Senior Procurement Specialist

Senior Procurement Specialist

Job #:
req34746

Organization:
World Bank

Sector:
Procurement

Grade:
GG

Term Duration:
5 years 0 months

Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment

Location:
Pretoria,South Africa

Required Language(s):
English

Preferred Language(s):

Closing Date:
11/13/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. Visit

Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region

We need the best and brightest talent focused on our region in order to harness the potential and innovation happening across the continent. Home to about 700 million of Africa's people, Eastern and Southern Africa is a geographically, culturally and economically diverse region of 26 countries stretching from the Red Sea in the North to the Cape of Good Hope in the South. The subregion harbors some of Africa's protracted conflicts, rendering many of its countries fragile, while significant gaps in education, health, and skills development continues to keep people from reaching their full potential. This creates a huge development challenge, impacts heavily on the lives and livelihoods of people, and hinders regional integration and trade But it also creates an opportunity to work closely with country leaders, civil society, development partners, and young people to chart a brighter course for the future.

More information about Eastern and Southern Africa (AFE) Region:

The Institutions Global Practice comprises a variety of different professional disciplines working on public institutions, including procurement, public sector management, governance and anti-corruption, and financial management. Institutions GP convenes a leading group of practitioners focused on advancing cutting-edge practices and innovations in the fields of procurement, anti-corruption and open government. To enhance its capacity, the Department seeks to recruit/appoint a highly organized, energized and experienced professional, capable of operating effectively.

Procurement Unit in Eastern and Southern Africa Region (AFE) is largely decentralized and based in the 20+ country offices. AFE Procurement Team seeks to recruit a highly organized, energized, and experienced professional to work on procurement reforms and procurement fiduciary services in Bank financed projects. The Senior Procurement Specialist will be internationally hired and be based in Pretoria, South Africa to provide support for the South Africa countries including Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa portfolios. The Senior Procurement Specialist will be report to AFE Accredited Practice Manager to be based in Pretoria, South Africa.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior Procurement Specialist will help support and further develop dialogue for reform activities in South Africa CMU countries. He/she will participate in the operational, analytical, and advisory activities of AFE and Prosperity Vertical. The person must demonstrate practical experience in leading procurement reforms including advising countries on implementing e-procurement reforms. This requires strong knowledge of both economic and public-sector governance issues, as well as extensive experience in operations. He/she will have exceptional diplomatic skills to engage effectively with the many stakeholders involved inside and outside the Bank. He/she will also have a demonstrated ability to work effectively with counterparts in government as well as with multilateral and bilateral institutions. He/she is also expected to establish and maintain good working relationships with a variety of international and national partner organizations (academia, society groups, local research centers). He/she will work closely with the Prosperity Program Leaders based in AFE country offices to ensure a coordinated approach with all client countries to support their procurement reforms.

He/she will provide a complete range of procurement services to Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa portfolios and work with institutions to improve service delivery and public expenditures management through more effective and efficient procurement and contract management.

1. Works independently under general direction of the Practice Manager. Organizes and delivers procurement services, ensuring appropriate fiduciary and quality controls, and consistent application and interpretation of policy in making procurement decisions. Plays a leadership and advisory role to clients and colleagues in handling complex procurement tasks and issues, which frequently cut across sectors and/or work units. Likewise, the selected candidate would substantially support the country dialogue regarding reform and modernization of public procurement system, to strengthen legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks and build procurement capacity.

2. Develops and promotes innovations in Bank procurement policies to improve Bank project and sector work while serving as a recognized authority on operational procurement, advising management and procurement staff on strategy and long-range interventions on procurement policy systemic issues and related operational issues across sectors.

3. Supports client countries in achieving value for money (VFM) in public procurement to enhance service delivery and development outcomes with integrity. The senior procurement specialist will advance the use of information technology including e-procurement and data analytics in all clients' countries

4. Contributes to the Bank's efforts in promoting procurement reform dialogue, working in close collaboration with Governance sector colleagues and in professionalizing the function of procurement. Makes significant contributions to the development of client country procurement systems, including supporting the assessment of systems, creating country capacity, influencing the design, reform and strengthening of institutional capacity within borrower entities and monitoring the reform initiatives in client countries

5. Independently, organizes and conducts reviews of procurement aspects of the Bank documents, including Project Appraisal Documents, Legal Agreements, Quality Enhancement Review Documents, Development Policy Financing (DPF) operations and Board Papers that require procurement input and prepares a range of procurement-related documents and reports. Contributes together with other procurement colleagues and under the guidance of the Practice Manager ensures consistency in the procurement approach across the region.

6. Handles procurement cases subject to Practice Manager and Operations Policy Review Committee (OPRC) reviews and verifies that they are properly prepared and presented for clearance.

7. Leads and participates in groundbreaking or precedent setting missions, and plays a key role in developing innovative, practical approaches to procurement while simultaneously dealing with difficult policy and operational issues at the regional, country and or sector levels.

8. Ensures the use of electronic tools, e.g., Systematic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement (STEP) to track exchanges with the clients and performance of key fiduciary metrics covering the operations portfolio, as well as the unit's own work program deliverables.

9. Plays a significant role within the function in guiding, mentoring of other staff, and establishing a framework and approach to knowledge dissemination, and is a key contributor in the design of professional and operational training or development of knowledge products in procurement.

10. Designs and delivers capacity building workshops for Bank staff and borrowers and works with Borrower countries and regional bodies such as SADC to establish centers of excellence to delivery procurement capacity building based on both Bank and Country procurement procedures

11. Carrying out the responsibilities of the Senior Procurement Specialist, will involve interaction with TTLs, program leaders and practice managers, and with government officials, counterparts in other international organizations and Governance-Public Sector and -Financial Management specialists. The Senior Procurement Specialist, is a key player in building and maintaining relations with both internal and external parties, including sectors, CMUs, and government officials. This is particularly important when considering the responsibility to engage the governments in advancing policy dialogue on public procurement reforms.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WB and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

• Sustained records of achieving high-quality substantive results over an extended period and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience including broad expertise in the management of public procurement with multiple country/regional experience.

• An advanced degree (MA/MSc/MBA) in a relevant discipline (e.g., engineering, procurement, law, finance, business, or commerce).

• Extensive experience in advising countries in procurement reforms including implementation of e-procurement systems. Must have worked in an eprocurement environment

• In-depth knowledge and specialized command of all major facets of the Bank procurement policies and practices as applied across a wide range of technical sectors and Bank lending operations, through all phases of the project cycle.

• Proven ability to carry out assessment of procurement capacity of implementing agencies, conceptualize and design procurement arrangements for new operations (including PforR operations).

• Proven track records in supporting clients in initiating and implementing programs/projects with development impact including in using appropriate lending instruments and modalities, e.g., introducing innovations or replicating and customizing successful projects to meet client needs.

• Experience in conducting country procurement systems assessments using MAPS methodology and working with Borrowers to implement recommendations from assessments. Knowledge of reimbursable and advisory services would be an advantage

• Broad knowledge of design and implementation of e-procurement system and application of procurement data analytics

• High level of integrity with demonstrated strong client-service skills, and a sense of personal responsibility for achieving a high level of technical quality and timeliness in performing the procurement fiduciary and service functions and in delivering the work program.

• Good understanding of critical linkages and relationships among business drivers and procurement processes, and ability to deal sensitively in a country-specific and multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.

• State-of-the-art knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices which govern international procurement as well as public procurement policies.

• Strong communication skills and persuasiveness in presenting, negotiating, and resolving highly complex issues, both orally and in writing. Must have recently authored blogs, articles or study reports

• Ability to identify complex issues and to respond innovatively, without adding unnecessary complexity to tasks or projects.

• Ability to operate effectively in a matrix management environment, both as a team leader and team member.

• Proven ability to conceptualize, design and implement major projects.

• Ability to promote client commitment to ensuring implementation and longer-term sustainability of projects/programs.

• Ability to travel frequently.

• Excellent command of English

• Previous experience as Task Team leader and working in middle income countries would be an added advantage

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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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