ABOUT VVOB
VVOB is an international NGO with programmes and projects in 10 countries worldwide. Our head office is based in Brussels, Belgium.
When you join VVOB, you become a key player in VVOB’s mission to ensure quality education as a key enabler for achieving the sustainable development goals. We implement our programmes and projects with one shared passion: to ensure the improvement of quality education. Our teams of national and international experts achieve this by providing technical assistance to governmental and other education actors. In doing so, worldwide we ensure capacity building of governmental and other education actors.
Do you share our ambition to ensure that learners around the world can enjoy their fundamental human right to quality education, without exception? Are you also convinced that quality education guarantees equal opportunities for everyone and is the key to a better world?
We are looking for a Procurement Officer who will operate from our office in Lusaka, Zambia. Do you want to take on this challenge? Then continue reading!
Hello! We’re excited to see you found your way to this job opening. That must mean you share our ambition to ensure learners around the world enjoy their fundamental human right to quality education, without exception. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.
But first things first. Allow us to introduce ourselves, drawing on the great mystery behind our name. Since our establishment in 1982, ‘VVOB’ has evolved from a complex (Dutch) acronym to a stand-alone concept meaning education for development:
VVOB stands for ‘commitment’ – to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
VVOB stands for ‘integrity’ and ‘mutual respect’ – in working with our partner organisations across 10 countries / 3 continents.
VVOB stands for ‘quality’ and ‘innovation’ – of everything we do in our effort to improve education worldwide.
Do you still feel like you’re in the right place? Great, because we’re hiring a Procurement Officer to support our VVOB country team in Zambia.
In Zambia, VVOB is working in partnership with the Ministry of General Education (MoGE). We are building capacity on Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL). Our key focus points in ECE are ‘Learning through Play’ and ‘Emergent Literacy’. We are also working with government to support out of school adolescents.
Responsibilities of the Procurement Officer
The Procurement Officer is, in consultation with the operations manager, responsible for all procurement procedures of all VVOB in-country projects. As Procurement Officer you contribute to VVOB’s ambitions and values by being taking initiative whenever necessary to ensure the implementation of a high-quality administering of procurement resources at the VVOB country office.
The Procurement officer reports to the operations manager & is thus a part of the operations procurement team.
You will:
You are the contact person for all questions related to the implementation of VVOB’s procurement process in your country. You will be part of a procurement network worldwide to share expertise and best practices.
You coordinate the procurement processes in your country and are responsible for always following the policies and guidelines on procurement.
You are involved in preparing terms of references, examining, and evaluating tenders, draw up award decisions and notification letters and support in contract management.
You facilitate continuous improvement, knowledge building and knowledge sharing on procurement within the team.
If you’re our Procurement Officer, your workweek at the office will include the following highlights:
Together with the Operations Manager, you discuss updates, on procurement guidelines, on the Zambian procurement handbook to verify if the updates are fully in line with the VVOB global guidelines.
You handle all procurement and payment requests for all projects in collaboration with project coordinators.
Lunch! A perfect time to nurture informal relationships with the other team members in Zambia and hear how everyone is doing.
The Zambia projects teams discusses project procurement needs planning. You are part of the team, providing guidance in the planning process.
You discuss the progress you made with the operations advisor, and finetune the procurement plans afterwards.
VVOB Management has approved a procurement plan. As Operations team member, you start the process to ensure that there are funds available to support the planned procurement.
In the monthly team meeting of the operations team, you share with your manager and team members the status on the currently relevant operations topics.
Who are you?
This is a national position, open only to Zambian Nationals.
Your expertise and experience
Bachelor’s degree in Purchasing and Supply, Finance/Business management/CIPS(6) or other relevant field or equivalent experience.
3+ years’ experience in Operations, specifically in procurement.
Excellent computer skills in MS Office, Excel, Power point and Teams and Other Operations systems.
Fluent in English + based on Country needs.
Matching competences
VVOB core competences:
Results orientation
Continuous improvement
Cooperation
Function specific competencies:
Communication skills
Accuracy
Planning and Organization
Reliability
Problem analysis and judgement
What we’re offering:
- A full-time contract with the possibility to extend depending on funding.
25% gratuity at year’s end - In-patient and out-patient medical package for you and your legal dependents (as proven by marriage certificate and birth certificate(s)
- Education allowance for your legal children
- Supportive environment, enabling continuous professional development.
Shortlisted candidates will take a written test and go through an interview process before a final offer.
VVOB firmly believes that quality education can only be achieved if equity is ensured. Qualities of people prevail, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or disability.
