Chemonics International Inc. seeks a Procurement Specialist for USAID Moldova Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity (RCRA) project

Chemonics International Inc. seeks a Procurement Specialist for USAID Moldova Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Activity (RCRA) project. The goal of RCRA is to stimulate a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the regional crisis brought on by the latest Russian invasion of Ukraine and accelerate an inclusive, climate-resilient economic development of rural Moldova by protecting the development gains made with USAID support over the past decade and further stimulate the competitiveness of key economic sectors, including the wine industry, high-value agriculture, and tourism. Moldova RCRA is implemented by USAID contractor Chemonics International Inc. (www.chemonics.com), a U.S.-based international consulting firm providing expertise in developing and emerging-market countries since 1975.

Position Description:

The Procurement Specialist will support RCRA activities through acting as a focal point for a wide range of purchases of commodities and services. S/he will coordinate closely with the Procurement and Construction Manager to ensure that funds spent on procurements are managed in compliance with applicable USAID rules and regulations and Chemonics policies and regulations in a responsible, effective, and efficient manner, contributing to the achievement of RCRA goals and objectives.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Support the Procurement and Construction Manager in coordinating the project’s procurement efforts, including technical procurements and procurements related to office administration.
• Following RCRA procurement guidelines and templates, prepare solicitations (RFQs and RFPs), selection and negotiation memos, absence of competition justifications, price reasonableness memos, and purchase orders/subcontracts for review by the Procurement and Construction Manager and/or Program Services Director.
• As assigned, lead evaluation committees for competitive procurements, ensuring compliance with Chemonics’ and USAID procurement best practices.
• Conduct market research to inform price reasonableness analysis for micro-procurements and collect quotations to inform available goods and services for project activities and office administration.
• Coordinate closely with the technical team to process Procurement Action Requests (PARs) and develop complete specifications for goods and scope of work for services to be procured as well as ensure the review and approval of quality technical materials and services.
• Issue purchase orders, task orders, and subcontracts for selected vendors.
• Liaise with offerors and vendors regarding procurements, order status, and any questions in line with Chemonics’ best practices, and flag any issues for attention of Procurement and Construction Manager and Program Services Director.
• Ensure supplier and procurement process compliance with Chemonics, RCRA, and U.S. government requirements, including checking all suppliers in the System for Award Management and Visual Compliance (VC) database before initiating a contract and payment.
• Monitor timely delivery of goods and services, prepare acts of acceptance, collect deliverables, and issue contract modifications when required.
• Compile payment packages for routine project expenses and technical activities for the review of the Program Services Director in a timely manner and in compliance with all procurement and financial requirements. This includes ensuring goods, materials, services, and/or deliverables have been accepted by the project and ensuring that finalized fiscal invoices are saved to the files.
• Maintain procurement trackers and clear and concise procurement files that document project compliance, including uploading all files to SharePoint. Ensure procurement files are audit-ready at all times.
• As assigned by the Procurement and Construction Manager and/or Program Services Director, draft Transfer Agreements and Acts of Acceptance for goods and equipment that is being formally disposed to beneficiaries and coordinate their signing.
• Oversees the cataloging and tracking of all RCRA inventory, including items purchased on behalf of beneficiaries.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Procurement and Construction Manager, Program Services Director, or Chief of Party.
• Comply with Chemonics’s standards of business conduct and ensure the highest levels of honesty, integrity, openness, and transparency in administering procurement decisions.
• Respect and abide by all the internal regulations of Chemonics Office in Moldova as expressed in the Chemonics International Moldova Field Office Policy Manual.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in procurement of commodities and services, preferably on USAID or other donor-funded projects;
• Bachelor’s degree in the related field;
• Excellent negotiation, market research, analytical and problem-solving skills as well as attention to detail and high-level of organization;
• Strong understanding and experience with drafting solicitations, negotiation memorandums, selection memos, subcontracts etc. strongly preferred;
• Experienced user of Microsoft Office suite and Office 365;
• Experience working in one or more RCRA technical sectors (high value agriculture, wine, tourism) preferred;
• Ability to follow directions while also working independently, multitask and work under the pressure;
• Adaptable and willing to learn new skills as needed;
• Fluency in Romanian and proficiency in English required (position will require extensive use of written English);
• Proven ability to work professionally and constructively as part of team, meet deadlines, communicate effectively, and deal with diverse partners in challenging environment;
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.

Reporting

The position will report to the Procurement and Construction Manager.

Please send an email with your CV in English attached and “Procurement Specialist” in the subject line to MDA-RCRA-Recruit@chemonics.md by September 29, 2023. No telephone inquiries, please. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only those candidates selected for interview 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.