Overview
The Contract Specialist plans, develops, and executes procurement of institutional services for the Afghanistan Country Office, ensuring compliance with UNICEF procedures and impacting programme delivery. The role involves close collaboration with stakeholders on project design, needs assessment, and contract management.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensures contracting activities comply with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations, SD Manual, and procurement procedures.
- Collaborates with programmes and partners on project/TOR design, work plans, and forecasting.
- Administers and manages contracts, including development of specifications, bid openings, post-bid evaluations, and proposal reviews.
- Advises management on contractual rights and obligations and maintains historical information.
- Ensures competitive and transparent solicitation for service contracting and expands the vendor database.
- Provides technical advice to the Contract Review Committee (CRC) for contract awards.
- Prepares contracts and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) in VISION and manages contractual activities.
- Acts as focal point for updating and reporting on contract services and LTAs.
- Interacts with programme and operations sections on contractual management and timely service delivery.
- Identifies opportunities, barriers, successes, and problems related to contracting.
- Acts as focal point for the Procurement Case Management (PCM) platform.
- Provides supply input to donor dialogue and proposal development.
- Contributes to capacity development initiatives in supply chain services.
- Supervises and identifies training needs of staff under supervision.
Required Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in Supply, Logistics, Procurement, Contracting, Administration and/or other directly related technical fields is required. Understanding of development and humanitarian work. Emergency experience is an advantage. Health supply chain management experiences an advantage. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.
Qualifications
Advanced University Degree (Master or equivalent) is required in Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field.
