Procurement and Contracting Specialist

Contract duration-12/31/2026

TheThe Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. As a public-benefit federal enterprise, GIZ supports the German Government – in particular, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – and many public and private sector clients in achieving their objectives in international cooperation in around 120 countries.

Since 2004, GIZ has been a reliable and trusted partner of the African Union (AU) to enhance inclusive growth and sustainable development on the African continent in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. With more than 225 staff, GIZ African Union cooperates with the AU Commission, as well as the AU’s specialized institutions and agencies, such as the Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD, at continental, regional, and national levels in more than 35 member states. Key areas of engagement include Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention, Governance and Migration, Regional Economic Integration, as well as Pandemic Prevention, and Health.

The GIZ African Union Office headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with further staff based in South Africa, Ghana, and Germany provides services and support in the areas of procurement, financial management, events and travel, human resources, internal operations, communication and portfolio management to all GIZ programmes and projects that are implemented in partnership with the African Union.

A. Responsibilities

• In your role you work on all job orders within your remit and are the main contact for advising managers and other staff members on all issues in the thematic area, particularly with regard to the procurement of materials and equipment. You are also responsible for providing specialist support to colleagues in bands 2 and 3 and ensuring the quality of the commission’s outcomes. You work on all job orders within your remit and are the main contact for advising managers and other staff members on all issues in the thematic area.
• You clearly communicate the relevant requirements, conditions, and restrictions in terms of your capacity to act with due regard for compliance rules and P+R.
• You coordinate the process for awarding contracts, agree and enter into contracts in accordance with the relevant legal, contractual, socio-political, and corporate policy requirements, and monitor the processing and fulfilment of those contracts.
• In this context, you research and identify potential providers and suppliers and obtain and evaluate bids.
• The role includes close consultation with the programs and projects in order to clarify details of their procurement requirements and provide solutions.
• In consultation with your team colleagues and line manager, you also coordinate all issues within your area of work and ensure that they are dealt with promptly and competently. You resolve problems that arise in your area of responsibility on the basis of existing rules and draw attention to more complex challenges in your team.
• You are involved in ongoing process development within your remit, are responsible for knowledge management, and prepare and share documentation.
• In consultation with your line manager, under your role you may assume management responsibility for staff members in band 1, with due regard for P+R and GIZ’s applicable HR policies, instruments, and procedures. You are involved in ongoing process development within your remit, are responsible for knowledge management, and prepare and share documentation. You perform the tasks assigned to you by your line manager, where required.

B. Tasks

• Concluding local service contracts and purchasing local materials and equipment for the GIZ AU office and GIZ-assisted projects/programs in accordance with GIZ rules and conditions by using the appropriate IT systems when procuring services and goods (S4HANA) or any GIZ IT tools.
• Managing the processes and Procedures in the regional tenders for the Africa market and the SU Procurement AU Ethiopia.
• Handling local and regional tendering procedures for procurement according to GIZ guidelines, rules, and procurement public regulations.
• Collecting up-to-date information from country offices and headquarters on procurement procedures and forms.
• Advising projects/programs on procurement planning procedures and requested documentation/ forms.
• Providing a first quality check for completeness of submitted documentation by the program(s).
• Closely liaising with GIZ country offices and HQ for contracts’ conclusion.
• Keeping a database on regional/international suppliers/consultants and conducting regular searches for alternatives.
• Checking suppliers’ / consultants’ invoices, delivery notes, and other papers and submitting them for signature to the requesting project/program to ensure conformity with the contract/order.
• Filing documents with completed transactions and ensuring completeness of procurement/contract files.
• Ensuring the whole documentation of the procurement process and ensuring the filing in DMS / SharePoint.
• Closely liaising with other service units at GIZ AU to ensure alignment of interfaces for smooth processing of project requests.
• Supporting the professionalization of the GIZ AU Service Unit Procurement.
• Assisting in and/or carrying out other activities and tasks as assigned.
• Management of the functional email address of the SU Procurement.
• Informing projects and programmes on time about the status of procurement and customs matters, particularly in the event of delays.
• Coordinating effectively with colleagues in the administrative division and with procurement officers at different Country Offices and Head Office.
• Performs any similar duties and tasks at the request of management

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, law, Business Administration, or related fields, and Master’s degree is an added advantage.

Professional experience

• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a similar position.
• work experience in an international organization.
• Very good working knowledge of standard ICT applications of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and willingness to obtain proficiency in GIZ-specific applications.
• Proven fluency in written and spoken of English and Amharic language.
• Knowledge of French and/or German at a professional level is a strong advantage

Knowledge, Additional Competencies

• Good knowledge of GIZ rules and regulations is an asset.
• Trustworthiness and ability to maintaining strict confidentiality and observing data protection and associated guidelines where appropriate.
• Ability to work autonomously, taking initiatives within the defined responsibility frame and as part of a multicultural and international team
• Previous experience in GIZ procurement and contracting/GIZ Software’s