Procurement Specialist

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit http://www.worldbank.org/

Regional and Country Context

Countries of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) region confront a vast array of development challenges, from an uncertain and uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to the implications of decelerating global economy, deepening geopolitical divisions, protracted regional conflicts, and climate change. These overlapping crises are amplified by longstanding structural relating to economic governance that contribute to an outsized presence of the state in the economy, high unemployment rates among women and youth, and limited intraregional trade and investment.

Overcoming these challenges will allow MENAAP countries to realize their vast development potential, endowed as the region is with a rapidly growing and highly educated population, geo-strategic location, and abundance of renewable energy potential. To unlock this potential, the World Bank is advancing inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development through a two-pronged strategy that seeks to respond to sudden and severe crises while supporting reforms that spur structural transformation and job creation, advance gender equity, strengthen regional cooperation, and accelerate green transitions. This strategy is operationalized through a differentiated approach that reflects the distinct circumstances of the World Bank’s clients in the region, comprising 22 countries that range from active IBRD borrowers and IDA recipients to recipients of reimbursable advisory services and non-active countries with whom the Bank maintains a policy dialogue. For more on the World Bank in MENAAP, visit www.worldbank.org/en/region/mena.

The World Bank’s MENAAP region consists primarily of the Front Office of the Regional Vice President, the Chief Economist, 7 Country Management Units, 4 Regional Directorships, and close linkages with Human resources (HR), Resource Management, and Corporate Security. 

The Country Management Unit (CMU-MAP07) engagement in Pakistan is through a combination of lending and technical assistance. The MAP07 is headed by a director and an operation manager both based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The current Pakistan portfolio includes 53 active projects with the total financing commitment from IDA and IBRD of about US$ 16.4 billion. The projects are implemented at both the federal and provincial levels. 

Procurement

The Prosperity Vice Presidency is one of the World Bank Group’s five verticals, with a mandate that emphasizes “Growth, Finance, and Institutions for all.” Our approach leverages data-driven analysis and combines expertise from both the public and private sectors, together with International Finance Corporation (IFC). The Prosperity Vice Presidency supports clients in advancing evidence-based structural reforms to establish the foundations for inclusive and sustainable growth in the thematic areas of macro-fiscal policy; financial sector resilience, access, and deepening; private sector development, trade, and competitiveness; and governance and public sector reform, including statistical capacity. Prosperity is comprised of five Global Departments. EMAPR is under the authority of a Procurement Manager for MENAAP who directly reports to the MENAAP Prosperity Regional Practice Director.

Most MENAAP Procurement staff members are decentralized through the establishment of procurement teams in Country Offices (COs) including in: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Iraq, Jordan and the West Bank and Gaza. All procurement staff members are managed by Accredited Practice Manager (APM), who is based at the World Bank Cairo, Egypt office.

Responsibilities:

The Procurement Specialist will help support and further develop the CMU’s work program in Pakistan. He/she will participate and play a key role in the operational, analytical, and advisory activities of the unit. This requires strong knowledge of both economic and public-sector governance issues, as well as extensive experience in operations. 

He/she will also have diplomatic skills to engage effectively with the many stakeholders involved inside and outside the Bank. He/she will have demonstrated ability to work effectively with counterparts in government as well as with multilateral and bilateral institutions. He/she is also expected to establish and maintain good working relationships with a variety of international and national partner organizations (academia, civil society groups, local research centers).

He/she will work with a team comprising 5 Senior Procurement Specialists,  1 Procurement Specialist and 1 procurement analyst based in Islamabad and Karachi, Pakistan, and a Hub Leader based in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

The selected candidate will undertake the following tasks:

• Works independently under general direction of the Hub leader and procurement manager. Organizes and delivers procurement services in the CMU.  He/She should ensure appropriate fiduciary and quality controls, and consistent application and interpretation of policy in making procurement decisions.
• Independently, organizes and conducts reviews of procurement aspects of Bank documents, including Project Appraisal Documents, Legal Agreements, Quality Enhancement Review Documents, Development Policy Lending (DPL), Fiduciary Assessments and Board Papers that require procurement input and prepares a range of procurement-related documents and reports. 
• Contributes together with other procurement colleagues and under the guidance of the APM ensures consistency in the procurement approach across the region. 
• Provides technical fiduciary advice on procurement activities and engages in policy dialogue to strengthen procurement systems.
• Supports clients in achieving value for money in public procurement to enhance service delivery and development outcomes with integrity.
• Understand relevant procurement markets using analytical tools and approaches to define more effective procurement strategies.
• Participates in missions and plays a key role in developing practical approaches to procurement while simultaneously dealing with policy and operational issues.
• Prepares and/or comments on draft operational directives and policy papers; produces high quality procurement reports.
• Develops and executes training modules on sector related procurement topics.
• Help clients to develop PPSDs (Project Procurement Strategy for Development), conducts Fiduciary Assessments for PforRs, keep the procurement portfolio up to date, with PRAMs and PPRs conducted with quality and timely. Review, clear and contribute to the improvement of the quality of procurement documents.
• Ensures the use of electronic tools, e.g., Systematic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement (STEP) to track exchanges with the clients and performance of key fiduciary metrics covering the operations portfolio, as well as the unit's own work program deliverables.
• Designs and delivers capacity building workshops for Bank staff, private sector and Borrowers staff.
• Provide Hands-on Expanded Implementation Support (HEIS) when requested by the APM in Pakistan or any of the countries in the region.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree with a major in a relevant discipline (e.g. Engineering, Law, Procurement, Finance, Business or Commerce) plus a minimum of 5 years of experience as a Procurement Specialist or responsibilities with a substantial content in the procurement area.
• Knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices governing international procurement, with the ability to translate concepts into operational work, including but not limited to Value for Money, sustainable procurement, strategic sourcing, market analysis, contract management, rated criteria etc.
• Experience in World Bank procurement procedures is a plus.
• Analytical skills to recognize patterns, extract conclusions and strategies out of information coming from multiple sources and in a variety of forms. Good understanding of risk management.
• Knowledge on institutions and procurement reforms in Borrower’s countries. Understanding of the World Bank’s business objectives, products, and project cycle.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to defend orally and in writing difficult issues and positions (in a challenging environment as necessary) to Bank management, government officials, etc.
• High level of integrity and a sense of personal responsibility for achieving quality and timeliness in delivering the work program.
• Ability to function effectively and deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Language requirements: Oral and written mastery of English is essential.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.