African Development Bank (AfDB) - Established in 1964, the African Development Bank is the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent. There are 80 member states, including 54 in Africa (Regional Member Countries). The Bank's development agenda is delivering the financial and technical support for transformative projects that will significantly reduce poverty through inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Fragility Procurement Officer - RDTS

Reference: ADB/18/082
Location: Côte d’Ivoire
Position N°: 50078439
Grade: PL5

The Complex

• Within the Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Complex (RDVP), the Bank has five (5) Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery (RDIBD) Directorates, one in each region of Africa: North, South, East, West, and Central.
• Each Regional Directorate is headed by a Director General (DG) and is staffed with the relevant sectoral functions and administrative capabilities for rapid delivery of services to client countries.
• The Regional Directorates provide overall strategic direction to country offices within the regions and are responsible for the Bank’s operations, business development, project management and overall effective delivery of the Bank’s High 5s of ‘Light up and Power Africa,’ ‘Feed Africa,’ ‘Industrialize Africa,’ ‘Integrate Africa,’ ‘Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.

The Hiring Department

• The Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS) is responsible for leading and implementing African Development Bank Group (the Bank) Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in its Regional Member Countries.
• It coordinates the Bank’s work on addressing fragility and building resilience, including activities of all fragility and resilience professionals stationed in the various Regional Hubs or Country Offices.
• Over the past decade, Africa has seen enormous growth and transformation that has expanded opportunities and improved living conditions for millions of people. More than two-thirds of African countries have strengthened their quality of governance, improved basic services, and expanded economic opportunities.
• Yet, there are significant risks that this momentum could be undermined by important pressures—continuing patterns of exclusion and poverty, unemployment, high migration, rapid urbanization, climate change and poor management of natural resources—that  threaten to overwhelm existing institutional capacities for managing political, economic, social and environmental challenges.
• These pressures are making every single African country more vulnerable. RDTS aims to place the Bank at the center of Africa’s efforts to address fragility and pave the way for a more resilient and inclusive development trajectory.
• A major part of RDTS’ activities involves the identification of the main drivers of fragility, including economic, social, political and environmental dimensions, and how the Bank’s programs and projects can contribute to equity and inclusive development. Central to RDTS engagement is the systematic application of a fragility lens to identify, respond to and prevent fragility and to build resilience and focus the Bank’s engagement in the areas where it can have the biggest impact.

The Position

• The Senior Fragility Procurement Officer is required to provide advice and guidance on all aspects of the procurement function, providing expert advice on procurement and contract administration, monitoring the performance of all contracts on outsourced work to support the implementation of work program. He/She ensures that all procurement activities are carried out in accordance with Bank rules and procedures, especially the new procurement policy for fragile situations. The Senior Fragility Procurement Officer contributes to the preparation of the Bank's Country Strategy Papers and advises on enhancing borrower acquisition capacity, which includes training of borrower staff, advising on procurement issues related to borrower’s projects as well as the evaluation and strengthening of the procurement systems of Transition States.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Director, Manager/Lead Fragility Expert, the Senior Fragility Procurement Officer has the following responsibilities:

• Provide advice and guidance on all aspects of the procurement function including providing expert advice to management and clients on wide ranging and highly complex technical and other issues relating to procurement.
• Develop, execute, and administer highly complex contracts for diverse services/goods.
• Develop and implement procedures for contract management, contract performance and contract administration.
• Ensure timely follow-up and review of supplier performance evaluation.
• Ensure suppliers meet the Bank’s mandatory contractual requirements for the duration of the contract.
• Develop tools to address unsatisfactory performance.
• Provide guidance on contract matters to procurement managers or other operational staff, including training to new procurement staff in contract management practices and procedures.
• Ensure signed contracts are communicated to stakeholders to provide visibility and awareness, interpretation to support implementation.
• Oversee service level agreement compliance.
• In close connection with end users, ensure contract close-out, extension or renewal of contracts
• Plan and monitor quality of contract team’s output, reviewing all contracts prior to execution for appropriateness, completeness and accuracy.
• Lead work with other colleagues to maximize use of staff resources and streamline efforts, taking into account aggregate forecast of client requirements, as well as procurement trends, to ensure efficient planning overall.
• Develop and monitor contract administration program pre and post award, providing guidance and direction to support the implementation of work relative to contract issues.
• Develop and manage contract renewal schedules for all ongoing requirement contracts.
• Plan, develop and implement outreach programs providing guidance on contracts administration, as well as oversight (e.g. ex. post and ex ante audits). Supports clients’ efforts in creating annual works program estimates and plans.
• Work independently under general direction of Team Leader and guide and mentor junior staff.
• Prepare special reports, statistics and forecasts and carry on other assignments as required by supervisor.

Selection Criteria
Including desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Hold at least a Master's Degree or its equivalent in Administration, Business, Economics, Law, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Engineering and any related qualification.
• Have a minimum of five (5) years' relevant experience in a contract management role, such as purchasing or contracting. Have good knowledge and proven experience in the practice of purchasing goods and works and the acquisition of consultancy services, in accordance with the terms and conditions of financing of the donors; knowledge of the Bank's procurement policy would be desirable.
• Innovation and Creativity: The commitment to search for and produce innovative and creative approaches to activities in order to enhance performance and create added benefits to the Bank and its clients.
• Communication: Provides clear and concise oral and written communication; presents oral information with clarity and appropriate style and adapts language and style to suit the requirements of a particular audience.
• Problem Solving: Applies business knowledge to the resolution of problems and identifies solutions to the benefit of the client (internal and external) and the organization.
• Client Orientation: Ensures that the client is considered to be of primary importance in all transactions and interactions. Strives to understand, and when appropriate, anticipate client needs, and ensures that the client receives the best possible service from the Bank.
• Team Working and Relationships: Works with others to maximize the effectiveness of the team as a whole, sharing the knowledge and workload. Develops strong working relationships with colleagues and contributes to creation of a positive team environment.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint,).