Senior Procurement Officer

Join Our Mission to Foster Prosperity in Asia

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the future of Asia and be a catalyst for positive change? We are thrilled to offer a unique opportunity to become an important part of the prestigious Asian Development Bank (ADB). At ADB, our mission is simple yet powerful: to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationship

The position of Senior Procurement Officer is assigned in the Procurement Division 2 (PFP2) within the Procurement, Portfolio and Financial Management Department (PPFD). You will be based at the Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney, Australia (PLCO) within the Pacific Department (PARD), which oversees regional technical assistances as well as operations in Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu (PLCO countries).

You will report jointly to the Director, PFP2 and the Regional Director, PLCO and will oversee the activities of procurement consultants recruited by PFP2/PLCO.

Your Role

As a Senior Procurement Officer, you will primarily support ADB operations from PLCO, Sydney and will work with Pacific Developing Member Countries (DMCs) with a particular focus on Nauru, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu by (i) providing technical guidance and capacity development to ADB staff, to government counterparts as well as to service providers and contractors on ADB-financed contracts to ensure compliance with ADB’s procurement policies and procedures; (ii) support improvements in the implementation performance of the Pacific portfolio of loans, grants, and technical assistance (TA) projects; (iii) assist in the establishment, harmonization and improvement of procurement policies and procedures consistent with effective project management for ADB projects; (iv) work closely with DMC governments to assess their national procurement systems and support the design and implementation of associated strengthening measures; and (v) contribute to ADB’s knowledge development activities in the area of procurement and contract administration. The incumbent will also work closely with other ADB procurement specialists to ensure consistency in practice throughout the ADB portfolio of projects.

You will:

Review of Procurement and Consultant Recruitment Matters

• Reviews and analyzes matters relating to procurement and consulting services for projects/TAs and takes initiative to deal with related issues in a proactive manner in collaboration with the PPFD Procurement Specialist;
• Advises ADB staff and government counterparts on technical review of procurement transactions, including bidding documents, bid evaluation reports, expressions of interest (EOI), requests for proposal and recommendations for contract award for projects in the PLCO countries;
• Leads on complex procurement issues for ADB and Executing Agencies (EA), and proposes appropriate measures to resolve them proactively;
• Prepares reports/memos/electronic Procurement Approval Forms (ePAF) to process procurement and consulting services transactions;
• Assesses e-procurement systems used by EAs;
• Provides assistance to the EAs in preparing procurement documentation to ensure that EAs fully comply with ADB financing agreements, ADB Procurement Policy and and Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers;
• Responds to inquiries from EAs on procurement, consultant recruitment and contract management matters; 
• Supports PLCO in the selection and recruitment of consultants (firms and individuals) through the CMS system, and guides staff in dealing with contract administration issues;
• Carries out procurement reviews of national procurement systems as necessary to identify procurement issues and recommend remedial measures;  
• Keeps current with ADB's list of sanctioned firms and liaises with ADB Office of Anticorruption and Integrity on integrity, anti-corruption and conflict of interest issues.

Project Processing and Project/TA Administration

• Participates in project review missions to assess project-level procurement performance, identifies bottlenecks in procurement processing and non-compliance with ADB procurement policy and procedures, and recommends remedial measures to improve performance.
• Joins project processing missions to prepare strategic procurement plans, review contract packaging, and prepare procurement plans; Supports project teams in discussions with EAs and preparation of mission documentation (e.g.: aide memoire) in matters relating to procurement;
• Leads in the review of the draft project documentation sections on procurement project implementation arrangements and procurement related matters.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Management

• Acts as resource person/ speaker/ moderator for capacity building events to enhance ADB staff and EA capacity in procurement, consultant recruitment and project administration
• Leads on the assessment of the capacity of the executing agencies (EAs) and implementing agencies (IAs) who carry out procurement activities, and identifies specific training needs and focus areas for capacity building of both ADB and EA staff;
• Develops and delivers training materials and knowledge products to ADB staff, government counterparts and/or contractors and service providers on ADB-financed contracts based on practical experience gained from the review of procurement transaction to share experience on frequently encountered cases and best practices;
• Coordinates and conducts Business Opportunities Seminars (BOS) and other business outreach events for contractors/suppliers/ service providers and consultants.  

You will need:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Public Procurement, Public Policy, or other related fields, preferably with master’s degree.
• For ADB internal applicants: Procurement Accreditation Skills Scheme (PASS) accreditation preferred - non-accredited applicants may be considered though will be required to complete accreditation within one year of appointment.
• At least 8 years relevant experience in procurement, project management or other related area in infrastructure projects (e.g., transport, energy, water sectors); and at least 4 years of supervisory experience.
• Preferably an engineering background combined with procurement experience in transport, energy, water, or urban infrastructure sectors.
• Preferably familiar with multilateral development banks (MDB) current procurement and consulting services policies and procedures.
• Preferably has Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) or working towards attaining MCIPS
• Preferably has experience working in project management, contract management and capacity building.
• Able to lead projects, work collaboratively with teams, and share relevant knowledge to benefit the broader ADB community.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Benefits

ADB offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary will be based on ADB’s standards and comparator markets, taking into account your qualifications and experience.

• Paid leave (including parental)
• Medical and health benefits
• Life and other insurance plans
• Staff development
• Retirement plan
• Housing and education allowance (if applicable)
• Expatriate benefits (for international staff)

Additional Information

This vacancy is a regional staff position with local remuneration package. It is open to nationals and permanent residents residing in the duty station, Australia; and nationals from ADB member countries in the Pacific region including Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, New Zealand, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

This is a fixed term appointment with option to renew for an initial period of 3 years following Section 3.1 (b) of Administrative Order No. 2.01 (“Recruitment and Appointment’). This appointment is not convertible to a regular appointment. It may be extended on an exceptional basis for a further fixed period at the option of ADB. This appointment is open to internal and external applicants.

If you are selected as an external candidate, the appointment may be extended for a period of up to 3 years per extension, or not renewed. In case of extension, staff may continue in the position for another term of up to 3 years.

About Us

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Manila, Philippines and is composed of 68 members, 49 of which are from the Asia and Pacific region. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. ADB combines finance, knowledge, and partnerships to fulfill its expanded vision under its Strategy 2030.

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ADB seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities to work in an inclusive environment. ADB encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.

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