Vacancy Notice No. 2008/045
Position and Grade: Procurement Officer (P-3)
Organizational Unit: Contracting Section
Office of Procurement Services
Department of Management
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
Issue Date: 24 June 2008 (re-opened on 11 August 2008)
Application Deadline: 18 August 2008
Type/Duration of Appointment: Fixed term, 3 years (subject to a probationary period of 1 year)

Organizational Setting
The Office of Procurement Services contributes to the implementation of the IAEA's programmatic activities and mandates through the effective and efficient procurement of goods and services. The IAEA issues over 8000 procurement actions and contracts annually with a total value of over US $100 million. Over half of these orders are for delivery to counterparts in IAEA Member States in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America in support of IAEA field projects. The remainder are for delivery to the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, and its laboratories at Seibersdorf, Austria, and Monaco.

Headquarters deliveries cover computer and office equipment and supplies, software development, construction work, specialized equipment for the IAEA's nuclear safeguards operations, and scientific equipment for use at the IAEA's laboratories. Field deliveries cover a wide range of equipment and services related to radiation detection, laboratories, isotopes, nuclear imaging and radiotherapy, sample analysis, and nuclear safety and security.

These goods and services must be procured in a timely and effective manner while ensuring the integrity and transparency of the procurement process through competitive bidding, which requires clear specifications for bidding and evaluation.

The Contracting Section is a team of 15-20 officers and support staff and is the operational group that procures and contracts, within the established policy framework, the purchase of goods and services to meet IAEA programmatic and supply needs. The work requires levels of confidentiality and rigorous adherence to guidelines consistent with procurement in many governmental bodies.

Main purpose
The Procurement Officer serves as a contracting authority and expert for the Contracting Section with responsibility for the worldwide procurement of a wide variety of supplies and services associated with (technically and legally) complex contracts and procurement activities. He/she leads procurement work for a specific sector related to the IAEA's mandate.

Role
The Procurement Officer is: (1) a contracting authority within delegated limits; (2) a specialist in a sector related to the IAEA's mandate; (3) a financial and commercial evaluator in the tendering and contracting process for procurement of a specific range of commodities and services; (4) a focal point in negotiations for contracts of significant complexity; and (5) an agent promoting the principles of value for money and sound contracting and selection practices.

Partnerships
The Procurement Officer: advises requisitioning units and recipient entities on the full range of procurement issues, providing support and guidance at all stages of the procurement cycle; negotiates with international service-providers and the agents and representatives of commercial organizations; and advises internal requesters and project counterparts on bidding and technical matters relating to the award of contracts.

Functions / Key Results Expected
  • Serve as procurement and contracting expert with responsibility for the worldwide procurement of a wide variety of equipment, supplies and services associated with (technically or legally) complex contracts, including construction work by local suppliers, and procurement activities and/or critical procurement proposals of significant financial, legal or operational impact; and lead procurement for a specific sector related to the IAEA's mandate.
  • Develop and prepare complex contracts for the procurement of non-routine and technologically advanced commodities or long-range services; issue international tender invitations; evaluate responses to tenders and make recommendations for the finalization of purchase and award of contracts; sign procurement orders up to the authorized limit and, in cases where the amount exceeds the authorized signature authority, prepare submissions to the Procurement Authorization Committee for review and subsequent approval by the authorized official.
  • Provide guidance to allotment holders on the preparation of specifications, and coordinate with technical specialists on non-standard and complex specification cases to ensure the technical viability of requests received.
  • Keep abreast of market trends, production patterns in exporting countries and applicable export controls in order to identify the best supply sources.
  • Contribute to the development of procurement policies and procedures and to the development of standards and criteria for the evaluation of goods and services, supplier capacity, etc.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
  • Technical knowledge (including construction work) of one or more sectors related to the IAEA's mandate.
  • Sound knowledge of international trading practices is an advantage.
  • Knowledge of current market and production trends and the ability to make projections for future development within the IAEA.
  • Sound contracting and negotiation skills.
  • Interpersonal skills: effective collaboration and partnership with officials at all levels inside and outside the organization, in a multicultural setting with respect and sensitivity for diversity.
  • Knowledge of the scope and application of results based management.

Education, Experience and Language Skills
  • University degree in business administration, public administration, commerce, engineering, law or another relevant discipline. Additional study or training in contracting or a recognized qualification in procurement preferred.
  • At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in high-volume procurement operations, of which at least 2 years at the international level.
  • Proven record in handling complex procurement evaluation and tendering processes.
  • Experience in an organization or commercial enterprise related to the IAEA's mandate.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English and German. Working knowledge of another official IAEA language (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) an advantage.

Remuneration
The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $52 408 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $40 354*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; 6 weeks' annual vacation, home leave, pension plan and health insurance.

How to apply to the IAEA

* Subject to change without notice

Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are encouraged

Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. Staff members may be assigned to any location. The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above. Testing may be part of the recruitment process.