Procurement and Contracting Officer

**Background**:
The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence
- and security-building measures, human rights, combating human trafficking, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities, and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is responsible for managing the material and financial resources of the Organization. The objective of DMF is to provide efficient and effective management of non-staff resources in support of OSCE programmatic activities. It provides policy guidance on the management of OSCE financial and material resources and develops and maintains OSCE Financial Regulations and Rules and Financial Administrative Instructions. DMF consists of Budget and Finance Services, Mission Support Section, Information and Communication Technology Section and the Information Security and Co-ordination Unit.

Mission Support Section (MSS) provides the working framework for OSCE's procurement and contracting assets, logistics, transport, travel and facilities management activities. It also acts as the policy development and co-ordination point for resource administration in the OSCE’s Executive Structures in relation to these activities, including providing on-site assistance and technical training programmes.

**Tasks and Responsibilities**:
Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Procurement and Contracting Unit, as Procurement and Contracting Officer, you will perform the following functions:
Planning, developing and managing all aspects of procurement and contract projects of significant complexity related to worldwide procurement of diverse services and commodities, while taking into account local economic and other conditions;
Advising requisitioning units and recipient entities on the full range of procurement and commercial contracting issues, reviewing Review procurement requests to ensure completeness and adequacy of specifications and providing support and guidance at all stages of the procurement cycle and the commercial contract drafting or implementing phases;
Preparing and distributing invitations to tender and following-up on the replies; evaluating quotations and selecting, or recommending the selection of most suitable suppliers; developing and formulating strategies and plans for complex and intricate procurement cases; ensuring appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place; liaising with managers on outstanding issues and providing feedback on progress made in the procurement process;
Providing the required procedural/procurement related support to Evaluation Committees during the different phases of the evaluation;
Participating in negotiations with representatives of suppliers; signing purchase orders up to the authorized value, preparing and if necessary, holding case presentations for submission to the Materials Management Committees;
Managing the contracting elements of procurement operations for the OSCE Secretariat Fund; drafting, negotiating and concluding contracts for the supply goods and services; and obtaining clearance from the Office of the Legal Affairs as required;
Providing advice on commercial contractual issues (rights and obligations) to management and procurement staff at the Secretariat and in field operations; identifying gaps and weaknesses from a contracting point of view in contracting operations and making proposals for improvement;
**Co-ordinating and supervising the contract database**: establishing and maintaining work programme and schedules for on-going and newly planned contracts; monitoring contract expiry dates, contractor performance reporting and timely extension or re-tendering of contracts and initiating appropriate action; processing contract extensions, amendments, and terminations as applicable;
Overseeing adherence to contractual agreements, recommending amendment or extension of contracts and advising all concerned parties on contractual rights and obligations;
Participating in the continuous adaptation and amendment of contract templates and forms, in close consultation with the Chief PCU and Office of Legal Affairs; periodically examining contracting practices and procedures of other international organizations, and recommending areas for improvement;
Providing required support to project managers/business owners for contract management issues, providing support in monitoring/checking contracts implementation and initiating necessary steps for the