Procurement Expert for Operations

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES is an international, independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization currently working in over 70 countries. Our teams provide medical humanitarian assistance to populations victims of conflict, natural disasters, epidemics or healthcare exclusion, without any discrimination on the grounds of religion, philosophy or political affiliation.

Procurement Expert for Operations (m/f/x) – Brussels – MSF Belgium

CONTEXT

MSF consists of 6 Operational Centers (OCs), 3 European Supply Centers (ESCs) and 22 partner sections (PS). OCB (Operational Center of Brussels) is one of the 6 operational centers.

Driven by MSF’s goals, the OCB Supply chain’s purpose is to enable humanitarian action and provide reliable supply chain solutions.

The Supply Chain Department covers the entire supply chain management at international and local levels of the operations of OCB.

As part of this, the Procurement unit is responsible for OCB headquarters, regional and local (in-country of operations) procurement of goods and services, looking after a total of around 200million EUR of procurement budget, which represents approximately half of MSF OCB’s expenses.

We aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of OCB operations, and increase compliance and risk management of OCB procurement, by increasing the level of expertise, operational support and the spent coverage, as well sharing goods practices of procurement, through a comprehensive and cross-functional approach, while ensuring the alignment between different entities/departments (OCB Supply, MSF Supply, OCB Procurement, GPU (Global Procurement Unit).

In order to achieve this objective, we are looking for a Procurement Expert for Operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Head of Procurement and in close collaboration with the Supply Front Officers representing operational needs, the Procurement Expert for Operations will provide key support to countries through the following:

• Expertise in procurement-related areas, such as procurement strategy definition, market assessments, contract negotiations, risk management, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), and more
• Design and deliver customized procurement training, along with providing mentoring and coaching, to support supply managers, procurement managers, officers, and purchasers in enhancing their skills and performance
• Representing procurement in transversal initiatives, including, but not limited to, Collaborative Demand Supply Planning (CDSP), DARA (Diversity and Anti-Racism Action), CEH (Climate, Environment, Health) and MSF E-Procurement Portal
• Developing procurement processes, guidelines, and procedures to reinforce procurement competency and capacity across the organization. (example: construction, energy, medical equipment, fuel, spare parts, rental, insurance, and other service-related categories)
• Leading the development of Communities of Practice (CoP) within the procurement domain to foster knowledge sharing and best practices
• Providing support to countries that lack regional procurement coverage, ensuring consistent and efficient procurement practices
• Briefing and debriefing international mobile staff and key stakeholders as needed, ensuring they are informed on procurement processes and challenges
• Defining and developing relevant tools, indicators, guidelines, policies, and procedures to strengthen procurement operations

Requirements

Education & Experiences

• Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, finance or equivalent

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a procurement and/or Supply manager position

• MSF international procurement experience is an asset

• Purchasing / procurement specialization is an asset

• Purchasing experience in Africa or Asia is an asset

• Good knowledge of an ERP systems and analytical tools such as PowerBI is an asset

  Competencies

• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

• Proven diplomatic and listening skills

• Pedagogical skills / teamwork

• Methodical, analytical & structured

  Languages

• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written is mandatory

• Good knowledge of French is required

• Good command of Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: May 2025
• Location: Brussels (Belgium)
• Contract type: Open-ended contract - full time
• Mobility: at least 30% in MSF projects
• Salary according to the MSF-OCB HQ salary grid – Meal vouchers - Hospital insurance (DKV) – Pension plan – 100% reimbursement for public transport cost
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments