Procurement Specialist, Governance & Risk Management - GF - Washington - ref. q46084419
World Bank Group
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA).It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges.
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Vice-Presidency Context:
The Budget, Performance Review and Strategic Planning Vice Presidency (BPS VPU) was created in July 2013 and expanded to include Corporate Procurement in July 2024. The purpose of the VPU is to deliver high value for money with efficient, effective, and professional finance, procurement, and resource management services to help drive sustained business success through delivery of the WBG strategy. At the same time, it is focusing on improving governance to enable better oversight of what and how services are provided and continuing to strengthen its professional workforce with up-to-date skills, knowledge, and experience. The BPS VPU delivery model has three core roles designed to provide high quality, relevant and consistent services:
Business Partners: embedded partners focused on decision support and performance oversight with strong understanding of the business.
Centers of Expertise: providing thought-leadership and analytics, designing resource management policies, practices, and coordinating business finance knowledge management.
Service Center: central unit to manage delivery of high volume and transactional and reporting services across Bank, including help desk to support to clients.
Unit Context, Locations, Roles:
The Corporate Procurement Department supports the mission of the WBG by performing the procurement function following the principles of transparency, fairness, competition, and best value in an efficient, effective, and customer-focused manner. These principles are employed globally and represent the strategic elements that guide the Bank Group's activities in procurement and contracting practices. Corporate Procurement is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the sourcing strategy, selection, and contract execution for more than 130 Bank Group offices around the globe, serving our clients from offices located in Washington, D.C., Chennai, India and Sofia, Bulgaria. Within the BPSSM delivery model, the Corporate Procurement Department focuses on three core principles:
Commerciality: Deliver best "value for money" supply solutions measured by cost, quality, and speed.Risk Management: Predict, mitigate, and manage vendor related risks to protect WBG's interests
Sustainability: Develop environmentally and socially sustainable supply chains.
Categories of spend include:
- Corporate Services and Real Estate;
ii) Human Resources and Professional Services; and
iii) Technology.
In line with the BPS global footprint strategy and delivery model, the location of the positions may be Washington D.C. USA or Buenos Aires, Argentina. In accordance with Staff Directive 4.01 – Appointment, October 18, 2024, positions in Country Offices, irrespective of level, are subject to local recruitment. Selections to positions outside of Washington DC will be local recruited staff (LRS). Business needs and candidate preference will be considered in determining the actual location of each of the positions described below:
The Procurement (Governance & Risk Management) Specialist position will report to the Senior Procurement Specialist who in turn reports to the Global Head Center of Excellence. The primary focus of this role will be on supporting the Corporate Procurement Governance & Third-Party Risk Management team.Governance responsibilities of the team include development of procurement directives, procedures, guidance, best practices, reference documents; compliance; communications and change management of policy enhancements; management of vendor eligibility procedures.
Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) responsibilities include ongoing implementation and review/update of the WBG TPRM Framework in collaboration with Risk Partners, to effectively manage third-party risk in accordance with internal policy requirements and in response to emerging risks.
The team also provides support to the business units, Category Management teams, Risk Partners, and other stakeholders to facilitate understanding and compliance with procurement processes including integration of risk management throughout the procurement and contract management cycle.
Key accountability for this position includes:
- Support the administration of WBG's Vendor Eligibility procedures, including supporting WBG Integrity Vice Presidency investigation of vendors alleged to have engaged in sanctionable practices, reviewing findings from investigations, drafting notices to vendors and providing recommendation of actions to be taken by WBG in accordance with relevant procedures.
- Provide advice to WBG staff and vendors on conflicts of interest related to the procurement process. This would include providing resources and training to Corporate Procurement Tier 1 and 2 resources to ensure consistency in practice and in interpretation of procedures and guidance in addressing inquiries and requests from internal and external parties.
- Support the design and implementation of outreach activities to internal and external parties, based on lessons learned related to governance and risk management.
- Identify issues to be addressed and propose and implement corrective actions.
- Support the drafting of procedures, guidance and best practice documents and propose updates and revisions to existing procedures and guidance documents to address changes in processes or practices.
- Support WBG business units in the interpretation and application of Corporate Procurement directives, procedures and guidance.
- Provide insights to support decision-making on systems and processes based on feedback from business units.
- Provide training and change management support to internal clients and to external parties.
- Support Corporate Procurement governance and risk management change initiatives and analyze post-implementation feedback from clients and stakeholders for follow-on action as necessary.
- Conduct quality assurance and governance reviews of corporate procurement processes and records and recommend improvements where necessary.
- Support internal audits and reviews of Corporate Procurement processes, including serving as liaison with WBG Group Internal Audit as necessary.
- Support periodic review of contract terms and conditions and work closely with WBG's legal department and Risk Partners to propose timely updates to align with market conditions and emerging risks.
- Support vendor management initiatives.
- Review vendor complaints and protests and draft appropriate responses based on findings and in keeping with the relevant procedures and guidance.
- Master's degree, JD or LLB or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum five years of relevant experience in governance, compliance or risk management.
- Knowledge of international procurement practices and processes is preferable.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and ability to deal with ambiguity, think critically, objectively and facilitate solutions, along with experience in conducting research and analysis on well-defined tasks, articulating issues, and recommending solutions.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills, ability to work independently to manage multiple projects or tasks within tight deadlines. Ability to establish and monitor quality standards and work assignments and manage client expectations.
- Familiarity with risk management frameworks, environmental, social, and governance risk domains within third-party risk management, best practice, and governance structures used to manage vendor risk programs and vendor risk mitigation and oversight.
- Ability to work collaboratively with subject matter resources, in a matrix, virtual and cross border environment to influence change in corporate understanding and adoption of governance and risk management initiatives.
- Ability to confidently communicate with stakeholders at all levels within the organization, including senior level management. Excellent English writing and communication skills; able to translate technical concepts into layperson's terms. Other language skills would be an asset.
- Ability to deal sensitively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
- Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office suite and other business-related software systems.
General Competencies:
- Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relationships with clients and colleagues.
- Ability to plan and execute negotiation processes within established parameters and under general guidance and supervision.
- Superior communication skills in English (verbal, written, and comprehension), and ability to resolve interpersonal conflict.
- Cross-functional team player with the ability to function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within a matrix management environment,
- Understand and manage digital information, data, and content.
- Utilize emerging technology for work program delivery and be proficient in using new technologies and ability to create diverse digital content.
- Other language skills would be an asset.
- Learn more about working at the World Bank , including our values, benefits and inspiring stories.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.
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How cinfo Can Support You in the Application Process for This Position- Application and Interview Preparation: Whether you're preparing your application documents or getting ready for an interview, you can book a Job Application Support session to receive tailored guidance.
- For Swiss nationals invited to the first round of the selection process (e.g., written test, interview, assessment center): Notify us at recruitment@cinfo.ch, and we will inform our HR partners in the respective organization and the Swiss Government to help increase your visibility.
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Sector: Nonprofit/Community/Social Services/International CooperationRole: Other
Working hours (%): 80-100% / 100%
Job type: Staff (Permanent and Fixed Term)