USAID Procurement Agent at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: USAID Procurement Agent (Current Mission Employees only) (72062021R10020)

Announcement Number: Abuja-2021-056
Location: Abuja
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Series/Grade: LE – 4005 10
Promotion Potential: LE-10
Work Schedule: Full-time – Work Schedule is 40hrs per week

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For definitions use URL: www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/glossary
  • Open to Internal Candidates Only
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust – Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Five (5) years renewable, estimated to start on or after August 2021.
• Supervisory Position: Yes
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: Occasional Travel, the contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Marketing Statement:

• USAID is an independent Federal Government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID fosters transformational development around the world. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance. We operate in the following regions of the world: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Africa (all of Africa), Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East.

For more information about USAID, visit: http://www.usaid.gov

Summary

• This incumbent is one of three procurement professionals located in the USAID/Nigeria Executive Office.
• The incumbent is responsible for procurement of a variety of commodities and services for USAID/Nigeria. This includes, but is not limited to Service Contracts, Blanket Purchase Agreements, Contracts, Purchase Orders, Task Orders, and Delivery Orders.
• Supervises two Procurement Assistant, and reports directly to the Executive Officer, USAID/Nigeria.

Duties
Procurement Review /Technical Support 40%:

• Reviews all incoming procurement requests within the Simplified Acquisition Procedure threshold of $250,000.00, performs personally or assigns the work to the Procurement Assistant based upon the type of procurement action necessary and establishes priorities.
• Performs procurement actions for the entire Mission.
• As appropriate, advises Assistant on procurement policy and other pertinent considerations affecting procurement requests.
• Prepares paperwork or reports prior to submission to the Executive Officer (EXO) for signature. Maintains a tracking system of all procurement documents, from purchase request, until items or services are received by the requestor.
• Screens and reviews bids and quotations, negotiating contracts, and reviews language in contracts and Statements of Work.
• Ensures and reviews status reports and keeps the EXO and the requestor aware of expected delivery or appraised of potential delay.
• Tracks the status of requests to ensure priorities are met.
• Approves proposed method of procurement and may participate in complex or difficult procurement actions.
• Reviews purchase orders, solicitations, requests for quotation, price quotations, proposed contracts, supplier’s bills, and other procurement documents.
• Coordinates timely funding with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) or works with OFM to resolve funding problems.
• Ensures close out of all procurement actions.
• Reviews all procurement actions completed by the Assistant.
• Posts procurement requests for proposal or requests for quote outside the office premises, or in newspapers and in other outlets for easy access to a wide range of public companies. Organizes and coordinates technical committees for the review of proposals, and to obtain technical reports for procurement actions.

Market Awareness and Compliance 35%:

• Maintains awareness of market conditions, including price and availability of commonly purchases items.
• Maintains contact with supplier firms, to facilitate resolving procurement problems. Reviews all requests for cash purchase, to ensure costs are fair and reasonable prior to approving any purchase.
• Ensures compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the Automated Directive System (ADS), USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), and USAID policies and Notices, and with other contracting laws, policies, and procedures in the procurement of supplies and services.

Supervision / Reporting 25%:

• Supervises the management of local and international vendor contacts, procurement references, source lists, price quotations, and Federal procurement regulations and instructions and GSA Catalogs.
• Prepares correspondence and reports on all aspects of Procurement Section operation. Reports procurement actions using the Global Acquisition and Assistance System (GLAAS) and other web-based tools, and prepares reports in GLAAS, in conjunction with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA).
• Ensures filing system for all purchase order and contract actions (physical and electronic) are maintained and that Purchase Order files are complete and up to date in ASIST and that information is readily accessible.
• Supervises annual retirement of older contract files to the warehouse per USAID regulations.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements
Physical Demands:

• The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Education Requirements:

• University Degree or equivalent in Purchasing, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration or Social Science is required.

Evaluations:

• Knowledge: 10 points
• Skills and Abilities: 10 points
• Communication and Language skills: 10 points
• Interview Performance: 70 points

Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored. Candidates meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top ranked short-listed candidates. If the interview is conducted, the interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

Reference checks will be made only for the successful candidate. If a candidate does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the application letter.

USAID is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

• All qualified candidates will be considered regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed, national origin, lawful political affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, affiliation with an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

Qualifications

• Prior Work Experience: Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in procurement, contracting, financial management and administration is required. Experience with other international organization is required.

Job Knowledge:

• A thorough working knowledge of procurement regulations and procedures, knowledge of local and international sources for the supply of goods, and the knowledge of local market conditions and practices is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Must have the ability to organize, manage, and supervise procurement functions effectively, including organizing the procurement office to ensure that all records are secured, and developing an administrative notice on procurement procedures for the Mission.
• The ability to develop and maintain a procurement tracking system, and other standard Procurement Section procedures and the ability to close out all finalized procurement actions is required.

Language Proficiency:

• Level IV (good) of English language and one local Nigerian language is required.

Other Information:

• USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions”
• Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at: https://www.usaid.gov/forms
• Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at: http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs
• Ethical Conduct.  By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635.  See: https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations
• PSC Ombudsman: The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.

Taxes:

• The Mission emphasize to its employees of the fact that they are obliged to observe Nigerian Laws, including those concerning income and related tax obligations.  Payment of such taxes is a matter between the individual employee and the Nigerian Government. In the absence of a specific international agreement, the U.S. Government will not withhold local taxes from an employee’s salary.

Salary
NGN12,772,559 annually.

Benefits and Other Info
Agency Benefits:
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus.

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Application Deadline  10th May, 2021.

Important Information

• Eligible applicants are required to complete this on-line application process and submit any applicable required documents by 11:59 p.m. GMT on the closing date of this announcement.
• Please note that all required documents must be received by the closing date online, and that we will determine your eligibility and qualifications based solely on the material received by the closing date.

Required Documents

• Current Resume
• Cover Letter
• Relevant Certificates
• NYSC Certificate
• University Degree Certificate
• List of References.

Next Steps:

• After the closing date for receipt of applications, all applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a shortlist of applicants developed. Applications from candidates which do not meet the required selection criteria will not be considered.
• A committee will be convened to review the shortlisted applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria as stated above.  Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants