Senior Procurement Specialist

World Bank Group; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international financial organization is seeking a Senior Procurement Specialist to support procurement operations in South Africa. The role requires a minimum of 8 years of public procurement experience, expertise in e-procurement reforms, and strong stakeholder engagement skills. The position is based in Pretoria and offers comprehensive benefits in a commitment to inclusivity.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits

Commitment to equal opportunity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in public procurement.
• Experience with e-procurement and reform processes.
• Strong command of English.

Responsibilities

• Organize procurement services with quality controls.
• Lead complex procurement tasks across sectors.
• Support procurement reform dialogue in South Africa.

Skills

Public procurement expertise

E-procurement systems

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Advanced degree (MA/MSc/MBA)

Job description

Overview

Senior Procurement Specialist Job # : req

Location: Pretoria, South Africa. This role supports South Africa portfolios including Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. The Senior Procurement Specialist will be internationally hired and report to the AFE Accredited Practice Manager based in Pretoria, South Africa.

World Bank Group provides opportunities to help clients solve development challenges. The World Bank Group is a large source of funding and knowledge for developing countries, with a global partnership of five institutions focused on ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development.

We work with public and private sector partners on groundbreaking projects and use data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

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. If an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Organize and deliver procurement services with fiduciary and quality controls and apply policy consistently to procurement decisions.
• Lead and advise on complex procurement tasks across sectors and work units; support country dialogue regarding reform and modernization of public procurement systems.
• Support the dialogue for reform activities in South Africa CMU countries; participate in operational, analytical, and advisory activities of AFE and the Prosperity Vertical.
• Demonstrate practical experience in leading procurement reforms, including advising on e-procurement reforms; engage with government counterparts and multilateral/bilateral institutions.
• Establish and maintain relationships with international and national partner organizations and coordinate with Prosperity Program Leaders in country offices.
• Provide a complete range of procurement services to the region’s portfolios and work with institutions to improve service delivery and public expenditure management through effective procurement and contract management.
• Lead and participate in missions, develop innovative procurement approaches, and address policy and operational issues at regional, country, and sector levels.
• Promote the use of electronic tools such as STEP to track client exchanges and fiduciary metrics; contribute to professional development and knowledge dissemination in procurement.
• Design and deliver capacity-building workshops for Bank staff and borrowers; collaborate with regional bodies to establish centers of excellence in procurement capacity building.

Selection Criteria / Qualifications

• Sustained records of high-quality substantive results with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in public procurement across multiple countries/regions.
• Advanced degree (MA/MSc/MBA) in a relevant discipline (e.g., engineering, procurement, law, finance, business, or commerce).
• Extensive experience advising countries on procurement reforms including implementation of e-procurement systems; must have worked in an e-procurement environment.
• In-depth knowledge of Bank procurement policies and practices across a wide range of sectors and operations; ability to assess procurement capacity of implementing agencies and design new procurement arrangements (including PforR).
• Proven track record in supporting client programs with development impact and in using appropriate lending instruments; experience with MAPS and working with Borrowers on recommendations.
• Strong command of English; excellent written and spoken communication; ability to interact effectively in a matrix management environment; willingness to travel frequently.
• Experience as Task Team Leader and in middle-income countries is an added advantage.
• Recent authorship of blogs, articles, or study reports.

Other Competencies and Requirements

• State-of-the-art knowledge of international and public procurement concepts, principles, and practices; strong client-service orientation and integrity.
• Ability to identify complex issues and respond innovatively; ability to promote client commitment for long-term sustainability of projects.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with government officials, international organizations, and Governance-Public Sector and Financial Management specialists.

World Bank Group Culture and Benefits

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits and a commitment to equal opportunity and inclusion. We 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 stories.