Kyiv
ERA BACKGROUND
Ukraine’s efforts to win the future – emerging from Russia’s full-scale war ready to accelerate its development as a sovereign, independent, democratic, and prosperous state – require a dynamic, inclusive economic recovery. Through partnerships with the government and robust private sector engagement, ERA has supported economic growth and resilience in Ukraine since 2018. Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent occupation of the part of Ukraine, ERA shifted from its focus on Eastern Ukraine to cover development priorities across the country that address Ukraine’s urgent needs in export logistics and infrastructural improvements.
AGRI-UKRAINE GRAIN EXPORT LOGISTICS
USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently-needed grain transportation and transshipment investments.
INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTSERA also directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.
BCPs Renovation and Upgrade:
- Infrastructure Improvements: deliver equipment, architecture and engineering design and construction services at 9 priority (6 road and 3 rail) and up to 12 additional BCPs that improve traffic management systems, cargo processing, and terminal infrastructure and equipment for cargo and passenger processing, to increase exports and manage traffic more efficiently along the borders of Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
- Standardization and Efficiency with Rapid Upgrades: target total of 42 BCPs with immediate upgrades such as prefabricated office structures and restrooms, pavement repairs, signage, barricades, and equipment for weighing and scanning that address urgent needs and improve user experience and perceptions of Ukraine.
- Equipment and Traffic Management Systems: procure mobile truck scanners, fixed and dynamic scales, luggage and hand-held scanners, and rail cargo equipment to increase export capacity and meet international standards for cargo processing; and develop and implement modern traffic management systems at select, high volume BCPs.
About the job
The Procurement Officer will help USAUD ERA by developing and procuring optimal and sustainable solutions to meet cost, quality, and service targets as defined and aligned with our procurement, supply chain, and partners and stakeholders. The Procurement Officer plays a pivotal role in ensuring integrity, fairness, and openness in procurement processes as well as adherence to policies, procedures, and controls. One of the core responsibilities of this position is to oversee and conduct the procurement of goods and services. The position requires relevant work experience in the field of large-scale procurements of sophisticated equipment and contracting, contract management, dispute resolution, managing interpersonal relationships and communication, and investigating/following up on vendor issues. The Procurement Officer will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring that complete procurement-related backup documentation is provided prior to submission to the Finance Team. The Procurement Officer reports to the Senior Procurement Manager and is located in Kyiv or Lviv or Odesa office.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Liaise with Program staff to ensure any requirements for procurement support are identified approved and procured in a timely, well-documented, and cost-efficient manner. Implement an annual planning process to streamline repetitive procurement of goods to increase competitive tendering and internal processes
- Monitor and track procurement activities and delivery status of goods/services.
- Ensure complete backup documentation for procurement purchases is submitted to Procurement Manager and Finance Team
- Perform regular spot audits of procurement files to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance
- Participate in external or internal audits as necessary
- Ensure integrity, fairness, accuracy, and openness in procurement processes
- Ensure DAI/USAID and FAR policies, and procedures are followed and enforced
- Enforce the use of DAI’s operations & procurement system (TAMIS), etc.
- Maintain electronic procurement records & files in various DAI system platforms
- Manage solicitation bids and quotes from vendors in adherence with policies & approved requisitions and quarterly procurement plans
- Oversee, monitor, track, and expedite all project procurement activities and delivery status of goods/services
- Ensure pricing information is accurate and aligns with acquisition policies
- Conduct price/cost/reasonability analyses
- Review requisition documentation, cost estimates, statements of work, etc.
- Help non-procurement staff understand the requirements for submitting accurate and thorough requisitions, cost estimates, statements of work, or determine other technical specifications
- Determine source selection methods for complex procurement to ensure compliance
- Prepare cost evaluation data and source selection documentation.
- Through market research efforts, identify and qualify potential suppliers (and products/services)
- Ensure that beneficial, ethical, and open supplier relationships are created and maintained according to procurement policies
- Maintain procurement file system in DAI’s system
- Help maintain an up-to-date list of providers by obtaining and organizing supporting documentation on activities
- Effectively serve as a liaison between the program team and the financial team to provide the documentation necessary to issue the payments related to the activities.
About you
- BA or Specialist degree or equivalent in Logistics, Management, Economics.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in logistics and/or procurement.
- Experience in the procurement of equipment for the transshipment of agricultural products may be an asset.
- Strong knowledge of grain and bulk cargo export procedures may be an asset.
- Strong knowledge of multi-modal transportation (truckload, intermodal, railcar, less-than-truckload) market including suppliers, industry information, and key cost drivers may be an asset.
- Experience proactively engaging internal and external partners to identify and define potential opportunities and issues.
- Excellent communications and personnel management skills and ability to relate to people at all levels of an organization and of different multi-cultural backgrounds.
- Well-organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus. Excellent organizational skills with a willingness to take initiative and be proactive.
- Proven integrity and ability to adhere to the rules, honor commitments, and meet the spirit as well as the letter of those commitments, stand up for what is right.
- Strong time management skills, capability to manage time effectively and maintain control of all current project responsibilities, follow-up requests in a timely manner.
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities and respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints; experience with enterprise accounting software, and Microsoft office suite; demonstrated knowledge of internal controls and processes.
- Experience with USAID-funded projects is preferable.
- Fluent in English and Ukrainian are mandatory, both written & spoken.
WE OFFER
Contract length: 12-month employment agreement with a possibility of extension.
Benefits: all benefits envisaged by the Labor Code of Ukraine, corporate medical insurance for employees and immediate family members.
Start date: March 2024
Application process
All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to ukraine@dai.com
Closing date for applications: February 29, 2024.
For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website dai.com.