Job Description Ref no:

/ Role Profile
Job Title / Procurement Manager (Contracts)
Directorate or Region / MENA / Department/Country / Resources
Location of post / Baghdad /Erbil / Pay Band / G
Reports to / Assistant Director Resources / Duration of job / Indefinite
Purpose of job:
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that goods or services procured for our donor funded contracts are done so in accordance with British Council and/or donor procurement guidelines as well as ensuring an audit trail is maintained.
The British Council is recruiting this post to resource upcoming donor funded education contracts. An employment contract for this post will not be issued until the contracts with the donor is signed. The British Council reserves the right to withdraw this post at any time until the employment contract is signed.
Context and environment:
(As the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, the British Council creates opportunities for the people of the UK as well as of Iraq, in order to build trust and understanding, and maintain mutually beneficial relationships.
The British Council is working to support the rebuilding and revitalisation of the education system and to meet the demand for English and Skills to aid employability of young Iraqis. There is a large demand from target audiences for our services, linkages and programmes. This presents significant opportunities for the British Council to share UK expertise in Education, English and Society to create learning opportunities, strengthen institutions and create better understanding and trust between Iraq and the UK. However, doing this in a difficult security environment requires creativity, tenacity, passion and determination.
British Council Iraq is a high priority and growing operation currently located in 3 offices: Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra.
Accountabilities Responsibilities And Main duties
·  Understand the market and relationships with suppliers at the country level deliver the right mix of resources, products and services to achieve impact.
·  Designs appropriate tender documents. Manages the procurement process to internal and external client standards for specific projects.
·  Leads on the identification, procurement and management of goods, services, and internal/ external resources (including consultants, partners and suppliers).
·  Conducting market research to ascertain the best products and suppliers in terms of best value, delivery schedules and quality.
·  Identifying potential suppliers, visiting existing suppliers, and building and maintaining good relationships with them.
·  Ensure procurement policy and procedures compliance in the Iraq Directorate
·  Manage office procurement process ensuring that staff are familiar and compliant with BC policy and standards
·  Conduct market test for Baghdad and Erbil and administer office Approved Suppliers list ensuring best value for money
·  Negotiating and agreeing contracts and monitoring their progress, checking the quality of service provided.
·  Manage office services contracts for Security, cleaning, housing and maintenance, and updating contracts register
·  Leads in developing, negotiating and managing pre-contract agreements, contracts and Service Level Agreements with individuals, departments and organisations
Key relationships: (include internal and external)
Internal: All staff of British Council Iraq and MENA regional staff
External: Airlines, travel agencies, car rental, Hotels, stationary suppliers, FCO/British Embassy / Consulate etc.
Other important features or requirements of the job
·  The post holder will understand and make decisions which are affected by to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) legislation and policy. Additionally he/she will exploit opportunities brought by diversity and build them into all planning.
·  The post holder will understand the importance of child protection and ensure polices and processes are in place to offer maximum protection of young people at all relevant events and venues and ensure compliance with BC Child Protection policy.
·  At peak times and to meet corporate deadlines the role occasionally requires extra hours or weekend working, recoverable as TOIL (Time off in Lieu).
·  Travel inside and outside Iraq will be required
Please specify any passport/visa and/or nationality requirement. / Ability to work and travel within Iraq ,the region and to the UK
Please indicate if any security or legal checks are required
for this role. / Successful applicant will be required to undergo FCO security clearance check ;and Iraq Security Forces check in Baghdad for permission to enter and exit the International Zone
language proficiency / Successful applicant will be required to undergo Aptis English test during the first 3 months of recruitment

Person Specification

Essential / Desirable / Assessment stage
Behaviours / Working together (level 2)
Establishing a genuinely common goal with others
Making it happen (level 2)
Challenging myself and others to deliver and measure better results / Interview and shortlisting
Shaping the future (level 1)
Looking for ways in which we can do things better
Creating shared purpose (level 1 )
Creating energy and clarity so the people want to work purposefully together
Connecting with others (level 2)
Actively appreciating the needs and concerns of myself and others
Being accountable (level 2)
Putting the needs of the team or British Council ahead of my own / Required for the role but will not be assessed during short listing or interview
Skills and Knowledge / Analysing Data and Problems level2:
Uses data
Reviews available data and identifies cause and effect, and then chooses the best solution from a range of known alternatives.
Managing Finance and Resources level 2:
Uses financial systems and processes
Uses corporate financial systems and processes appropriately as part of the job and on behalf of a team.
Managing Risk level2:
Supports a risk management culture
Has track record of identifying and highlighting risks and suggesting mitigating actions.
Proficiency in English and Arabic . / Interview
Short listing
Required for the role but will not be assessed during short listing or interview
Interview &
Short listing
Required for the role but will not be assessed during short listing or interview
Experience / 2 years experience in procurement of services and goods and contracts / Interview& shortlisting
Qualifications / University degree / Degree in a related field / Shortlisting
Submitted by / Date

1 of 4 Recruitment Team June 2011