CHIEF OF SECTION, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, P5

ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA’s five strategic directions which are: Advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solution to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. This position is located in the Division of Administration (DoA), Economic Commission for Africa, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Chief of Section, Supply Chain Management reports to the Director, Division of Administration under the overall guidance of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support and will oversee the entire supply chain management operations within the ECA, including procurement, inventory management, shipping and logistics, and contract management.

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Section, Supply Chain Management will be responsible for the overall management of integrated supply chain activities (encompassing guidance and policy of acquisitions, procurement, inventory management, supply chain business intelligence, shipping and logistics, and contract management). Acquisitions and procurement oversight may involve managing large-scale procurement across system-wide operations (including ECA’s Sub Regional Offices and Training Institute, located across the continent), developing cost-efficient strategies for various commodities and services, and overseeing multi-million-dollar expenditures, including procurements related to the Commission’s Capital Improvement Plan. Contract management oversight ensures adherence to processes, effective risk mitigation, and compliance with UN Procurement rules and regulations and best practices.

• Participates in the organization’s planning process, leading the process, along with relevant stakeholders, as it relates to supply chain areas while contributing to an integrated approach which ensures consistency in the implementation and operationalization of supply chain within the organization’s supported activities.

• Initiates the development and implementation of the supply chain work plan, including supply chain forecasts, priorities and anticipated requirements. Implements policies and procedures to facilitate achieving work plan goals.

• Ensures coordination and monitoring of overall strategies and programmes for supply chain activities and takes the lead in consolidating the required human and financial resources for the service.

• Develops and implements key initiatives to promote continuous improvement in the quality and delivery of supply chain activities. This includes a regular review of critical and key supply chain processes to identify and resolve bottlenecks, delays and inefficiencies. This also includes the establishment of relevant strategic supply chain performance indicators which provide data and analysis for review by senior management, as well as monitoring and ensuring achievement of Secretariat-level performance indicators.

• Ensures that all processes and systems in place are relevant and cost effective. Through collaboration with all stakeholders, ensures implementation of the end-to-end supply chain programme.

• Establishes priorities and sets management performance goals for staff. Recommends and coordinates training programs for supply chain staff. Actively engages in management performance duties and ensures the provision of management, guidance, development, training, feedback, performance evaluation and appraisal, administrative support and other management functions to staff in the areas of their responsibility.

• Ensures a harmonious working environment that promotes high performance of all staff in the Section. Develops initiatives to promote the welfare and well-being of Section staff. Procurement

• Serves as the principal advisor providing authoritative guidance on procurement policies, technical matters, and best practices. Ensures that procurement procedures align with organizational policies.

• Analyzes complex procurement proposals with significant financial or operational implications. Leads negotiations and manages the planning, solicitation, award and review of procurement contracts, ensuring procedures and practices are in the best interests of the ECA.

• Leads efforts to collect and analyze procurement-related data, identifying trends and patterns for strategic decision-making and continuous improvement. Ensures that relevant data is accessible, integrated, and used effectively across teams to guide procurement decisions.

• Manages the Commission’s submissions of procurement cases to the Headquarters Committee on Contracts (HCC). Ensures the proper functioning of the Technical Committees and Local Committee on Contracts (LCC), ensuring that requisite training has been provided to all members.

• Ensures that the supply chain budget, human resources, and assets are optimally budgeted and allocated to support effective and cost-efficient supply chain services across the ECA and provides advice on any re-prioritization of resources during the budget period, in line with priorities that support effective mandate implementation.

• Establishes a set of robust policies, procedures, practices, standards and tools for the management of the supply chain that are consistent with UN regulations, rules, policies and practices in order to ensure proper budget, accounting, procurement, financial, assets and human resources management and control of supply chain expenditures. To that end, ensures the Commission-wide adoption and optimal utilization of corporate supply chain planning and management tools and systems.

• Assumes responsibilities of a Certifying Officer for the ECA’s supply chain section’s budget.

• Provides strategic advice to the Director on the necessary managerial, logistical and administrative support required to fully implement an integrated supply chain.

• Maintains active communication with UN headquarters in relation to supply chain management activities.

• Works collaboratively with other functions within the ECA to achieve shared objectives and provide high quality supply chain support in accordance with their operational requirements. Provides effective management of human, financial and material resources of the supply chain.

• Liaises, negotiates and coordinates with national authorities with respect to supply chain matters. Provides guidance, support and supervision to staff within the supply chain service as well as responds to audit and evaluation services, as requested.

• Carries out other duties as assigned and deputizes for the Director when called for.

• Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.

Professionalism: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in the areas of supply chain management. Ability to provide seasoned effective specialized advice in a broad range of supply chain, logistical, and administrative areas to the Director and other staff; ability to ensure adequate preparation of reports or rational with respect to key logistic and administrative decisions; strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Show persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Judgement/Decision-Making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Administrative Profile (AP) and cover letter.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations.

Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 1, interns, consultants, individual contractors, and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals’ programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Internal Applicants – When completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience, and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Appointment or assignment against the position is for an initial period of one year.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply: Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Andorra, Angola, Belize, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America.

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According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.

The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c).

Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

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