Procurement Support Intern

About UNDP

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP, valuing diversity as an expression of multiplicity, fostering inclusion for empowered contributions, and ensuring equity and fairness. UNDP encourages applications from marginalized or excluded populations. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, or discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP, the global development network for the United Nations system, operates in over 170 countries and territories. It is uniquely equipped to help developing countries build sustainable capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by offering solutions to global, regional, and national development challenges through its comprehensive knowledge network, expert practitioners, and focused strategic areas.

About the Central Procurement Team (CPT)

The Central Procurement Team (CPT), based in New York, centrally coordinates all procurement transactions over $5,000 for UNDP business units. It serves central bureaus to ensure cost and time efficiency, compliance, and added value to clients. While central bureaus identify procurement needs and make decisions, CPT provides services, guides clients, and decides on the best sourcing strategy. Routing requests through CPT aims for quicker turn-around times and higher quality, cost-effective outcomes.

Location

This internship is based at the NY duty station.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Procurement Specialist and the Chief of the CPT, the Procurement Support Intern will be entrusted with the following tasks:

Daily Procurement Support to Team Members

• Attending CPT related meetings and taking notes.
• Coordinating logistics for candidates’ interviews and setups for individual contractor procurement.
• Supporting CPT buyers in preparing draft evaluation reports, including technical and financial evaluation matrixes.
• Drafting contracts for new vendors and amendments of existing contracts.
• Assisting CPU buyers in organizing procurement processes: Requests for Quotations (RFQs), Invitations to Bid (ITBs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Individual Contractors (ICs), Micro purchasing, and Direct Contracting.
• Conducting other procurement related tasks upon request.

Support to CPT Team Operational Sustainability

• Maintaining the contract database.
• Reviewing, analyzing, and updating client feedback surveys and the CPT website.
• Supporting the preparation of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documents for CPT contract management.
• Notifying CPT clients about upcoming contract expirations and following up on expired/archived contracts.
• Assisting in market research tasks for preparing documents prior to launching tenders and during the assessment of value for money.
• Supporting Procurement Focal Points in preparing presentations for procurement Knowledge Sharing sessions.
• Supporting future recruitment of CPT interns.

Competencies

• Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
• Delivery: Ability to prioritize work and follow a chain of command structure.
• Technical/Functional: Efficiently uses MS Office package (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Analytical: Excellent research skills, proven analytical aptitude, and ability to tap into diverse knowledge sources.
• Communication: Excellent writing skills, strong analytical aptitude, and strong communication in a team setting.
• Organizational: Strong organizational, time management, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to work flexibly.
• Teamwork: Demonstrates intercultural sensitivity in a multicultural environment.

Additional Skills

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, modeling UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Education and Experience

Students in development, business, international relations, law, or related fields who are currently:

1. Enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
2. Enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
3. Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Working experience in procurement/finance/business administration is an asset, but not required. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is an asset.

Language Requirements

• All applicants must be fluent in both written and spoken English.
• Additional UN languages are a distinct advantage.

Key skills/competency

• Procurement Support
• Contract Management
• Logistics Coordination
• Evaluation Report Preparation
• Market Research
• MS Office Suite
• Organizational Skills
• Communication Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Teamwork