Chief Procurement Officer / Consultant – Management Unit TCCM at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Full Time

Job Title: Chief Procurement Officer / Consultant – Management Unit TCCM

Position Number: 50052550
Location: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Position Grade: PL3

The Complex

• The Vice-Presidency, Technology and Corporate Services (TCVP) is responsible for the design, development and delivery of efficient, client-oriented, corporate services and information-technology solutions to ensure overall institutional effectiveness in all aspects of the Bank’s corporate services.
• The Complex provides leadership in the formulation and implementation of the Bank’s strategies, policies, controls and approaches on organizational information technology systems, software applications, cyber security, IT support and infrastructure systems.
• The Complex is also responsible for management of the Bank’s real estate assets, institutional procurement, language services and business continuity.

The Hiring Unit

• The Consultants Management Unit (TCCM) reports to TCVP and is responsible for overseeing and supporting the Bank’s User Units in the recruitment of corporate consultants (individuals and Firms) that are financed by (a) the Bank’s administrative budget, (b) the Bank’s Capital expenditure budget, and (c) Trust funds / special funds.
• The main responsibilities of TCCM include monitoring the implementation of the Presidential Directive and other related instruments on Corporate Consultancy Services and contribute to ensuring that the use of consultants, notably the individual consultants funded by the administrative budget, is optimally aligned with the corporate strategic staffing. Moreover, the Unit should support the User Units with a view to ensure that the processes and procedures used in the acquisition of consulting services are competitive, fair, transparent, and fit for purpose to obtain high-quality services and achieve optimal value for money based on the principles of economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and equity. ​

The Position

• The Chief Procurement Officer will contribute to the operational support and sound implementation of the Bank’s activities in the area of consulting services and consultant recruitment.
• He/She will provide technical guidance to Bank staff and ensure that the consultants’ recruitment is done within the framework of the Bank’s policies and procedures. He/She will contribute to ensuring quality in recruitment activities and achieve value for money for the Bank.
• The use of individual consultants and consulting firms is an integral part of designing work programs of the organizational units, which highlights the key role of the consultancy services in delivering on the objectives of the Bank. This requires more appropriate and agile policies and practices for which this position will provide technical assistance and expertise.
• The position will contribute to ensuring quality and timely advice and support for the recruitment of individual consultants and consulting firms, under the capital and administrative budgets.
• The Chief Procurement Officer will contribute to capacity development of Bank staff, and this include coaching mentoring, training and upgrading of the skills, related to the recruitment of consultants.

Key Functions
Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Lead Expert-Consultant Procurement, the Chief Procurement Officer will carry out the following duties:

• Work independently on complex procurement matters in specific sectors in the performance of the Bank’s fiduciary and service functions.
• Ensure compliance with the provisions relating to eligibility, and the general conditions for acquisition of Consulting services, as prescribed in the Presidential Directive, as well as compliance with the procedures for acquisition of Consulting services detailed in the Implementation Manual.
• Work across sectors and is responsible for reviewing and handling the technical, commercial and legal aspects of procurement (in consultation with Legal and Policy departments as necessary) at all stages of the procurement cycle.
• Provide operational advice to Bank staff on concepts, policies and procedures for recruitment of consultants and leverage the consultant management system to monitor compliance and extract data for Management reporting.
• Assess procurement implications, evaluates institutional capacity of the client departments, prepare background analysis.
• Negotiate and resolve difficult procurement issues with sector department and Task managers and handle questions/complaints.
• Prepare a range of procurement-related documents and reports.
• Coordinate and lead training delivery for user department and for conducting compliance checks.
• Supervise, guide and support the Consultant Management Unit Junior staff.
• Monitor the revision of fee scales for individual consultants.
• Lead the development of standard bidding documents, templates, guidance notes and other tools required for the recruitment of corporate consultants.
• Participate in the post review of the processes followed by Bank organizational units for recruiting corporate consultants and contribute to the development of the related reports (including the annual report).

Competencies (Skills, Experience, and Knowledge)

• Hold at least a Master’s Degree in engineering, Public / Business Administration, Law, Procurement, Economics or related fields.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in providing procurement support and advice to the preparation and implementation of programs and projects financed by the Bank or any other similar institution.
• Proven familiarity with and solid experience in the practice of procurement of consultancy services under donor funding conditions, it would be desirable to have knowledge of Bank Procurement policy.
• Experience in supervising and effectively managing the implementation of development projects and programs.
• Ability to be flexible, open-minded with integrity, client and results-oriented for achieving the Bank’s objectives.
• Effective consulting and advisory skills that enable Sector Staff to build their confidence and skills to deal with procurement issues.
• Good networking skills and judgment are required while working within teams and when building professional relationships with Procurement Specialists and sector specialists.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively (excellent written and oral) in English and French.
• Proven competence skills with standard MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), preferably combined with good knowledge and experience in SAP operations.

Application Closing Date
17th July, 2024.