Job Opportunity for an International Procurement Specialist/Sr. Specialist, Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation

Since the 1970s, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has been engaged in critical global health initiatives worldwide.

In September 2009, the Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation (MGIC) was formed as a nonprofit affiliate of UMB to help support the implementation of UMB international programs. UMB, through MGIC, is registered in Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.

MGIC’s administrative operations support the research and clinical programs of UMB.

The Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation (MGIC) is currently recruiting for an International Procurement Specialist/Sr. Specialist.

The Specialist/Sr. Specialist supports the operations of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) International Operations (IO) department and the MGIC office in the United States of America (MGIC US).

The IO department serves the UMB community as it engages in the international implementation of global education, research, and service. Through the UMB Global Hub, IO provides specialized services to UMB units in travel, safety and security, procurement, finance, audit, ethics, human resources, and other operational areas. IO activates the MGIC, a UMB affiliate charged with supporting UMB international activities and projects that may require a sustained international presence in the form of dedicated personnel in-country, physical office space, a bank account, or similar infrastructure. IO sets UMB standards for international operations and oversees operational compliance. Across all its work, IO facilitates and promotes robust risk management. As partners in the Global Hub, IO and the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) work together to ensure seamless support of UMB’s global activities.

The IO department and its personnel are guided by the WISER guiding principles.

• Well-Being and Sustainability
• Innovation and Discovery
• Service Excellence and Accountability
• Equity and Justice
• Respect and Integrity

In their role, the Specialist/Sr. Specialist assists the office and the UMB community by procuring international goods and services to ensure an uninterrupted supply of health and non-health commodities that fulfill UMB and MGIC’s international research and clinical objectives programs. The Specialist/Sr. Specialist will perform all of its procurement activities in compliance with UMB and MGIC policies and procedures and US government rules and regulations, including 2 CFR 200 and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

The Specialist/Sr. Specialist will report to the International Finance and Procurement Manager.

MGIC is recruiting and considering applications from candidates in Abuja, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, and Nairobi. MGIC will not sponsor visas for this role.

Duties and Responsibilities

Procurement of Goods & Services

• Ensure that procurement processes are executed with the highest standards of business integrity and in compliance with U.S. Government rules and regulations, as well as UMB and MGIC policies and procedures.
• Provide thorough and accurate documentation of procurement processes.
• Ensure procurement records are updated and maintained in accordance with UMB and MGIC standards.
• Support management, reporting, and oversight of real or potential conflicts of interest.

Procurement Planning

• Work with UMB program units to establish a Procurement Plan at the beginning of each project year, to be updated at least quarterly.
• Establish key lead times for international procurements to be communicated to staff for planning purposes.
• Minimize lead times and reduce the need for “urgent” requests by improving procurement planning and communication about procurement processes with the UMB units.

Procurement Training

• Educate the UMB program units about procurement processes, requirements, and established lead times.
• Support internal clients to understand the importance of providing detailed specifications, planning ahead, and providing feedback about samples and goods/services received.

Vendor Management

• Conduct a thorough market survey at least every two years to refresh UMB and MGIC’s preferred international vendor list.
• Maintain an international vendor database with extensive vendor information, including but not limited to: vendor address and contact information, vendor principal information, physical location verification, etc.
• Closely track international vendor performance and develop a list of disallowed vendors based on prior organizational history and client experience.
• Undertake contract management processes for all contracts and orders placed.

Compliance

• Engage with the UMB program units and MGIC in-country compliance teams to improve the compliance rating.

Performance Management

• Monitor, and review the status of tasks and update management on the progress of the department’s functions.
• Evaluate international procurement performance using key performance indicators used to monitor the procurement process

Support & Collaboration

• Liaise with UMB and MGIC finance and other departments to ensure invoice payments are properly documented and processed in a timely manner.

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or other related fields
• Professional certifications such as CIPS or other from a recognized professional body

Language

• Required level of proficiency in English (speaking, reading, and writing)

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

Experience

• Five (5) years of international procurement experience in international development

Specialized Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of procurement of international goods and services

Skills and Abilities

• Understanding of and ability to adhere to US government and generally accepted accounting principles, such as 2 CFR 200
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and with cross-functional teams
• Highly proficient with accounting software, i.e., QuickBooks, etc.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Position location – The position may be located in one of the following locations – Abuja, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, and Nairobi.

For more information and application: https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/MarylandGlobalInitiativesCorporation/743999834523416-international-procurement-specialist-sr-specialist?trid=5c126370-0800-45db-8240-9fc141a6bac8