About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. 

For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS' disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS's humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes gender equality, mobilizes for immunization and mitigates the impact of HIV.

As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following position.  

Position Title:                Procurement Officer

Department:                  Supply Chain

Duty Station:                  CRS Ethiopia/Mekelle

Required Number:         One

Employment Term:       Definite term (i.e. up to June 23, 2023)

Reports To:                   Administrative Manager

Application Deadline:   September 26, 2022

Job Summary:

You will coordinate local procurement activities and processes to acquire goods and services in support of the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and experience will allow you to successfully coordinate the quality and efficiency of procurement and purchasing activities and ensure stewardship, integrity, transparency, and accountability

 Job Responsibilities:

• Coordinate fully compliant procurement systems and operating procedures. Assess effectiveness and efficiency and recommend improvements. Contribute to ensuring compliance with CRS procurement principles, standards, and policies, donor regulations, and local statutory requirements.

• Coordinate with various departments to develop and maintain an up-to-date procurement plan with all quantities, quality and delivery requirements for goods and services. Provide pricing information to assist budget holders with budget preparation.

• Coordinate the sourcing process and perform various activities to assist with ensuring the best value for money: market research, cost estimates, solicitation documents, bidding process facilitation, supplier identification and research, quality and availability of goods assessment, negotiation, contract/purchase order and other documents preparation.

• Communicate with other procurement staff and various program and operations units to coordinate and track goods/services delivery and receipt and keep everyone informed of the status. Collect information to confirm that goods/services delivered are what have been ordered in the correct quantities and quality, they arrive on schedule and at the right cost.

• Maintain correspondence and constant contact with suppliers to follow up on the execution of contractual terms and conditions, and handle issues if needed. Monitor and report on supplier performance, noting current and/or potential issues and/or inefficiencies and assist with contract/purchase order modifications.

• Accountable for transparency within the procurement department through ensuring a complete, accurate and up-to-date document trail of all procurement processes, vendor files, procurement, and inventory database to assist with control and accountability. Prepare reports and facilitate document retrieval.

• Accountable specially for hotel and flight booking for CRS staff traveling to the field with the hotel that have agreement with CRS. Conduct hotel assessments at the field office and perform various activities to assist with ensuring the best value for money, bid process facilitation, supplier identification and research, quality and availability of good service assessment, negotiation, contract/purchase order and other documents preparation.

Job Requirements

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or other relevant degree. Professional certification a plus.

• Minimum of 3 years work experience in procurement or purchasing management, logistics, administration, preferably with an international organization.

• Good knowledge of various donor procurement regulations (e.g. USAID, EU, UN)

• Knowledge of international and national procurement regulations and local market conditions.

• Knowledge of contract terms, as well as a proven ability to successfully complete purchase orders against specifications.

• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Experience with database management systems (e.g. MS Access) highly desirable.

 Personal Skills

• Good planning and coordination skills and ability to prioritize competing priorities effectively

• Good analytical skills with ability to make independent judgment and decisions

• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented with focus on meeting customer needs

• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics

• Good negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills

 Required/Desired Foreign Language: Tigrinya, Amharic, English

Travel Required; none

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: none

Internal: Admin Manager, Admin Assistant, Logistics Officer, IT Officer

External: Vendors, partners

How to Apply

You should fill the application form through this link: THIS LINK and attach your up-to-date CV on/before the application deadline September 26, 2022.

You will be contacted only if selected for written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only.

CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. 

** Qualified women & persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply**