UNDP Lao PDR:

Guided by the global UNDP Strategic Plan (2022 – 2025) and UNDP Country Programme for Lao PDR (2022 – 2026), UNDP in Lao PDR works closely with the line Ministries, mass organizations, civil society, development partners, and the private sector at both national and sub-national levels in pursuit of the national socio-economic development priorities defined in Lao PDR’s five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNDP’s work is strongly focused on the provision of policy advice and technical support to the Government of Lao PDR in the design and implementation of national legislation and strategies across four broad Priority Pillars – (1) inclusive growth and reduced inequalities, (2) UXO clearance and risk education, (3) natural resources, climate change and disaster risk reduction, as well as (4) effective, responsive, and accountable governance.

UNDP has a long history working in Lao PDR. UNDP’s comparative advantage has been its ability to work closely with a very broad range of government and local-level institutions at all levels. The UNDP country programme is aligned with the 9th NSEDP and is anchored in UNDP’s long-term partnership with the Government of more than three decades. The country programme builds on the achievements of the previous CPD that saw the incorporation of the SDGs into the national planning architecture. It aims to support Lao PDR recover from the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue its transition from LDC status, with a particular emphasis on supporting inclusive growth and reducing inequality.

Position Purpose:

Under the strategic guidance and direct supervision of the Operations Manager, the Procurement Analyst leads the CO Procurement Unit, a team of 3 staff, responsible for effective delivery of procurement services, ensuring best value for money.  S/he analyzes and interprets financial results and regulations, and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement.  The procurement analyst promotes a collaborative and client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Unit.

The Procurement Analyst works in close collaboration with Operations, Programme and project teams in the Country Office, Region, and UNDP Head Quarter (HQ), as well as with vendors and Government officials, to successfully deliver procurement services, provide solutions to complex procurement issues, and provide advisory support.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and strategic priorities through effective internal controls and properly used client-oriented procurement management system.
• Elaborate/establish internal procurement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), map CO procurement business processes, and manage workflows in Procurement Unit.
• Discuss procurement strategies and plans with projects and other stakeholders and donors to ensure mutual alignment.
• Conceptualizes, elaborates and implements strategic procurement in the CO including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality contract management, contract administration, contract appraisal, cost reduction strategies, customer relationship management, e-procurement, and performance measurement.

Manage and guide procurement processes for CO, projects, and other UN Agencies:

• Ensure timely and duly preparation of procurement plans for the office and projects, and monitor their implementation.
• Manage implementation of proper monitoring systems, mechanisms and controls for procurement processes that cover Micro-Purchasing, RFQ, ITB or RFP, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, and negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Review and certify submission of documents to internal procurement review committees i.e. (Contract, Assets and Procurement “CAP”, Regional Advisory Commitee on Procurement “RACP” and Advisory Commitee on Procurement “ACP”).
• Ensure management of procurement contracts and perform delegated responsibilities in e-procurement for Purchase Orders approval.  Implement the internal control system that ensures purchase orders are duly prepared, dispatched, and corrected on a timely basis when there are errors or other problems.
• Implement harmonized procurement services and analyze new opportunities for joint procurement for UN agencies in line with the UN reform.

Introduce and implement strategic sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools to find best value in the marketplace and align the purchasing strategy to project and CO goals:

• Develop and manage rosters of suppliers.
• Elaborate supplier selection and evaluation criteria, and quality and performance measurement mechanisms.
• Develop Long-Term Agreements/Frameworks Agreements for more efficient category management.
• Manage and implement e-procurement system in CO.
• Promote the use of global and local LTAs and use of the Global Policy Network (GPN) roster for consultants.

Facilitates procurement knowledge building and knowledge sharing in CO, Region, UNDP and UN:

• Organize procurement training for the operations, programme and project staff.
• Organize procurement training for vendors on e-procurement modules.
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in procurement.
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Participate in Operations Management Team (OMT) to share information on cross-cutting areas and collaboration opportunities to achieve greater economies of scale.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise support staff in Procurement Unit.

Core:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2

• Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2

• Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2

• Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2

• Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination: LEVEL 2

• Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2

• Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2:

• Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical:

Procurement – Strategic Sourcing:

• Knowledge of strategic sourcing concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Procurement – Contract Management:

• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Procurement – Data Analysis:

• Ability to extract, analyze and visualize procurement data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making

Procurement – Stakeholder Management:

Ability to work with incomplete information and balance competing interests to create value for all stakeholders

Business Direction & Strategy – System Thinking:

• Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Business Management – Portfolio Management:

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment

Business Management – Risk Management:

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements