Contracts Officer

I. Post InformationJob Title: Contracts OfficerJob Level: NOBContract Type: Temporary Appointment 364 daysSupervisor Title/ Level:  Contracts Specialist P3Organizational Unit: Operations Section, Supply UnitPost Location: Beirut, Lebanon II. Organizational Context and Purpose for the jobJob organizational context: The NOB Contracts Officer directly reports to the P3 Contracts Specialist (89074) under the overall supervision of the P4 Supply and Logistics Specialist (84051).Purpose for the job: In 2015, UNICEF LCO issued more than 160 service contracts with a total value of over USD 16m and issued 26 new Long Term Arrangements (LTA) for services and goods. The total procurement value of LCO was more than USD 48m as compared to USD 27m in 2014. The procurement value for 2016, and especially that for services is expected to further rise, considering the LCO three pillar strategic approach with its main emphasis on the response to humanitarian and emergency needs, ensuring equal access to quality services and the strengthening of Government systems and infrastructure (HRRP 2016) and an anticipated financial requirement increase of 50%. One new area of contracting of services in LCO is the cooperation with providers of recruitment and contracting services of specialized individuals, which are expected to be more than 60 for 2016 year.Under the direct supervision of the Contracts Specialist, the Contracts Officer will be responsible to develop and manage contracts for the procurement of goods and services in accordance with the UNICEF Rules and Regulations. III. Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasksSummary of key functions:a)To develop and assist in the management of service contracts with institutions and companies for the country office, including, but not limited to, consulting, advertising agencies, translation, technical services, video production, film making, editing, freight clearance, etc.b)To support the Contracts Specialist in the establishment of LTAs.c)To be responsible for the preparation of contractual negotiations with regards to the procurement of services.d)To coordinate with relevant units, on all contractual and procedural matters related to services of contractors.e)To review and interpret all existing contracting procedures and policies to meet programme needs while integrating the programme and contractual process from the planning stage to end-use monitoring of performance. f)Prepare RFPs for service contracts and facilitate the technical evaluation in coordination with the requisitioning sections and ensure due processing of the tendering process. IV. Impact of Results a)The complex service contracts, namely for outsourcing and recruitment for individuals to a third party HR service provider needs ongoing and constant monitoring and follow up from the contracting unit in support of the contract owners in the programme sections. Failure to closely monitor ongoing progress of the work, level of expertise applied to various tasks, and the quality of all deliverables will result in failure of UNICEF to attain programme goals and considerable loss of value for money and has an additional reputational risk for UNICEF as the consultants are placed in lead Ministries.b)Negotiations of intricate statements of work and legal terms and conditions are very complex and can cause critical delays that could result in missed time-windows for programme delivery and loss of funds.c)Complex negotiations and interpretations of contractual terms are required to protect UNICEF’s interests.  Failure to provide the proper safe-guards and to interpret them properly will lead to UNICEF’s inability to recover funds in the case of contractual dispute.d)Recommends are made on how to best protect UNICEF’s interests in service contracts to ensure contractual disputes do not arise and UNICEF does not lose valuable time and money so programme goals are met in a timely and effective manner.e)Errors in performing the expected tasks could lead to poor advice and judgement and might result in funds being wasted on contracts that do not meet contractual and programme objectives, while also preventing UNICEF from achieving its programmatic goals.f)The incumbent works under minimal supervision; is expected to develop work independently and exercise judgement.  V. Competencies and level of proficiency required (based on UNICEF Professional Competency Profiles/ratings). Core Values •Commitment •Diversity and inclusion•Integrity Core competencies•Communication (II)•Working with people (II)•Drive for results (II)  Functional Competencies•Applying Technical Expertise (II)•Following Instructions and Procedures (II)•Formulating strategies/concepts (II)•Analyzing (II)•Planning and Organizing (II)•Deciding and initiating action (II) VI. Recruitment QualificationsEducation: A university degree in Business Administration, Management Law with particular emphasis on commercial law and business practice or related field is required.Experience: Two years of relevant professional work experience in the field of contracting (for services) of which one year in HR contracts Management. Experience in an international organization desirable.Language Requirements: Excellent language skills (written and oral) in English and Arabic is required, proficiency in another UN language is of advantage.  Additional Skills: Excellent drafting skills, knowledge of the Lebanese labor law.