Contract Manager

About Department for International Development Afghanistan

Job Summary

DFID Afghanistan (DFIDA) is looking for a motivated and enthusiastic person to fill the role of Contracts Manager in our office in Kabul. This is a full time permanent post. The post is ideal for someone with experience of procurement and supplier management in a busy office environment. The post is located within a highly motivated team which has established a reputation for attention to outcomes, flexibility and willingness to cooperate with others to meet shared objectives.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a major donor development programme in Afghanistan, where DFID is the fourth largest bilateral donor. Afghanistan is one of the UK’s top development priorities.

You will be a member of the finance team within the Joint Programme and Resource Group (JPRG) reporting to the Commercial Advisor. This joint FCO-DFID team leads on improving the effectiveness of all UK government funded programmes in Afghanistan. You will provide advice and support to project managers across the office.

You will play a key role in ensuring that DFIDA programmes achieve value for money through ensuring efficient and effective local procurement of goods and services and working with colleagues in the Procurement Group (PrG) located in the UK. You will be responsible for supporting the various teams within the office to improve procurement skills and practices.

You will be working in a high pressure, but supportive, environment. You will have to work proactively and independently to process and complete tasks to a high standard and to tight deadlines. You will bring with you a willingness to pitch in and provide support and advice on a wide range of issues.

Duties & Responsibilities

This post is a new position and therefore the duties may evolve. Under the supervision of the Commercial Advisor the successful candidate will perform the following duties:

Improve the management of contracts by:

1.Supporting programme teams in ensuring that suppliers are delivering their agreed outputs from contracts and dealing with performance issues where sub-standard work is being carried out holding suppliers to account for their contacts;

2.Provide advice and support to teams in conducting technical and commercial evaluations for work below £113k and undertake post contract negotiations to deliver value for money;

3.Provide advice on procurement (referring to DFID’s central procurement department where appropriate) to colleagues ensuring compliance with corporate procurement and commercial procedures;

4.Tender or support Designated Procurement Officers (DPO) in the tendering of work through the development and issue of documents for contracts, using both frameworks and tendering procedures, within the DFID Afghanistan delegated authority limit;

5.Assist the Commercial Adviser in advising programme staff on matters such as drafting effective terms of reference, and advising on procurement strategy (including providing options on different routes to market, including use of non-commercial third parties); and

6.Provide cover for the Commercial Adviser, as required.

Systems Development and Maintenance:

7.Ensure the office has the right systems is place by implementing a consistent approach for teams to contract management through the use of standard templates, maintain all records for contracts awarded, variations, waivers, performance and compile and benchmark pricing data on suppliers for existing contracts to inform future negotiations and tendering.

8.Compile and benchmark pricing data on suppliers for existing contracts to inform future tendering, negotiations to ensure strong cross-office supplier management by maintaining a database of fee rates charged by suppliers on different contracts and helping the office to achieve VFM.

Build the capacity of the office by:

9.Work with the Commercial Advisor to provide procurement related training to staff of DFID Afghanistan and partners (where required);

10.Chair cross team reviews building on lessons learnt and areas of good practise which can help improve how teams develop, procure and manage services; and

11.Work with the Commercial Advisor to strengthen the Designated Procurement Officer (DPO) network within the office.
Personal Qualities and Skills Required (Person Specification)

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the following five core competencies in their application:

 Making Effective Decisions
 Managing a Quality Service
 Collaborating & Partnering
 Changing & Improving
 Leading & Communicating
 Delivering Value for Money

DFID Skills framework for Procurement Practitioners at stage 1 (Awareness):

Strategic Awareness
Public Procurement Context (understanding of either UN, WB or EU Legislation)
Category Mgt / Strategic Sourcing
Stakeholder Relationship Mgt
Supplier Management
Supply Market Analysis
Negotiation
Cost, Prices & Financial Mgt
Procurement in Int\'l Development

Job Requirements

The successful candidate will:

Essential

Have relevant employment experience in procurement and supplier management, preferably in a donor agency, multilateral organisation; International NGO or Embassy;

Can demonstrate a commitment to on-going professional development and a willingness to learn;

Have excellent spoken and written English and Dari or Pashto language skills;

Have good interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work well in a team;

Effective communication, influencing and negotiating skills;

The ability to network across DFID and other relevant organisations with other procurement specialists;

Have completed Secondary education;

Have strong IT skills and be familiar with Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook; and

Can demonstrate that they will respect DFID working principles including understanding and adherence to Equal Opportunities and able to work productively with others and with respect to others (what ever their gender; race; culture; religion or personal orientation).

Desirable

Possess a relevant degree.

Procurement and Supplier Management

Submission Guideline

Salary & Benefits:

According to DFID local staff pay scales, a competitive salary and benefits package will be offered including a starting salary of USD 2,759 per month (before tax), non-negotiable. Transport allowance and reimbursement of 85% of medical costs for you, your spouse and children (up to a maximum of US$1,500 per calendar year). DFID is committed to staff development. The successful candidate will receive both on the job and formal training and have the opportunity to apply for funding for higher/further education upon satisfactory completion of their probation period and having completed 12 months in post and are performing well.

How to apply:

If you meet the above standards, you should apply by submitting the following three application documents to the email address r-kabul@dfid.gov.uk:


Completed application form;

CV; and

A covering letter (which must set out how you meet the requirements above including evidence of work under each of the five core competencies),

You can access the Application Form and the DFID Competence Framework from www.dfid.gov.uk in the recruitment section:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Working-for-DFID1/Jobs/

Only applications with all three duly completed application documents listed above will be considered. All application forms should state “Contract Manager” in the subject box.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 5:00pm KBL time on 05 September 2013. Interviews and an assessment centre (written test and group work) will take place in the 3rd week of September. Only candidates invited for interview receive a response to their application.

The successful candidate will be required to complete medical, security, reference and educational qualifications checks before starting in the job.

The successful applicant will need to hold Afghan citizenship.

DFID is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcomed from all parts of the community and we actively encourage interest from ethnic minority groups, women and those with a disability. Selection is on merit although you will need to hold Afghanistan citizenship.

Functional Area

Procurement

Countries

Apply Now