Procurement Manager

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 organisation, 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 and Role:

CATALYZE is a $250 million 5 to 8-year program, designed to catalyze $2 billion in private capital, especially to underfinanced social sectors (such as education) and higher risk countries (especially low-income and post-conflict countries) around the globe, complemented by a cross-cutting inclusion of gender-lens investing. CATALYZE will provide services to many missions and bureaus that “buy in” to tap the CATALYZE investment and pay-for-results project management expertise. Our aim is for investors to explore and find commercially viable opportunities and approaches to creating jobs, developing sustainable social services, tightening and rationalizing supply chains, and advancing inclusive growth. 

CATALYZE: Market Systems for Growth (MS4G) will drive private enterprise expansion to catalyze 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 catalyze job creation throughout market systems. MS4G will 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 will catalyze 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 has an estimated life of project funding of $55-$70 million, and is expected to operate for five years. 

While focus sectors will be finalized in collaboration with USAID during the inception phase, it is anticipated that they could include agribusiness, light manufacturing, and telecommunications & ICT (including fintech). 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 the interventions.  

 Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Procurement Manager, CATALYZE: MS4G 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. S/he reports primarily to the Deputy Chief of Party, Operations & Compliance with secondary reporting to the Subcontracts & Procurement Manager, CATALYZE (US). 

• 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 
• 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 asses 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. 

Desired 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.