Democratic Republic of the Congo: Procurement Manager- DRC

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of over 200 people working in North Kivu and Province Orientale. Mercy Corps' national office is in Goma with sub-field offices in Katwe, Mweso, Butembo (North Kivu) and Bukavu (South Kivu). Current Mercy Corps activities focus on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in camps of internally displaced people, but also large-scale WASH infrastructure and service delivery development in urban centres. Mercy Corps also has Food Security, Economic Recovery/Development and Governance programs, with an increasing shift towards transitional and integrated development programming. The DRC team has a strong commitment to providing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to development challenges, and is actively seeking and facilitating market-based solutions.

General Position Summary

The Procurement Manager is responsible for supervising all purchases of goods and services of the Mercy Corps Country Program. S/he will train and oversee a team, while ensuring that a support strategy for healthy, robust and integrated systems is in place.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Develop and implement a Procurement strategic plan for Mercy Corps DRC
• Analyse procurement team set up in every office, propose adjustment and recruit and train staff accordingly to guarantee a high performing and professional team is in place.

Procurement Management

• Provide direct support to and ensuring that all MC DRC offices meet high standards in Procurement.
• Review, develop, refine and update the Procurement Kit for DRC and ensure implementation of the Kit across all offices.
• Work closely with Emergency Program Managers, Ops Director and Log Manager to develop policies, procedures and team set-up better adapted to procurement for emergency programs.
• Lead the implementation of market surveys
• Organize proper filing of the Procurement related documentation according with Mercy Corps standards.
• Maintain a comprehensive dashboard for Procurement, to ensure follow-up and analysis is updated on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Engage with program managers for the development and regular updating of procurement plans for each project
• Ensure ongoing communication with the different departments to ensure a good planning of all purchases.
• Ensure maximum use of Preferred Supplier Agreements (PSA), and yearly renewal of PSAs.
• Ensure all contracts and contractual terms are respected by supplier and Mercy Corps and respect local legislation.
• Ensure all tenders are done in accordance with procedure and archived according to Mercy Corps procedures.

Team Management

• Provide direct support to ensuring that all MC DRC offices meet minimum standards in Procurement management.
• Guide, supervise the team according to the performance revealed in the dash board.
• Ensure training and capacity building for procurement team members in order to increase the level of technical ability and skills within the department.
• Develop relevant management procedures within the team.
• Review job description as necessary, and include performance indicators. Conduct annual performance evaluation.

Others duties as assigned by the Logistics Manager

Finance & Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with donor and Mercy Corps regulations.
• Uphold Mercy Corps' Zero tolerance policy to corruption
• Provide training to program team members on procurement compliance and procurement tools use

Influence & Representation

• Represent Mercy Corps during Logistics cluster monthly meeting
• Consult with other NGOs to identify the best potential suppliers and providers
• Communicate effectively to ensure overall project targets and donor obligations are met.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

Procurement team in DRC

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Logistics Manager

Works Directly With: Head of Offices, Program Managers, Finance Manager, HR Manager, DCD Operations

Collaborates With: All MC logistics and operations team as required

Knowledge and Experience

• 3-5 years field experience setting up and managing procurement systems with INGOs with supervisory responsibilities.
• BA/BS degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated understanding of complex environment, related security concerns and appropriate responses with experience in insecure context.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines and problem solving independently and cooperatively.
• Knowledge of Mercy Corps systems and procedures desirable; knowledge of donor regulations (USAID, DFID, EC, UN) an added advantage.
• Excellent negotiation and representation skills.
• Effective organizational, prioritization and result management.
• Excellent verbal and written French and English skills required.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.

Success Factors

The successful Procurement Manager will be good at problem solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with MC and donor regulations. S/he will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity, while demonstrating the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations**.** Good sense of humor a must.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This is an unaccompanied post based in Goma. The position is entitled to shared staff housing in Goma and is not eligible for hardship but is eligible for one R&R per year.

While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Goma, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity and petty crime is on the increase. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Years of conflict and corruption have badly damaged the country's infrastructure. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. There are virtually no telephone land lines in the DRC, though mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is limited, but available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required (up to 20%) where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with several evacuation options for serious illnesses. There's reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

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