Procurement Manager, CATALYZE MS4G 75 views

Company Overview:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development, and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities, and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits. For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved -and is committed to continuing to improve – economies, societies and most importantly, people’s lives. Palladium is a child-safe organization, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children.  We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.

Project Overview:

Launched in 2020, CATALYZE: Market Systems for Growth (MS4G) drives private enterprise expansion to contribute towards Ethiopia’s future economic growth and prosperity. MS4G intends to foster enterprise-driven growth, especially among private enterprises that have high growth potential and the capacity to catalyse job creation throughout market systems. MS4G’s goal is to address systemic challenges, including building business development services capacity, creating a more conducive business environment, building the financial sector infrastructure and capability within private finance providers, and expanding the digital economy. MS4G catalyses private sector growth by improving access to finance and facilitating transactions through targeted interventions across market systems (demand, supply, and enabling environment).  Expanded access to finance will also drive change across the market system by increasing business revenue and necessitating job creation.  The program is expected to operate through September 2024.

For its second year of implementation, project activities in the agriculture and WASH sectors will take a larger priority. MS4G is required to coordinate closely with other USAID and US Government (USG) activities. Across all initiatives, there will be a cross-cutting focus on women and youth, as well as a focus on ensuring that disparate ethnic groups and regions equitably benefit from interventions.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

 The CATALYZE MS4G Procurement Manager will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the acquisition of goods and services for the project from requisition to disposition. The Procurement Manager will ensure the project’s compliance with Palladium and USAID policies, rules and regulations. They will report to the CATALYZE MS4G Director of Finance and Administration with secondary reporting the CATALYZE Global Subcontracts and Procurement Manager.

• Provide team with guidance on and interpretation of USAID regulations as they relate to the procurement life cycle.
• Coordinate with the Subcontracts & Procurement Manager, CATALYZE to ensure process standardization and compliance with Palladium policies and procedures.
• Accept requisition requests from CATALYZE staff for the procurement of goods and services
• Work closely with CATALYZE: MS4G staff to develop Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Quotations (RFQs) as appropriate.
• Maintain a contact list of possible bidders and suppliers of commonly required goods and services.
• Post solicitations as needed to websites and newspapers.
• Serve as primary point of contact for interested bidders and facilitate written Question & Answers and bidders’ conferences.
• Moderate technical evaluation committees and conduct pre-award risk assessment of subcontractors and draft corresponding appropriate special conditions.
• In close cooperation with finance & accounting staff, conduct a cost/price analysis of bidders’ cost proposals.
• Negotiate terms and conditions, and review and approve draft subcontracts and purchase orders of varying complexity, including but not limited to commercial item subcontracts, consultant agreements, and umbrella contracts (Blanket Purchase Agreements and Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity).
• Prepare subcontractor monitoring plans, conduct monitoring in collaboration with project and finance staff, and document monitoring results, including performance, compliance with terms and conditions, and budget management.
• Track all project assets in project registry, periodically assess condition, and dispose of assets per USAID regulations and Palladium policies and procedures.
• Maintain audit-ready subcontract files and facilitate external subcontract audits as required.
• Serve as initial point of contact for all disputes with CATALYZE: MS4G subcontractors.
• Promote timely resolution of internal and external issues/problems related to subcontracts administration.
• Conduct training and capacity building for subcontractors as needed, in particular for those new to USAID funding.
• Monitor business risks including but not limited to tracking funding delays, execution of subcontracts, expired authorizations, delayed payments and advances to subcontractors and vendors.
• Contribute to the project’s financial forecasts by closely tracking subcontractor invoicing projections.
• Actively participate in periodic meetings to assess compliance with terms and conditions of awards and take leadership in seeing that deficiencies in compliance are corrected.

Required Qualifications:

• Track record in developing large budgets.
•  Knowledge of and compliance to Federal Acquisition Regulations, USAID Acquisition Regulations, and 22 CFR 228.
•  Strong financial and operational management experience.
• Professional level of oral and written fluency in English language.
• Experience building capacity of local organizations and implementing partners.
• Relevant computer software skills and familiarity with standard applications in MS Office.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in relevant field; Business Administration or other related field is preferred relevant to the position requirements.
•  At least 5 years of work experience in operations/logistics on large-scale, donor-funded projects, preferably on a USAID-funded project