Procurement Specialist, Lebanon Community Resilience Initiative (Lcri)

Company Profile:  MSI is an international development firm in the Washington, D.C., metro area with a 30-year history of helping to deliver results across the developing world. In 2008, we became part of Coffey International Limited . Since that time, we have greatly expanded our ability to respond seamlessly and flexibly to client needs with Coffey's international development offices in the United Kingdom and Australia. We operate in some of the most challenging political and economic climates in the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and South Sudan. MSI currently employs 800 development experts in the fields of public sector management, monitoring and evaluation, governance, and anticorruption. For more information on MSI, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com Project Summary:  The Lebanon Community Resilience Initiative (LCRI) is a project funded by USAID/OTI. LCRI provides strategically targeted support to advance peace and stability in Lebanon. **Please note: Only Lebanese citizens are eligible for this position.** Position Summary: Working under the supervision of the Operations Manager (OM), the Procurement Specialist for the Lebanon Community Resilience Initiative (LCRI) will be responsible for ensuring all procurements are transparent and adhere to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and MSI policies and procedures; monitoring subcontractors and vendors’ contractual compliance with regard to financial and administrative issues; and coordinating procurement actions in coordination with the Program Development Officers (PDOs) and Operations staff as part of a dynamic activity implementation team. The position is based in Beirut and will require regular travel to field sites within Lebanon. Responsibilities: Initiate Solicitations for Activity Level Procurements Coordinate with PDOs and Grants Specialists on item specifications/SOWs and budget. Perform market research to find item specifications and appropriate vendors. Initiate activity procurements as outlined in the Activity Manual Addendum, the Activity Cycle Flowchart and Field Procurement Guide. Coordinate the implementation of contracts/procurement procedures; participating in bid-openings and technical and cost evaluations; and performing due diligence for awarded procurements. Manage Contracts with Vendors Track goods procured in the project inventory, documenting acquisition and distribution of all goods/services according to established USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) and MSI policies. Travel to project sites when necessary to monitor delivery of procured goods to grantees and inspect quality of goods acquired. Monitor contracts and purchase orders issued to vendors and follow up as necessary to ensure compliance to terms and conditions. Contact all contractors and vendors on invoice or deliverable due dates to confirm submission of contractually-mandated payment documents. Work with the Finance and Administration Manager and OM to identify purchase orders (POs) that may require modifications or cancellation due to financial or administrative non-compliance. Manage Close Out of Contracts and Procurements Alert the field team and OM in the event of missed deadlines or deliverables on the part of vendors. Maintain the overall integrity of the procurement filing system. Support M&E officer with data collection, as needed, and with contributions to the final evaluation reports. Close out each PO once completed, according to established policies and procedures. Support to Grant Team Work as part of an activity implementation team along with a Grant Specialist and PDO, with primary responsibility for acquiring goods and services necessary for grant activities. Maintain and organize electronic procurement files in secure server. Work with the OM, Grants Specialists, PDOs and Field Officers to update and monitor a master deliverable calendar for procurement actions to be shared weekly during GMU meetings. Actively contribute to information sharing within LCRI. Perform other tasks as requested by the Chief of Party and the OM. Qualifications:  Associates or Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or relevant field. Minimum one (1) to two (2) years’ experience in procurement, logistics, grants, administration or finance. Experience working in such roles with USAID projects, specifically OTI, is highly desirable. Experience working in the Beqaa, South and/or North Lebanon is a plus. Task-oriented and able to work independently and within a team to meet deadlines.  Excellent organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Basic knowledge of USAID procurement systems, inventory management and/or grant management desirable. Must be able to use the Microsoft office suite and have familiarity with the use of databases for tracking inventory, actions and reporting. Proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic is essential.   Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. MSI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer.