Overview
Background:
Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Maryland, Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.
Position Summary:
Creative Associates seeks a Procurement Officer for an anticipated USAID-funded education project that seeks to improve learning outcomes in primary education for children across the country of Mozambique through innovative program models and sustainability driven designs. The program is an exciting opportunity to improve on existing activity models and introduce new innovative ways to partner with Government and local level bodies for change in education. The Procurement Officer will be responsible for reviewing overall procurement processes to ensure compliance with Creative policy and procedures, tracking procurement of goods and services through the procurement cycle, ensuring that adequate competition is achieved for procurements, providing regular procurement mentoring to project staff to support project implementation, and coordinating with Creative HQ Procurement.
Reporting & Supervision:
The Procurement Officer will report to the Operations Manager.
Responsibilities
- Establish, lead, and implement procurement processes to support activity implementation for the project, strictly following all rules and regulations including:
- Creative Procurement policies and procedures
- ADS (Automated Directive System)
- FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations)
- CFR (U.S. Code of Federal Regulations)
- AAPD (Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directive)
- Local Mozambican law
- Coordinate with other members of the operations and technical teams.
- Work with Project Technical team to prepare the annual Project Procurement Plan to maximize efficiency and coordination in the procurement of goods and services.
- Conduct market research for each type of procurement and maintain a data base of vendors and items commonly needed by the project.
- Determine the most reasonable and expeditious process for procurement in compliance with Creative policies and procedures and USAID regulations.
- Prepare and issue solicitation documents based on approved requisition received.
- Provide clarifications to all vendors when required and prepare and issue solicitation modifications when applicable.
- Ensure confidentiality throughout procurement and vendor selection process.
- Facilitate the evaluation process for each solicitation according to Creative’s procurement policy.
- Ensure proper documentation of the selection of vendors using the Creative’s official templates.
- Lead negotiations with vendors
- Prepare and issue Purchase Orders or Sub-Contracts
- Draft, negotiate, and manage Short-term Technical Assistance Consultancy Agreements, Fixed Price Service Agreements, and subcontracts.
- Verify quality and quantity of products according to the context and/or needs of the beneficiary, community, and/or Project ensuring proper documentation of the delivery.
- Process payment for vendors verifying invoices are consistent with Purchases Orders.
- Review all payment requests for ongoing subcontracts and make sure that all the required forms are appropriately and consistently filled out and requested before being submitted to finance.
- Ensure procurement files comply with Creative’s policies and procedures.
- Prepare procurement reports on monthly basis.**Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred
- At least 4 years of general work experience in procurement activities
- At least 1 year of specific supervisory experience
- Experience working on USAID or similar internationally funded programs
- Familiarity with donor/client rules and regulations; and procedures pertaining to acquisitions;
- Strong ability to use and develop management and tracking systems
- Professional proficiency in written and spoken Portuguese required; proficiency in English desired
- Ability to work under pressure in challenging working and living conditions
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