USAID AGRICULTURE GROWING RURAL OPPORTUNITIES ACTIVITY IN UKRAINE (AGRO)

Procurement Specialist

Background:

USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities in Ukraine (AGRO) Activity is a seven-year cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chemonics International, Inc. It began on November 15, 2019.

The AGRO Activity is to accelerate the economic development of rural Ukrainian communities with the greatest need through a better governed agricultural sector that encourages more productive, modern, and profitable micro, small, and medium agricultural enterprises (MSMEs) that are successfully integrated into competitive markets both in Ukraine and internationally.

The Activity objectives are aligned with the three elements of the market systems conceptual framework: the core value chain, supporting functions, and rules and regulations.

To effectively address the food crisis that emerges in Ukraine and internationally, AGRO works for the restoration of the agricultural sector, in particular its modernization, efficiency improvement, and diversification, which contributes to the long-term economic recovery of Ukraine and the improvement of global food security.

Within the USAID Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI-Ukraine), AGRO will provide assistance enabling Ukraine to store roughly 1.5 million tons of grain as part of the USAID's broader efforts to maintain the rate of production and export of grain from Ukraine to other countries of the world.

AGRO operates on the basis of the market system conceptual approach (https://beamexchange.org).

In September 2022, the estimated cost of the Activity was extended to US$120,000,000, and its implementation period was extended through November 13, 2026. AGRO employs 56 long-term CCN employees.

Position Description:

To contribute to achieving AGRO’s overall goals, the Procurement Specialist is to provide a wide range of professional support to the AGRO Activity activities through acting as the focal point for a wide range of purchases of goods and services.

We expect that a new employee will join our existing procurement team (at the moment, this is one Procurement Specialist and one Administrative and Procurement Assistant) and enhance its capacity.

Principal Duties and Obligations (Essential Functions):

• Assist technical and other staff with drafting procurement preparatory and other documents related to procurement contracts;

• Prepare and announce RFQs/RFPs, receiving proposals, and screening proposals and budgets for allowability and reasonability;

• Form selection committees and serve as nonvoting member to facilitate evaluation of proposals;

• Draft selection memos and sole-source justification and negotiation memos;

• Ensure that solicitation procedures as well as executed contracts are fully compliant with USAID regulations and Chemonics’ policies and procedures;

• Prepare procurement contracts, ensure that they are compliant with USAID regulations and Chemonics’ policies and procedures;

• Obtains proper signatures on contracts per field office signing authorities.

• Ensure execution and coordinate adherence to frame agreements while placing orders within their framework;

• Coordinate project’s operational procurement and logistics, including, but not limited to, utilities, travel agency service, stationery, translation and editing, taxi, internet, business trip lodging for staff, courier delivery, seasonal cleaning, property and health insurance;

• Ensure that suppliers and contractors are fully compliant with contract terms and conditions in terms of reports and/or invoices, as well as with USAID regulations and Chemonics’ policies and procedures;

• Check deliveries and invoices against purchase order for type, quantity, and condition.

• Drafting memos regarding service providers’ and vendors’ performance;

• Assist with record management by filing, scanning, and maintaining documents;

• Maintain and routinely update AGRO Activity’s agreements database;

• Update procurement-related trackers;

• Contribute to monthly budgeting efforts and participate in budget check-ins;

• Use Microsoft Teams as needed to carry out tasks and collaborate with other activity staff.

• Participate as directed in collection and analysis of Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) data.

• Prepare sections of reports, plans, success stories and similar documents as requested.

• Participate in regular activity Collaboration, Learning and Adapting (CLA) discussions.

• Comply with Chemonics’ standards of business conduct.

Terms of work, SOW Timing and Reporting Relations:

One-year fixed term employment agreement with possible extension each work year up to the end of the AGRO implementation (November 14, 2024, with potential extension through November 14, 2026), subject to availability of respective tasks in the successive AGRO Annual Work Plans.

Procurement Specialist works in a Finance and Administration Team under a direct supervision of, and reports to the Finance and Administration Director or his/her designee, or other person(s) as designated by the Chief of Party.

Primary Work Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Periodic travel to other parts of Ukraine might be required.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Minimum three (3) years procurement experience;

• Previous working experience on USAID or other donor-funded projects in a similar position in terms of the job tasks and responsibilities outlined above would be an asset;

• Graduate degree in law, business, finance, economics or related field;

• English fluency, with excellent writing and presentation skills;

• Native speaker of Ukrainian;

• Proven ability to work professionally, constructively and collaboratively as part of a team, meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and deal with diverse partners (including government officials, entrepreneurs and international donors) in a challenging environment;

• Ability to manage daily activities and achieve expected results with or without direct oversight;

• Demonstrated success working in a multinational, multilingual team under pressure and tight deadlines;

• Experienced user of MS Office 365 applications.

Application Instructions

Send electronic submissions to [email protected] by July 31, 2023. Early applications are encouraged. Please submit your CV and cover letter with "Procurement Specialist" in the subject line; please do not forget to additionally indicate your name in the subject line of your e-mail. No telephone inquiries, please. Only finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.